I am a fairly new cyclist, and bought Speedplay pedals with my bike. I love them, and feel like I should be using a Speedplay specific sole to get the most out of the efficiencies of the Speedplay pedal. I bought Speedplay specific DMT Radial 2's ($250), but they are staining the tops of my feet black and the velcro straps aren't great at getting a good fit, so I am sending the shoes back.
I had been on the fence between the Genius 6.6 ($379) or the DMTs when I originally bought my shoes, so I went back to look at the price difference now that I am exchanging them. On that page, I saw the Ergo 3s ($450) and the Wires ($499). As long as I am spending more, I want to get what I will love the most. Then I remembered that the Rapha shoes are $479 with shoe trees and neoprene overshoes included, so now I am trying to decide between the four shoes.
The Wires (speedplay specific)
Pros: arguably the most advanced shoe on the market
Cons: They may be sized too aggressively for me (some say the Erog 3 and the Wire aren't as roomy as the Genius)
They cost the most of all of the shoes.
I am not sure how much I would like the wire closure system
The Ergo 3 (Speedplay specific)
Pros: I like the look of them, and they were the nicest shoes last year. They are the second lowest priced option.
Cons: May be too aggressively sized (not super roomy), and for only $25 I can get overshoes and shoe trees with the Rapha shoes (but no Speedplay specific sole)
The Genius 6.6 (Speedplay sole)
Pros: least expensive option, said to be the preference of many Sidi pro riders due to a roomier fit
Cons: Not a huge fan of their only colorway: Disco blue.
Rapha Grand Tour (3 hole sole)
Pros: I may be a marketing sucker, but they look so awesome and I totally buy in to the Rapha quality promises.
Rapha will repair any damage sustained during a crash.
Seem less geared toward pro riders, more toward club riders
Come with shoe trees and neoprene shoe covers for less than the Wires and for only $25 more than the Ergo 3
Cons: No Speedplay specific sole, so stack height and weight are affected
Seem less technologically advanced
I am asking for advice from people who have used both Speedplay specific soles and 3 hole shoes with a cleat adaptor for speedplay pedals. Is there that much of a difference? Also, any comparisons between these shoes, specifically Rapha versus sidi, or sidi genius versus sidi ergo 3 would be very helpful. I don't have a shop locally that stocks Sidi speedplay specific shoes, and there is not a Rapha shop within 150 miles, so just trying them on is not an option. Thanks again.
I had been on the fence between the Genius 6.6 ($379) or the DMTs when I originally bought my shoes, so I went back to look at the price difference now that I am exchanging them. On that page, I saw the Ergo 3s ($450) and the Wires ($499). As long as I am spending more, I want to get what I will love the most. Then I remembered that the Rapha shoes are $479 with shoe trees and neoprene overshoes included, so now I am trying to decide between the four shoes.
The Wires (speedplay specific)
Pros: arguably the most advanced shoe on the market
Cons: They may be sized too aggressively for me (some say the Erog 3 and the Wire aren't as roomy as the Genius)
They cost the most of all of the shoes.
I am not sure how much I would like the wire closure system
The Ergo 3 (Speedplay specific)
Pros: I like the look of them, and they were the nicest shoes last year. They are the second lowest priced option.
Cons: May be too aggressively sized (not super roomy), and for only $25 I can get overshoes and shoe trees with the Rapha shoes (but no Speedplay specific sole)
The Genius 6.6 (Speedplay sole)
Pros: least expensive option, said to be the preference of many Sidi pro riders due to a roomier fit
Cons: Not a huge fan of their only colorway: Disco blue.
Rapha Grand Tour (3 hole sole)
Pros: I may be a marketing sucker, but they look so awesome and I totally buy in to the Rapha quality promises.
Rapha will repair any damage sustained during a crash.
Seem less geared toward pro riders, more toward club riders
Come with shoe trees and neoprene shoe covers for less than the Wires and for only $25 more than the Ergo 3
Cons: No Speedplay specific sole, so stack height and weight are affected
Seem less technologically advanced
I am asking for advice from people who have used both Speedplay specific soles and 3 hole shoes with a cleat adaptor for speedplay pedals. Is there that much of a difference? Also, any comparisons between these shoes, specifically Rapha versus sidi, or sidi genius versus sidi ergo 3 would be very helpful. I don't have a shop locally that stocks Sidi speedplay specific shoes, and there is not a Rapha shop within 150 miles, so just trying them on is not an option. Thanks again.