WhyFi

The lasts of my current shoes were evidently changed twice since I bought them, so I can't order a direct replacement (back to the drawing board).
My feet are somewhat wide and it's difficult to find something that fits well.
I won't deal with shipping back and forth multiple times in an effort to find something that fits - ain't nobody got time for that.
I abhor showrooming and will not do it (IOW, I'm paying B&M retail this time around)
Limited local availability because wider shoes are often not stocked.

WhyFi

See the above post. I wish that I could just buy again - it would be so easy.

Bah Humbug

Ew, that's always bad. And as a fellow wide-footer, I feel your pain.

datlas 

Agree this sounds like a pita. I have similar issue in that my feet need narrow, but I am lucky that Sidi makes shoes in narrow width that fit me well (44S).

rjones28 

Oh?

rjones28 

Bummer

Rowan

I am getting to the point of buying two of stuff I really like to have one in reserve when the first one wears out.

I had some brown Diadora Santa Cruz MTB shoes that looked smart and did everything I wanted from them, including lots of randonnees. The soles wore down, and the local cobbler wouldn't touch bike shoes when asked if he could put Vibram soles on them. The issue was basically resolved when the whole sole on the left shoe stripped off the upper part during a casual recovery ride after a 300km randonnee in Queensland.

I did buy another pair of grey Diadoras after finding they had discontinued the Santa Cruz line. I had hoped the last and the inner structure would be the same. Nope. They are comfortable enough, but just don't do it quite the way the old ones did.

The closest now is a pair of Louis Garneau MTB shoes, were the right price, and are fairly light. But that lightness comes from extensive use of mesh in the uppers, and really they are warm to hot weather shoes... not suited to riding through the night in low temps.

Fortunately, I don't have particularly wide feet, but like helmets, saddles and gloves, fit is important right up front.

The search goes on...

jtaylor996

So far, yeah.

rjones28 

First Strava activity since February. Helping Mrs. rjones28 get some trike legs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1032534708

Trsnrtr

Kudos!

WhyFi

The good news is that, after searching inventories online, I seem to have two decent candidates that I should be able to try on tomorrow -

Shimano C7 (I had some okay-fitting Shimanos in the past, and these are supposed to be pretty generous in the toe box and they come in an extra wide, if necessary) -



And the Spec Expert (my crapped-out shoes are 2013[?] Spec Experts, which went to a narrower last in 2016 and then went back towards the wide end in 2017, but they're not exactly the same as <2015, I don't think) -

WhyFi

Oh, and just like that *poof* baby raccoon is gone. Disappeared shortly before sunset, so I don't think that momma came back yet, but hopefully s/he's someplace on mom's route.

rjones28 

Since you're looking at Specialized shoes, check out the Audax. Available in wide sizing and it has a stiffer sole than the Expert.

BillyD

Nice shot, Hummer. That's a Crested Caracara. They're native to the southwest, occasionally making their way east to Florida. However in an extremely rare and bizarre move, one of them wandered all the way north to the Hudson Valley in NY . . . in March. For those who don't know, it's still rather cold in NY in March, so you have to wonder why a hot weather bird would wander that far into a cold climate. Is he stupid? We started calling him the cray-cray caracara.

WhyFi

I'm going to check them out if I can. According to Spec, one of the LBSs here had a closeout pair in red for under 100 bucks. I called the LBS to confirm and they basically laughed - Spec's idea of their inventory is way off, evidently. Their own inventory shows one pair in a greenish color - not interested in green, but if they are actually in the shop I'll try 'em on for size.

BillyD

Of course I got some pictures of the rare visitor. He created quite a stir among the area birders as he hung around for three weeks. Their diet includes carrion.

f4rrest

Hurry, get the trailer.

Velo Vol 

Sports are dumb.

datlas 

Because Penguins? I am confused.

Bah Humbug

Ah, thanks! I did see him (or one of them) picking at some carrion while out on my run, but they were just flying around when I got finished and had the camera. I also got a better shot that was, sadly, against a dull cloud, so the whole background is a blah grey.



And, of course, ducks. Because they're traditional, though I also don't get it.

Jadesfire 

I've been working on a few things for the past few months:
Getting a comfortable, better suited bike built up;
Getting used to riding in the dark;
Getting used to riding in the dark with cars;
Reliably being able to get a certain amount of mileage in on a regular basis without hurting; myself/having major mechanical issues/wanting to vomit at the end of the ride;
Convincing my family that I am in fact capable of doing all of this.
Getting over my own fears and insecurities.

So, this morning, after about eight months since I first though about doing this, I have successfully completed my first bike commute to work. I can't say I loved every minute of it while I was doing it(mostly because I am just not naturally a morning person), but now that I am showered and I have a cup of coffee in front of me I can think of it as fun. And I am looking forward to the return leg home this afternoon (even though, yes, I will probably get rained on).

WhyFi

Kudos! I always loved commuting by bike (this was in NYC when my the alternative was the subway; vs driving, I'd love riding even more) - I always arrived at work with better energy and more ready for whatever the day would bring.

rpenmanparker 

I am a big fan of Spesh shoes. Good value at every price point. I hope you can find something that fits right.

datlas 

Kudos! But did you Strava it???

Jadesfire 

I was just impressed with myself that I remembered my Garmin and HRM at 4:30 in the morning. No Strava- I guess this means it didn't really happen, huh?