Cycling Shoes

Take a serious look at Sidi shoes that are in your price range.

IMHO, the best out there, and they tend to last a long time.

I would have to agree with Pete. I have used two different pairs of Sidi shoes (over the last seven to eight years of riding) and tried another brand in between for about a month. In my opinion, Sidi is about the best out there. They last a long time, are stiff and are very comfortable as well.

Jeff

Get the best shoes you can afford.....try on as many as possible, you are going to be doing some serious work in them, so a bit of tightness here or there could turn into major discomfort 3 hours into a ride.
Look for a stiff sole, comfortable uppers and decent retention, either velcro or ratchets (or both)

And yes......I love Sidi too. 🙂

I used to own a pair of Nike Ventoux (Wide - for my 4E plates) and I thought they were great (which they are for the price). I drove off having left them on the top of my truck and they were never seen again.

This was a blessing in disguise 'cos I then forked out for a pair of SIDI... the difference is amazing.

If you can afford a pair of Sidi, buy them. If you can't, get some old clip pedals, wear your sneekers until you save up enough to buy them. Your feet will thank you so much they'll be your slaves for life.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
If you can afford a pair of Sidi, buy them. If you can't, get some old clip pedals, wear your sneekers until you save up enough to buy them. Your feet will thank you so much they'll be your slaves for life.

LOL, good one Dominic. I think you should send your CV to SIDI!

In any event, for the OP, get SIDIs!

Another vote for Sidi. Even their low end models are very comfortable, solid shoes -- constructed very similarly to the higher end models.

Sorry to break with all the SIDI-worshippers, but I have a pair of sweet Pearl Izumi Vortex shoes and they are stiff, comfortable, well-vented, and fit wider feet very well.

Plus, you can get last years model at a steep discount now that PI came out with a new model. Last I checked you could get them for less than $70 at Performace, while regularly they are $110.

Good luck.

Sorry to break with all the SIDI-worshippers, but I have a pair of sweet Pearl Izumi Vortex shoes and they are stiff, comfortable, well-vented, and fit wider feet very well.

Plus, you can get last years model at a steep discount now that PI came out with a new model. Last I checked you could get them for less than $70 at Performance, while regularly they are $110.

Good luck.

wow thanks everyone. i will definately have to visit a few of the local bike shops and try on the sidi's and the PI's and see which fits best. sounds like the sidis are bad ass and will definately have to take everyones advice and try em out. Thanks again!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by HyperPhreak
wow thanks everyone. i will definately have to visit a few of the local bike shops and try on the sidi's and the PI's and see which fits best. sounds like the sidis are bad ass and will definately have to take everyones advice and try em out. Thanks again!

While there are many good shoes out there, I offer one word of caution. Carbon soles may make your feet go to sleep. They're not for everyone. I agree they are stiff, but comfort will take you much further than stiffness. I know this for a fact - my shoes are DMT Ultrimax RSX and Gaerne Carbon ARC brand. I love them for their fit and comfort (ventilation, toe-box fit, etc.), but they do put my feet to sleep on hour-plus rides. A little foot movement helps to keep them awake, but a mile or two down the road, and they've nodded off again.

Good luck with your purchase.

I'd like to put in a vote for the Specialized Carbon Pro shoe. I bought a pair a while back and I love them. They are much more comfortable than the old Shimano shoes that I used to have but that's what I get for buying a cheap shoe to first time and not getting something in either the upper end of the Shimano line or a Sidi or these Specialized shoes. Anyway, just my $.02. I know Sidi makes an awesome shoe cuz I ride with a ton of guys that wear them but I have quite a few friends with the new Specialized shoes too and they are doing great so far. They saved me about $100 over the Sidi's that I wanted too.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by need11@46
While there are many good shoes out there, I offer one word of caution. Carbon soles may make your feet go to sleep. They're not for everyone. I agree they are stiff, but comfort will take you much further than stiffness. I know this for a fact - my shoes are DMT Ultrimax RSX and Gaerne Carbon ARC brand. I love them for their fit and comfort (ventilation, toe-box fit, etc.), but they do put my feet to sleep on hour-plus rides. A little foot movement helps to keep them awake, but a mile or two down the road, and they've nodded off again.

Good luck with your purchase.

I don't think the stiff sole is what's putting your feet to sleep, but rather the shoes may be too tight, or you could have some other issues with nerve pressure or circulation.

I've had Shimano carbons, and now Carnac's. A rock-solid stiff sole which spreads out the pressure from the pedal is the way to go for comfort and efficiency, in my experience at least.

Another variable on road shoes is weight. A pair of carbon-sole road shoes doesn't need to weigh more than 500-600 grams. The Carnacs I have are tanks....over 800 grams in size 45.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by dhk
I don't think the stiff sole is what's putting your feet to sleep, but rather the shoes may be too tight, or you could have some other issues with nerve pressure or circulation.

I've had Shimano carbons, and now Carnac's. A rock-solid stiff sole which spreads out the pressure from the pedal is the way to go for comfort and efficiency, in my experience at least.

Another variable on road shoes is weight. A pair of carbon-sole road shoes doesn't need to weigh more than 500-600 grams. The Carnacs I have are tanks....over 800 grams in size 45.

dhk: For me, it's the carbon sole. I did not have this problem with my Sidi shoes which, unfortunately, I've replaced with the above. Also, I was warned of this by my LBS. There is ample room in the shoe(s) - I was fitted at the shop, and I don't strap myself in too tight (I'm not that good a rider that it matters...). It's likely that many will not experience this phenomenon, but I did, and only wish to pass along my experience. I'm glad you've not had a similar experience. I will probably go back to a non-carbon sole shoe. Thanks for sharing,

-Wm.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Powerful Pete
LOL, good one Dominic. I think you should send your CV to SIDI!

he he... not a bad idea... do you think they'd give me a free pair???

I like them so much I even put their sticker on my bike... and I'm not one for showing off other peoples/companies logos.