Shoes

[Parera]

My Specialized BG Prowhatevertheycallem are getting to the point that they have a winter left in them and they are probably done. More khaki than white these days. This is one Specialized product I have been happy with, but I'm not liking anything in their current lineup. I use Shimano on my dirt bikes which I like very much, but the heel on their road shoes is a bit slip happy so I probably wouldn't go there either.

Price ceiling is $300, though spending less is fine by me. Giro's road shoes look nice, I'm a huge fan of their gloves and helmets. I was also digging the styling on The Fizik R3. Sidi's fit me pretty well, but cost becomes an issue as I think you can get nicer shoes from other companies for less (unless I go with prior year models).

So what are you lovely people wearing on your feet? Just looking for anyone's thoughts/experiences. I think 95% of the people in town are riding old Nike Lance Specials, Bontrager, Specialized or the cheaper Sidis...

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I use this model, other colour though... Might have to change them after this winter as well....

 

[fabramowski]

any kind of sidi I would buy, I do ride the Giro prolight slx and they are light and have a good fit even using the light insole I don't get any hot spots...

 

[richwagmn]

I use this model, other colour though... Might have to change them after this winter as well....

I second this shoe. Rodeit all summer. Super well ventilated, stiff, excellent closure.

Get some different insoles though. I like e-soles myself.

 

[Ruby60]

Specialized Shoes

Don't the specialized shoes have varus wedging built in?
How does one get around this if they have a valgus morphology? Lots of compensating wedging I suppose....

I'd look for a shoe with a flat sole.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Sidi and Vittoria for road, Gaerne and Lake for mtb.

I like shoe makers who's only business is shoes, not bikes, bags, tires, clothes, blah, blah, blah.

 

[steelciocc]

Sidi

Sidi Genius 4 or 5

You can find them on-line all the time for ~$150

 

[Parera]

Sidi and Vittoria for road, Gaerne and Lake for mtb.

I like shoe makers who's only business is shoes, not bikes, bags, tires, clothes, blah, blah, blah.

I love the fit of Sidi, very glove like. And I'm looking at the Ergo 3 in this ad flashing on the side...hmm. I think I could probably find a deal on the Ergo 2 if I looked hard enough.

Also, do you apply that shoe rule across the board? That is, bars/stems only from companies like Deda Elementi, saddles by Fizik, Selle Italia, and so on and so forth? Not judging, just asking. My own take is that the big brands Specialized/Trek/Cannondale/Giant don't make things I would voluntarily put on my bike...

 

[Notso Swift]

Sidi and Vittoria for road, Gaerne and Lake for mtb.

I like shoe makers who's only business is shoes, not bikes, bags, tires, clothes, blah, blah, blah.

Vittoria's core business would be...


Bont maybe a bit out of the price range depending on where you are. Time are made by DTM IIRC and are quite good but can be too stiff for some. But best all round is Sidi, keep away from both ends of the price spectrum (top or bottom lines) and there is good value. Value being more than price

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Vittoria's core business would be...

Two totally separate companies that share the same name, one makes shoes, the other makes tires.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Also, do you apply that shoe rule across the board? That is, bars/stems only from companies like Deda Elementi, saddles by Fizik, Selle Italia, and so on and so forth?

Yes, generally speaking I do gear up with smaller companies that have singular focus.

 

[fabramowski]

Yes, generally speaking I do gear up with smaller companies that have singular focus.

most companies in the cycling buisness do more then just sell one product.

Fizik - saddles, shoes...

Deda - stem, handlbars, seatpost, frames...

sella - saddles, seatpost......

 

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Giro's road shoes look nice, I'm a huge fan of their gloves and helmets. I was also digging the styling on The Fizik R3.

Until recently, my last pair of Sidis were Genius 2s, which I liked just fine but when I crashed them I didn't replace them because I hated the way Sidi made it difficult to find their shoes discounted and in my size (45.5). After about 15 years of riding other shoes that broke (Diadora, Adidas), I got a pair of Genius 5s because of their build quality. Sidi's microlock buckle is like few others, and I would definitely check out the Giros and Fiziks in person before buying them, because flimsy construction is not worth a few grams and a few dollars in the long run.

 

[Notso Swift]

Two totally separate companies that share the same name, one makes shoes, the other makes tires.

My Bad, happy to be humbled

most companies in the cycling buisness do more then just sell one product.

Fizik - saddles, shoes...

Deda - stem, handlbars, seatpost, frames...

sella - saddles, seatpost......

Those have a "core" business though. Fizik and Sella are famous for seats, but they just "make" other stuff. Bit different to (say) Specialized who in the 80's were known for tyres with a bit of a following for bikes among those "odd" MTB types! (thatr is what we saw in AU, at least) Now I doubt tyres are worth more than about 1% of their business!

I should except Deda, but technically they run Deda Elemnti for accessories separate to Dedacciai which is born from materials. (They didn't even promote their own frames until a couple of years ago)

 

[Boeing]

The New Giro line is worth checking out

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

most companies in the cycling buisness do more then just sell one product.

Fizik - saddles, shoes...

Deda - stem, handlbars, seatpost, frames...

sella - saddles, seatpost......

I don't need a lesson in this, 20+ years in the industry, thanks anyway. Most people get it, can't help it if you get stuck on semantics, maybe your helmet is on to tight, I don't know.

 

[Stingray34]

Wow, that's interesting: two different Vittorias. That makes three separate companies of that name (I know of) - the other being the ground coffee manufacturer.

There's another new thread idea - favorite grounds for espresso! This could probably even go in bikes and gear.

 

[luckyboy]

 

[Stingray34]

Man, those things are out there. It made it easy to spot Burghardt at the Tour, though

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

There's another new thread idea - favorite grounds for espresso! This could probably even go in bikes and gear.

Velvet Hammer

 

[Stingray34]

Velvet Hammer

Don't know that one, but I am in Oz. Would like to try the Magnus Backstedt Java. Still searching for the perfect blend. Kinda like Lavazza - pretty even in quality.

 

[Parera]

Hmm. Maybe I can try some Fizik and Giros on when I head down to the Bay Area and get out of nowhere Oregon in a couple weeks. If not, eBay/interwebs for Sigi Ergo 2, which are pretty comparable in price. Also thinking of dumping pedals too, just to try something new. Ultegra 6600 pedals have performed great, maybe its time to try Time, Speedplay or Look.

 

[Parera]

Hmm. Maybe I can try some Fizik and Giros on when I head down to the Bay Area and get out of nowhere Oregon in a couple weeks. If not, eBay/interwebs for Sigi Ergo 2, which are pretty comparable in price. Also thinking of dumping pedals too, just to try something new. Ultegra 6600 pedals have performed great, maybe its time to try Time, Speedplay or Look.

Tried Giro; SLX pro and a model with a buckle. They were ok; SLX is light. Cheaply made though, judging by appearance. Easton/bell looked like they cut a few corners. Fiziks were nice; understated, Italian craftsmanship. Fit was nice and roomy. The sail cloth straps though look suspect.

Sidi it is, I think. Now I will just have to figure out which pair. Those ergo 3 white/black/red are sharp, so are the white ones. Hmmmm. Also thinking keo blades for pedals.

 

[LugHugger]

Tried Giro; SLX pro and a model with a buckle. They were ok; SLX is light. Cheaply made though, judging by appearance. Easton/bell looked like they cut a few corners. Fiziks were nice; understated, Italian craftsmanship. Fit was nice and roomy. The sail cloth straps though look suspect.

Sidi it is, I think. Now I will just have to figure out which pair. Those ergo 3 white/black/red are sharp, so are the white ones. Hmmmm. Also thinking keo blades for pedals.

You might want to try the Mavic line of shoes. They have excellent reputation from their years of making the adidas branded models and their own brand have been positively reviewed.

I don't wear road shoes but do race with Mavic Fury's and they're peerless in my opinion. They're on their second 'cross season now and are at least as good as my Sidi Dominator Pro's, which I had no complaints about either. Sidi's are pricey (as are the Mavic's) but have always been fantastic vfm simply because they fit so well and seem to go on and on for tens of thousands of miles in my experience.

 

[veganrob]

If you need a bit of a wider toe box try Northwave. After 3 seasons wearing Aerlite SBS they just keep feeling better.