Sidi road shoe recommendations

[Cari]

I would stick with some regular Genius 5's, great shoes. No carbon, but I'm the sole is very nice. Put the extra $$$ towards some sweet pedals.

I was going to get the Look KeO Carbons. Would these be good? I can also get a good deal on the KeO Carbon Ti's, which have a titanium spindle (instead of cromoly steel) and are 40g lighter. I don't know *anything* about road pedals, but I didn't think the $100 price difference was worth it. Any thoughts?

[maillotpois]

I was going to get the Look KeO Carbons. Would these be good? I can also get a good deal on the KeO Carbon Ti's, which have a titanium spindle (instead of cromoly steel) and are 40g lighter. I don't know *anything* about road pedals, but I didn't think the $100 price difference was worth it. Any thoughts?

I've got the regular Look Keos - just changed from regular Looks. I love them. Great platform, easy in and out. I can get into the pedals while standing to start from a stop light.

I have to wear men's shoes because I am a women's 11, and women's shoes only go to a 43. I need a 44. Anyway, if you can get women's shoes, get them. Sidis tend to run a bit small...

[SR500]

I was going to get the Look KeO Carbons. Would these be good? I can also get a good deal on the KeO Carbon Ti's, which have a titanium spindle (instead of cromoly steel) and are 40g lighter. I don't know *anything* about road pedals, but I didn't think the $100 price difference was worth it. Any thoughts?

I have Ritchey pedals and my DH has Campy, so can't help you with the Look's, but they "look" nice. $100 for 40 grams is fairly stiff, I know my husband's Campy pedals have a titanium sprindle.

Also if you have a local shoe repair shop they can stretch the Sidi's a hair for a perfect fit. Not fun to always wear thick socks.

[SadieKate]

My Genius 5s are very stiff. Probably stiffer than the Doms but the Doms get walked in which breaks down the soles. I've never heard rumors that Sidis soles aren't stiff and if you aren't seriously racing, how stiff do you need them?

I've got Look Keo carbon pedals that I love. I've used Looks for 20-some years and these are the best yet. Incredibly easy to click in. The Carbons have 2 bearings rather than one which should give them a longer life and are 20 grams lighter but the Sprint can be adjusted to a lighter release tension and get excellent reviews. Price difference of $80. The Sprints received Bicycling Magazines' Pedal of the Year designation.

[Cari]

Thank you all, I'm taking your advice. I went with the women's Sidi Genius 5's and the Look KeO Carbon pedals. I have another century in a couple of weeks, so hopefully I will have broken them in nicely by then.

I'll put my lovely Genius 5.5 HT's back in the shipping box and return them to TE, hoping for a brighter future in which Sidi starts making women's shoes in other colors... heheh.

For the MTB I'm going to stick with my SPD pedals, since I have the ones with the resin cage which gives me a nice little platform. Also I'd like to get back into spinning and most of the gyms here use SPD pedals, so it saves me from having to have separate shoes for that. But I'll definitely keep the Time ATACs in mind if I ever consider changing. I have several friends who swear by them.

~Cari

[Nanci]

Cari,

I think, for your climate especially, you also need a pair of Shimano sandals. I can't tell you how much I love mine and how happy my feet are!! Someday when I am not lazy I am going to post my Sidi Lightnings for sale cheap- I just didn't get along with road shoes, and have the Sidi Rampa MTB shoes which I dearly love, but not as much as the sandals...

Nanci

[Cari]

Cari,

I think, for your climate especially, you also need a pair of Shimano sandals. I can't tell you how much I love mine and how happy my feet are!!
Nanci

Hi Nanci,

Sandals sound like a big relief in hot weather. The thing is, it can get so hot and especially humid here that I'm afraid that my feet would get sweaty, start slipping around inside the sandals, and I'd get blisters. At least that's what's happened to me with Teva-style sandals, when I've worn them in the summer. Are the Shimano sandals anything like that, or do they fit better? Have you worn them on those ridiculously long rides you like to do when you're taking a break from running marathons and swimming the English Channel?

~Carissa

[Nanci]

Hi Carissa,

I wore them last Saturday for 130 miles in 101F (at last report at 2:30 PM) heat, in Florida humidity, with no problems. It was sure fun to stick ice chunks under my toes and gloat while the others with real shoes boiled!

Seriously, I can't remember my feet ever sweating in them. I think the breeze prevents that. And, they have a snug fit, but I don't keep the straps really tight- but I just really don't feel them, either. It's like I'm just stepping on soft rubber platforms. But I think I have an efficient pedal stroke, still.

Their first ride was Three State Three Mountain. Not horribly hot, but 105 miles with MAJOR climbing. And 1/4 mile of walking! :-) (22% grade!)

Nanci