Do you buy your cycling shoes bigger?

[indysteel]

Yes. I originally bought SIDIs that were more or less in my usual size (I say more or less because they use European sizing). I found them to be a little tight come summer, so I bought another pair in a size bigger. I like the bigger size for winter use, too, because I can wear a slightly thicker wool sock without losing circulation.

Regardless of size, however, the shoe has to otherwise fit me in the heel. SIDIs are the only road shoe I've found that are tight enough in the heel so as not to slip on my foot. I also run a stiffer insole (SOLE is my insole of choice) in them than the standard-issue SIDI insole. It takes a wee bit of extra room.

[pll]

My Sidis are 41 and I normally use 39 in European sizing. Make sure that the area where the cleats attach is "centered" under the ball of your foot.

[Crankin]

36 in street shoes.
37 in cycling shoes.
38 in Sidi cycling shoes (which I can no longer wear, because, despite the narrower heel, I needed a wider toe box).

[zoom-zoom]

38 in Sidi cycling shoes (which I can no longer wear, because, despite the narrower heel, I needed a wider toe box).

I never found Sidis to be all that narrow in the heel, so I'm not sure how they garnered that reputation. And they were so friggin' tight that I started having nerve issues in my right, larger foot.

Now I'm in men's LGs in the same size (40 for both road and mtn--was also a 40 for Sidi, but probably would have done better in a 40.5, though they still would have been too narrow)...world of difference. And the heels on those actually are snug. My heels still slipped in women's Sidis.

My regular shoes tend to be tagged with anywhere from 38.5-39.5 inside, depending upon brand or model.