Any experience with used shoes? Would new footbeds make the shoes like new?

A friend has a pair of well loved, modern, carbon-soled, shoes in my exact size. He is willing to let me have them for a song, but does cycling "personalize" shoes similar to how walking/running does? They were not heat molded, just worn a bunch. They look pretty good, just a few minor scuffs (patina?).

I would never use someone else's running shoes, but cycling shoes? Thoughts?

Oh, and I tried them on and they fit. I could feel that they were not MY shoes, but would new footbeds fix this? In other words, re the footbeds the only thing that really forms to the rider while riding since the soles are so stiff (carbon)?

Nobody makes shoes for slotted cleats anymore, so I've bought and ridden used shoes without problems. Cycling shoes have much stiffer soles than running shoes and modern shoes tend have synthetic uppers that don't shape themselves to your feet like old-school leather, so I suspect that even if you do have a problem, you could simply pull out the insole and replace it to get a like-new fit.

A friend of mine is the Imelda Marcos of the bicycling world.

Claims he has fit issues, but I think it is a convenient excuse to buy at will.

Luckily, we have the same size 44.5s.

All three of my pairs of Sidis have come from him and I don't think any of them had more than 10 miles on them when I picked them up.

Lucky me.

I've bought used Dettos before. No problems.

Are they leather uppers?

Leather uppers. Carbon soles. Cork insoles/footbeds. Velcro straps.

My luck with used shoes is about the same as my luck with new shoes; sometimes good, sometimes bad.

I sold my SiDi Kangaroo leather shoes, you missed them..

my feet are so weird and deform shoes so strangely, no one would ever want my used shoes.
I don't like used shoes, used canvas bags, used saddles.

I bought my Specialized '74s lightly used from eBay and have no regrets. It was at the same time I bought a new pair of Giro Empire SLX and a new pair of Specialized S-Works shoes (expensive month!).

All three pairs felt a touch different but there was nothing "used" feeling about the '74s.

74s, would those be a touch more retro than 76s?

I may be getting my threads mixed up here.

A buddy recently bought a pair of Sidi carbon soled road shoes and wound up not liking the fit after a couple rides. He takes a size 47 but I take a 49, otherwise I would be rocking a pair of slightly used Sidi carbon soled road shoes right now.

BTW, That is a really beautiful shoe.

[MENTION=333310]Wilfred Laurier[/MENTION], what shoes do you ride in? I'm looking for big shoes.

I agree so much that I also bought the podium version called Stumpy. Just a flat soled shoe with boa enclosures. Pretty cool though IMO.

I bought the '74 gloves also but have to say they were terrible. The leather was hard, they fit lousy and ripped apart.

I had Shimano SPDs in 45 and fell off my house years ago and broke both feet. When healed I required bigger shoes and got some used SPDs in 47 from a friend and they fit me fine. Interestingly, I have new broken bone in my left foot and these are the only shoes I have that do not make my foot hurt.

Bought some Sidis at the swap for $10. Left them at the cabin. One less thing to haul.

1-Get a fungicide (I'm serious) and simply clean them inside very well, and outside.
2-An old pair of insoles work great, especially running shoes or dress shoes (thin and light)
3-There's always Dr. Scholl's.

The main thing is to get them clean. Zinsser makes excellent fungicides, use a liquid and let them get good and wet, wipe out and air dry.

Yes, folks, they're just shoes.

I have that problem with wives.

I bought a pair of NOS Rivat shoes in box from a guy in France. Had to nail cleats on. I was looking for some Adidas Eddy Merykx like my old ones but couldn't find them in my size. I wouldn't hesitate to buy some used shoes and wear them.

I have never purchased new shoes. I currently have 7-8 pairs or so. About half of them have come with the bikes I have purchased. Others were either never used or used a couple times. All were in very good to excellent condition. I have no problems with used since all my bikes are used and all groupsets I have are used. If they function use them.

So... I decided to pass. I don't need -or even particularly want- another pair of shoes. I already have 3 that I really like.

I told him to sell 'em on ebay where they will certainly fetch at least double what he was offering to me. FWIW, they are 1 year-old Rapha GT shoes in black that he wore maybe 25-30 times. He wanted only $50 for 'em.... Size 46.5.

Exactly like these (but with a bit more patina )

I just ordered a pair of used shoes. im worried about size than the thought they are used.

My road shoes are Sidi Genious IV (I think - they are quite old now)
My mtb shoes are Specialized BG Comp (I think). Both in size 49 fit well.

Years ago I tried a pair of Sidi 'mega' width shoes. My feet were absolutely swimming in them. The regular width sizes fit my big feet perfectly.

If you took out the insole, or found a thinner one to replace the old one with, the shoes would likely fit. I found a nice set of brand new Nashbar shoes at a thrift store that were slightly too small. Took out the insole and they fit perfectly now.