DUHI4GOT

Hi guys (gals),
As much as I would love to give all my business to the LBS, I would rather spend more for a better bike and get the same cycling accessories online for less. My question is, do you wear the same size cycling shoes as you do running shoes? I don't want to try it on at the LBS and not buy it there.

Thanks
Mark

Dubbayoo

Do not buy cycling shoes w/o trying them on. The end.

P.S. they vary a lot from brand to brand in both length and width.

pl8ster

Get the pedals online and buy the shoes at a brick-and-mortar shop.

noisebeam

Just buy the shoes locally and skip going out to dinner once and your even.

Alternately buy several shoes online and return the ones that don't fit. That will still end up costing the same as buying local.

Or if you have a Performance (or other online chain) locally try them on and beg for them to price match their own online price. Thats what I did for a helmet.

Al

urban.one

Go the LBS route. Try on as many shoes as you can and pick the ones that fit best and are in your price range. This way you have a better chance of being happy with your shoes. If you buy them online its hit and miss; you could save a few bucks but unhappy with the shoes; and then end up spending more if youre going to replace them sooner in order to get a better fitting pair.

merlinextraligh

In my experience, a lot of cycling shoes tend to be built on narrow lasts (I think its the european influence) With wide feet, I've found it difficult to find shoes that fit well. For me at least, just knowing that I needed a size 48 didn't begin to tell me which brand's size 48 was going to work for me. You really got to try them on.

In the last hour of your first century with the new shoes, the $20 bucks you saved on line is going to seem completely irrelevant as your feet scream at you.

Mariner Fan

Truer words were never spoken. You can't guess on this.

pgaulrapp

i bought the pedals online and the shoes in the store. I don't think i would've gotten the size correct if i didn't.

Plus, some shoes (like some of the answer models) look really cool but don't have the right stiffness and/or have annoying features like flappy things meant to hold laces down.

Most places are having killer off-season sales right now. I got a nice pair of specialized for about $80 over the weekend.

GP

That's what I do too.

DUHI4GOT

Okay, thanks guys. I think I'll go this route

MORANTE

I replaced my three year old Diadoras about four months ago, and I had the same dilemma as you at the time; I end up going to the LBS trying the shoes and buying them there. A decision I don't regret at all, I might have spend a few more $$$ but the way I see it save me from future problems. I have bought two pairs of mountain shoes online and the fit was never perfect as every manufacturer has their own sizing standards.

pl8ster

And before you buy pedals, make sure you check the prices at probikekit.com. Ultegra pedals for just under $80 is tough to beat, and the Keo Sprints are $85.

EDIT: I'm not a shill, I just play one on TV