Time for new Shoes....help!

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

halcyongolf
Posts: 118
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:24 pm

by halcyongolf

So after a long lay-off I have started to cycle seriously again. Although my old Sidis are bombproof and still pretty comfortable after a 3 hour ride, I have this compelling need to buy something new.

1. My Sidis fit me fairly well even though I have Hobbit/flipper feet. I know the common refrain is that Sidis are "narrow," but for me Sidis are actually quite wide as I have a wide foot right at the base of the toe/ball of the foot, but short toes. Sidis tend to sharply move from the ball of the foot to a smaller point in the front, so if you have longer toes they can feel very narrow. However for me and my short toes, they provide volume I need. Plus the lorica has stretched where I need it!

2. I'm not sure what model my Sidis are, but they were the first model with the all carbon sole and the heel cup retention system. They have a buckle and 2 velcro straps. I LOVE the heel cup. It's the best thing about the fit of my current shoes. despite my flippers, I like a tight narrow fit at the heel, and with my Sidis I get very little slippage. When I tried other companies "wide" shoes, I often got heel lift, especially with super stiff carbon soles.

3. I tried a pair of Shimano RP9 wides for a bit, but got rid of them. They were as wide as my Sidis at the widest point, but I didn't benefit from the rounder wider overall toe box (see point 1). The main issue for me was the heel fit wasn't as good, and simply I wasn't getting anything out of them I couldn't get from my 10 year old Sidis. I did LOVE the weight however.

4. So I'm looking for suggestions folks! Options:

A. Sidi Shot. I worry about the shots because on my current shoes my ratchet is set at "13" or the widest setting on the Sidi overlap piece. I have a high instep and I worry the shots and the placement of the techno buckles will not work for me. Anyone use a 12 or 13 setting on their old Sidis use Shots?

B. Sidi Wire. I think the Wires would solve my only concern from the Shots, however they don't look as good...

C. Fizik R3b. On sale now and they look great. No idea on fit. Could be an expensive experiment.

D. Shimano S-Phyre wide. Although the RP9s didn't do it for me, I think the more narrow heel cup of the RC9 could work for me. Thoughts?

Anything I'm missing folks? Re-discovering this community has frightened my credit card...

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Squashednuts
Posts: 546
Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2017 11:12 am
Location: Christchurch New Zealand

by Squashednuts

halcyongolf wrote:
Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:05 pm


Anything I'm missing folks? Re-discovering this community has frightened my credit card...
I've just bought a pair of Blanco's from Velokicks

https://velo-kicks.com.au

Reportedly they have a roomy toebox.

I've not ridden in them yet...will PM you with my impression
Last edited by Squashednuts on Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Building Spec Allez

Sold
Fuji SL 5.5kg viewtopic.php?f=10&t=157704

Sold -
Izalco Max Disc 6.7kg http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... o+Max+disc

topflightpro
Posts: 829
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:35 am

by topflightpro

Go custom. I'm very happy with my Riivos.

User avatar
dgasmd
Posts: 1953
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:10 am
Location: South Florida

by dgasmd

topflightpro wrote:
Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:03 pm
Go custom. I'm very happy with my Riivos.
Those RIIVO go from $1000-1400. You can almost buy 5 pairs of other highly rate and good shoes and still be at the same expense.

Having had a pretty bad and expensive experience with custom shoes (D2D), I would seriously caution anyone going this route with a couple of exceptions. If you have seriously wide and malformed feet, or you have the luxury of being able to walk into the maker's shop for measurements and adjustments. Short of that, save yourself the aggravation and expense. I sincerely believe most people getting custom shoes these days with the abundant variety of models on the shelves simply do it for the feeling of something unique/uncommon or because they have not tried enough models/brands to find several that fit them very well.

YMMV :smartass:

User avatar
853guy
Posts: 225
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:48 pm

by 853guy

I'm planning on picking up a new pair of shoes for summer. I'm currently using a pair of fi'zi:k's and though I've been pretty happy for a guy with regular sized feet, but slightly wide in the forefoot (needing a wider toe box), I'm keen for a bit more comfort.

These are at the top of the list:

http://suplest-shop.com/products/shoes/ ... s-115.html

Best,

853guy
Last edited by 853guy on Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
reknop
Posts: 313
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:15 am

by reknop

I'm biased and a huge Sidi Wire SP fan ... very comfortable slippers where I can replace almost every part. Using the Sidis with Solestar BLK insoles to keep my feet in a stable and comfortable position. I have narrow feet, and not the hobbit ones you are talking about. :)

https://www.remo-knops.com/7449/sidi-wi ... rbon-sole/
https://www.remo-knops.com/5692/solesta ... g-insoles/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
https://www.cycling-review.net

dmp
Posts: 422
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 8:31 pm
Location: Seattle

by dmp

If you have had good luck with the Sidis (as I have) why not stick with them? They do make a wide model, too, called the mega fit, but it's only available in 2 models as far as I know (the Ergo and the Genius).
As far as appearance, to my thinking there are two bike items for which appearance is a distant secondary concern: saddles and shoes. For those, fit is the critical issue, unless you are willing to sacrifice comfort for vanity!

halcyongolf
Posts: 118
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:24 pm

by halcyongolf

dmp wrote:
Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:15 am
If you have had good luck with the Sidis (as I have) why not stick with them? They do make a wide model, too, called the mega fit, but it's only available in 2 models as far as I know (the Ergo and the Genius).
As far as appearance, to my thinking there are two bike items for which appearance is a distant secondary concern: saddles and shoes. For those, fit is the critical issue, unless you are willing to sacrifice comfort for vanity!

I think it's the feeling there is something better out there that drives us to stray from the tried and true. For example today after my 3 hour ride, my left foot felt a little numb and of course I thought "if only my shoes fit a bit better!"

As for the person who recommended Suplest, how did you size your shoe versus a Sidi or Shimano? I wear a 45 or 45.5 in Sidi, but going all the way down to a 44 seems a bit odd to me...

sungod
Posts: 1702
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:37 pm

by sungod

thing is that shoe fit is individual, what's better for one person may be awful for another

when i tried sidi i found the footbed awful, if you are getting numbness on long rides i'd try footbeds with a metatarsal button - specialised bg for instance, i use my old efit ones but they're no longer available - i find this prevents the problem

if you can find a store to try them, consider bont, the heel cup can be moulded as as you like, i switched from s-works (i like the 2nd gen, each one since has been worse imo), to lake (they were a disaster), then to bont vaypor s, spent a while getting the moulding right, they're the best shoes i've had so far, light, stiff, comfy even on long/hot rides

patchsurfer
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:27 pm

by patchsurfer

FWIW, I find the fizik fit suits me and I have reasonably long / thin feet - definitely not hobbit flippers. They also have quite a high arch out of the box, although obvs you can change the insole. Very well made and tough as old boots, so if they fit...my old R3's are still going strong after 5 years.

User avatar
micky
Posts: 5765
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:57 pm
Location: Vicenza
Contact:

by micky

I've been using the original Fizik R1, R3B and now R1B.
The R3B were very well made, the quality is what really surprise me everytime compare to many other brands I've used in past.
Super comfortable; if they fit you, that would be my suggestion.

Ravnsnaes
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:48 pm
Location: Denmark

by Ravnsnaes

Sizing question:

I'm currently using Specialized S-Works 6 shoes in size 43,5.

I'm looking at Bont Vaypor S in 44 (tried the size wizard) and Sidi Shot in size 44. Anyone who can help with size comparison to my current Specialized?

uraqt
Posts: 1108
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:53 am

by uraqt

Don't buy new shoes, or if you really must just buy replacements/backups get Sidis.... FYI the Ergo 4 Carbon has the biggest fit range...

Unless you do "something" to your sidis they should last almost for ever.....

Build new wheels, that is a bunch of stuff you would need to purchase... books, stand, spokes, tools, hubs and rims to start..

C

patchsurfer
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:27 pm

by patchsurfer

How old are your footbeds? Might be worth changing just them, if you're getting hotspots...?

Mtek
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:27 pm

by Mtek

I love Sidi, been wearing the brand for mx boots for years. I’m loyal to the company. However, I recently had a fit..tried Sidi, Lake, and S works. S-Works 6 wise were the best fit for me and I purchased. Heel nice and snug, they are light and stiff. They are not as nice looking as the Sidi, but I went for fit first.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply