Bicycle Mechanics - What size shoes do I wear?

Okay, something is whacked. I wear USA size 11. That should translate into 45 European. Well, it does for me sort of. I have a pair of German made loafers that are size 45 that fit good. A little loose, but fine. Here’s the problem. I have an ancient pair of road bike shoes. I think they’re Dettos. Made in Italy. They are size 47. Those 47s are smaller than my German 45 loafers. Furthermore when I went to my local bike shop I tried on 45s and they were too small, about what you would expect when you compare size 45 bike shoes to my size 47 Dettos. So, have I just had a weird shoe experience or is there something to this? I’m wondering all this because I just ordered size 45 bike shoes from Nashbar.

Thanks!

Brian

Hi,
when ordering shoes by mail, it makes sense to order a couple at a time. The odds are pretty good neither will fit, but it does improve your chances a little. Once when I was trying to find a shoe for the wife, I got a bunch, maybe 6 pairs, had to send them all back.

It sounds as if you haven't done much shoe shopping of any kind or have been extremely naive about it . . . sizing is hardly standardized. At best, the numbers get you "in the neighborhood". You really have to try on the specific brand, and even type of shoe. I've seen discrepancies within the same brand (e.g. Salomon) with different types of shoes (e.g. Running vs Mountaineering boots).

Yours is an entirely normal and expected experience.

It sounds as if you haven't done much shoe shopping of any kind or have been extremely naive about it . . . sizing is hardly standardized. At best, the numbers get you "in the neighborhood". You really have to try on the specific brand, and even type of shoe. I've seen discrepancies within the same brand (e.g. Salomon) with different types of shoes (e.g. Running vs Mountaineering boots).

Yours is an entirely normal and expected experience.


Yeah, you'd think, but the differences seems beyond the bounds of normal. Here's a typical size chart:

US UK Europe
11 10.5 45
11.5 11 46
12 11.5 46.5
12.5 12 47

The difference between 45 and 47 is a full US size and a half. Anyway, I was just wondering if I was missing something and there was a special bicycle shoe size or something.

Thanks,

Brian

Yeah, you'd think, but the differences seems beyond the bounds of normal.
Well, that's my whole point . . . without standardization, there is no normal. And different mfgrs have different thoughts on what US sizes correspond to which Euro sizes.

Best not to get too hung up on the numbers. You know what they say about "if the shoe fits..."

I do know that Sidi shoes run smaller than others I've tried (at least the road shoes). It's a pain to have to send back the shoes (I like the order multiple at one time), but it's a necessary evil of sorts.

Yeah, you'd think, but the differences seems beyond the bounds of normal. Here's a typical size chart:

US UK Europe
11 10.5 45
11.5 11 46
12 11.5 46.5
12.5 12 47

The difference between 45 and 47 is a full US size and a half. Anyway, I was just wondering if I was missing something and there was a special bicycle shoe size or something.

Thanks,

Brian

The key word is "typical" in the euro sizing seems itself to be non-standard. I find the sizing charts in the popular cycling catalogs to be rather accurate - at least as they correlate to my sizing with various manufacturers of cycling shoes.

I take a 45 in Specialized with a size 10 1/2 American size.

With shoe manufacture migrating to sub-sub-sub-contractors in third (or fourth) world countries, there is no standardization on sizes at all. My wife wears a size 6. She tried on two different pairs of sandals from a major, high end, shoe company. Same style, same lot number. One pair fit; the other was too large. This problem exists in all phases of the shoe industry.

Good luck,
Doc

You will find that the conversion charts from different manufactures don't exactly line up.

Also, the manufacturing processes for mass production don't always produce uniform pieces. Especially when fabric or soft, pliable materials are used.

I am stuck with buying shoes online. That is why i just ordered some sandals that were 45/46. That way, i think they will most likely fit. I will wait to buy new shoes until i get somewhere that i can actually try them on. (and some LBS rep can try and force me into getting clipless.- not going to happen.)

For stuff that might or might not fit, best to go with LBS, if you can't order like someone else said, several pairs and return the ones that don't fit.

From one who lives in europe: Shoes made in northern europe generally conforms to the american sizing translation, shoes made in southern europe (italy) is 1,5-2 sizes smaller

Someone told me Shimano are 1 size smaller than my normal size, I'm a UK 8 and I wear Europe 43 which I think is a 9.