Anyone else a size 12 shoe?

[Penny4]

I have cheapy platform pedals on my new road bike right now, and have never used clipless. I flip flop back and forth about going clipless...part of me thinks I am fine on the platforms, but part of me thinks it might be more comfortable to have a proper riding shoe. I'd like to at least check them out and make an educated decision.
Unfortunately, I have giant man sized feet (women's size 12, occassionally size 11), so i think that puts me around a 44 in cycling shoes. I will most likely have to look at men's shoes I think. (I'm hoping to buy from a store vs on line, so I can talk to a sales person and try the shoes on, since I don't know the first thing about this.)
Just wondering if there are any other 12's out there, and and what shoes you might be wearing? I haven't decided if I would get MTB (people say they are easier?) or road shoes.

[OakLeaf]

Well I'm wearing size 11 running shoes now, but I think my next pair are going to be 12. Width is really more of an issue for me than length, since my feet are shaped like women's feet (wide in the forefoot, narrow in the heel) - men's wide shoes often leave a huge moat around my heels.

I just got a pair of Lake cycling shoes, a lower end road shoe - I don't remember the model, but it was what was left in men's 43EE. They fit me reasonably well. Since they're not importing into the USA any more, I had to get what was left in my size. At the time DepartmentofGoods.com had a fairly decent selection left. You can find some on Amazon and some other mail order sites as well.


Are your feet more box-shaped or more triangular like mine? If they're more box-shaped you should have a lot more options than I do. 43/44 really isn't an unusual size - it's on the small end for men, but not at all so man-tiny that they're hard to find. The trouble for me is that of the companies that make a woman's shoe that long, almost none of them make them in EE and none that I've ever seen in EEEE.

[maillotpois]

I am a perfect 11 in street shoes but my running shoes are 12s and cycling shoes are 44 or 45. It is good to be able to tighten the sides as my feet are not as equivalently wide as men's. There may still be movement in the heel box when you walk, but the soles are stiff which accentuates that and it is not a ls big a deal when you are cycling.

[surgtech1956]

I'm an 11. I have some Shimano mtn shoes in a 44 - they're a tiny big, but I don't think I'd want them any smaller(or diff bigger). I found my Shimanos on Ebay - nwot.

[Penny4]

Thanks for the replies!
I have average width feet and I don't think i have narrow heels.
I've never had heel slip problems (unless I had sized up because of the length), so I think I will be ok men's. I used to wear men's running shoes before women's 11-12's became easily available and don't recall any problems.
Any feedback on Bontrager? That is what my LBS carries (along with a few other brands, Sidi maybe?), although there is another Specialized LBS, REI and a Performance around. I will probably start at my LBS.
Maillotpois, what brand do wear, if you don't mind me asking?

[Penny4]

Bontrager have that lovely foot-bed with support on the insides. I really like them. In fact, that is what I wanted, until I discovered they didn't quite fit.

Good to know...I think I will start there!

[Penny4]

So, I bit the bullet...went to the LBS today and they had a great deal on some Bontrager road shoes. Unclipping doesn't seem too bad...it's the clipping in that I'm nervous about. The LBS owner spent a lot of time with me on the trainer and I get the concepts. Just need to practice. Oh lord, what have I gotten myself into??

[maillotpois]

Maillotpois, what brand do wear, if you don't mind me asking?

Sorry - I was on a trip week before last and didn't see your question. I presently have DMTs, but have also worn Sidi and Northwave. Northwaves seem to be a little wider/sloppier, but it could have been the specific model I had.

SOunds like you made the leap - good luck! I am sure they'll be fine.

[Penny4]

Just wondering...do you guys have to look down when clipping in? I think that's what is throwing me off....I had to look down.

[OakLeaf]

It was a pretty long learning curve before I could reliably clip into my Look pedals without "look"ing. I want to say at least 500 miles and probably more. I still miss on occasion, and then I pretty much have to take a peek so I can stop the pedal from spinning in the correct orientation.

[Owlie]

Just wondering...do you guys have to look down when clipping in? I think that's what is throwing me off....I had to look down.

I have double-sided mountain bike pedals on my roadie, but when I started, I did have to look down a ton to make sure I was hitting the thing correctly. I still do (more than a year on) if the cleat doesn't engage the first couple tries.
(I also had a really hard time clipping in. Getting out was easy...)