getting so hard to find decent touring shoes, old-fangled style like
cannondales or avocets, with stiff sole yet good for walking.

had been avoiding these DZR's due to bad reviews, but when they
were marked down to $8.....

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm...id=15246515394

come in two versions: black "vegan" PU (from their marketing), or
tan suede. both are low-rise style with a velcro strap to keep the
laces out of the chain. they call 'em "urban" shoes or some such
nonsense.

sizing charts were all over the place, depending on which reseller.
i wear 12EE or 46.5 running, went with the 47's since many reviews
recommend up a size.

47 actually felt a bit too roomy. plenty of toebox room, feels like
an extra wide shoe. i could wear a 46, but will just add a thicker
running insole.

i've got wellgo platform B-58 platform pedals (10x10cm) with clips
and straps. dice have a smooth bumper and ribbed (not lugged)
sole. easy in/out with the straps.

solid stiff sole with NO flex (went on 50km test ride) and no hot
spots. very comfy. walked the bike a couple times around the
track perimeter, about 1km. felt a bit loose in the heel, but
maybe due to largish size? anyway, good enough for walking a
couple km if needed.

photos below show the size 47 dice next to a size 46 arcore mtb
shoe. both same length at 32cm. dice a bit narrower at 10.5
relative to the arcore 11cm. both weigh 1600g for the pair.

the online ad for the shoes showed having to cut the sole with
a razor to reveal the spd thingies. mine came pre-cut.

of interest to luddites is that the spd cleat thingamabob is
a softer rubber compound, so no clicking on tile floors in
museums. they are also recessed about 2.5mm, so no
contact unless on uneven surfaces. in contrast, the arcore
spd whatsits are a harder compound flush with the sole.