Road Cycling - Is this correct? Shoe Quesiton

I had a guy at a bike shop I went to today that said I was tightening my shoes way too much. He tightened them to what he said was sufficient, but it was way less than I have been tightening them. I didn't ride tonight, but I am thinking my foot is going to slip. He said the reason was that our feet swell while riding and I needed this looser fit to accomodate this. Is this correct?

Don't listen to the guy from the LBS. Tightened it so that YOU feel comfortable, not him, he doesn't have your feet. When you feel swell during riding, you can loosen it up on the road, people do it all the time.

Don't listen to the guy from the LBS. Tightened it so that YOU feel comfortable, not him, he doesn't have your feet. When you feel swell during riding, you can loosen it up on the road, people do it all the time.

Yeah, I told him I never had a problem with the swelling. I just like I pedal more efficiently with the shoes being tighter. I know little about cycling and gear. I am a bike store's nightmare. They always laugh at my old road shoes and mtn bike shoes. They really laugh at my bike when they see I have a 2003 Lemond Alpe D' Huez that has no upgrades except for a new chain and brake pads. Due to this lack of obsession over gear and upgrades, I know very little as far as the specifics of cycling. I know how to pedal and that is all I really care about. So, I usually just assume that they know more than I do about it. That is until I come back and post here to get the real deal. Sorry for the rambling.

Anyone else have an opinion on the subject?

If you're not getting blisters or numb feet during your longer rides, ignore him and keep riding.

Yeah, I told him I never had a problem with the swelling. I just like I pedal more efficiently with the shoes being tighter. I know little about cycling and gear. I am a bike store's nightmare. They always laugh at my old road shoes and mtn bike shoes. They really laugh at my bike when they see I have a 2003 Lemond Alpe D' Huez that has no upgrades except for a new chain and brake pads. Due to this lack of obsession over gear and upgrades, I know very little as far as the specifics of cycling. I know how to pedal and that is all I really care about. So, I usually just assume that they know more than I do about it. That is until I come back and post here to get the real deal. Sorry for the rambling.

Anyone else have an opinion on the subject?

The shop has a piss-poor attitude. Find a new shop.

How comfortable you are is what's important since it varies from person to person. Someone can tell you what something should fit like but if it doesn't work for you then do what does and don't worry about it; when the fit isn't right you'll know.

I had a guy at a bike shop I went to today that said I was tightening my shoes way too much. He tightened them to what he said was sufficient, but it was way less than I have been tightening them. I didn't ride tonight, but I am thinking my foot is going to slip. He said the reason was that our feet swell while riding and I needed this looser fit to accomodate this. Is this correct?

Does someone tie your work/school shoes for you in the morning before you go out?


Yes, your feet may swell while riding longer distances, but if you can tie your own shoes I'm sure you can manage to loosen your shoes when you start feeling tightness or pain.

Does someone tie your work/school shoes for you in the morning before you go out?


Yes, your feet may swell while riding longer distances, but if you can tie your own shoes I'm sure you can manage to loosen your shoes when you start feeling tightness or pain.

:rolleyes: I was just checking if there was some thinking behind this concept that made it make sense that I wasn't understanding. Like I said, I just ride. Most guys that work in bike shops are going to know more than I do. So, I just came here to get a second opinion. Thanks for the help, I guess.

I find that looser fit in the shoes helps keep hotfoot/Morton's neuroma/numb foot at bay, especially with ultra-hard-soled roadbike shoes. Cinching down the velcro straps and ratchets on my SPD-R shoes just makes my feet sore after a relatively short distance or any amount of out-of-seat climbing (or even in-seat climbing). Loosening them off a tad does wonders for my comfort.

I've been the same with my MTB shoes that I have used for touring and the vast majority of my cycling until recently. If I lace them too tight, it seems to narrow the toebox, and press down too much on the top of the feet.

But, if you are comfortable with what you have... you can always find out by experimenting. Try a looser fit and see what happens. That is how people like me resolve their bike problems, and then can offer gratuitous advice to others on BikeForums.

I agree on the comfort thing. I always adjust it while on a ride every time. Your LBS person just seems to be pushing his opinions on you.

well he meant well right? being new i'm getting lots of advice but some of it just feels really wrong to me and makes me uncomfortable so i dismiss it.

That is until I come back and post here to get the real deal.


:roflmao2::roflmao2:

ohmygawd...

Ok, am I the only person that does not notice my feet swelling during rides??

I put my Sidis on, tighten then up and go...I ride 25km, 50km, 100km, 160km....You get the picture...And I never touch the shoes...

Ok, am I the only person that does not notice my feet swelling during rides??

I put my Sidis on, tighten then up and go...I ride 25km, 50km, 100km, 160km....You get the picture...And I never touch the shoes...


Neither do I. Nor did I when I was racing in those old Coppi laced up shoes with steel cleats, toe clips, and couldn't do anythng about it even if they had.

I would worry about swelling with a more impact type of sport. ie running. I wouldn't worry about it to much. you should have some looseness to avoid said problems and possible 'compartment syndrome', but you'd know if you started having that. It's alot about comfort and alot about health. Find the happy medium and eff everyone else.

Yeah, I told him I never had a problem with the swelling. I just like I pedal more efficiently with the shoes being tighter. I know little about cycling and gear. I am a bike store's nightmare. They always laugh at my old road shoes and mtn bike shoes. They really laugh at my bike when they see I have a 2003 Lemond Alpe D' Huez that has no upgrades except for a new chain and brake pads. Due to this lack of obsession over gear and upgrades, I know very little as far as the specifics of cycling. I know how to pedal and that is all I really care about. So, I usually just assume that they know more than I do about it. That is until I come back and post here to get the real deal. Sorry for the rambling.

Anyone else have an opinion on the subject?

Did anyone tell your LBS that the shoes are adjustable? Might be good info in the future.

Adjust 'em where you want. If too tight or loose, readjust. Repeat as necessary.

Ok, am I the only person that does not notice my feet swelling during rides??

I put my Sidis on, tighten then up and go...I ride 25km, 50km, 100km, 160km....You get the picture...And I never touch the shoes...


Neither do I. Nor did I when I was racing in those old Coppi laced up shoes with steel cleats, toe clips, and couldn't do anythng about it even if they had.


My feet don't swell until I get up into double centuries or longer. The only exception to that might be if the day is very, very hot.