indie kid

I am buying a pair of Sidi's and I dont know how cycling shoes should fit. Im just getting into cycling btw...

Anyways, should they be really snug or should I be able to move my foot around?

Thanks.

Fox Farm

Well, for one, Sidi shoes tend to come a little tight, so I would size up, same with most running shoes. For example, I am a size 12 or a 46. With Sidi, I can wear as large as a 48 wide or Mega. I suggest that when you try on the shoes, remember that your feet will swell when they get hot. Also, if you try them on with thin cool max sox on and buy a pair that fits just right with thin sox, you will have difficulty in the winter when you want to wear sox with thick bottoms, such as hiking sox. You don't want your feet to slide around in the shoes, but, ou also don't want too snug a fit or your toes will hate you and you will end up selling your $200 shoes on Ebay because they are uncomfortable. Be sure that the toe box of the shoe is wide enough for your feet. You DON'T want to scrunch them at all. Most Sidis are pretty adjustable, meaning that the ratching buckle and velcro straps can be set loose or sinched down. I don' know if this answers your question.

samp02

Buy at LBS as you will get some good advice and get the right size. Maybe pay more but in the end it will be worth the extra.

roadwarrior

Toes should just touch the front of the shoe. Just. Heel locked into place so it will not come out of the shoe while riding.

531Aussie

cycling shoes should be SNUG! I'd rather mine be a teeny bit tight than too loose. Nothing worse than pulling up and back, only to have foot movement. This results in a BIG loss of power. When the feet swell up during hard efforts, the straps can simply be loosened.

I recently made the mistake of buying Sidis one (or maybe half a) size too big. The shoes felt fine and snug when I was walking around the shop, but as soon as I was on the bike, pulling up on the pedals, they felt a bit "loosey goosey". I now wear 2 pairs of socks and an extra insole


"our" Ed summed it up last week:

Pfoot

I disagree with 531Aussie, but I might be wrong. I find that wearing my shoes too tight is certain to get to numbness after a long ride. I do like to keep my ankles from lifting in the back, but I try to give my toes some breathing room. When I'm riding a really long time, or riding in cold weather, I consciously make them a bit looser. Ankling is another remedy - I think it gets the blood going better.

indie kid

thanks a lot guys.

Surferbruce

i'd disagree with toes touching the front, unless you like black ones. shoes should be snug, but the old classic rule of thumb is half a fingers width of room at your toes.

webist

Maybe not. My LBS is usually run by one man, and he's the mech. Please don't assume that anyone in the shop is an expert on everything in the shop.

operator

Compared to your running shoes your cycling shoes should look damned small.

meme

For me, I like to have some wiggle room for my toes. I usually like to have a snug fit on the part of the foot near the cleat/pedal interface-->meaning the two front straps are tight, but the third strap is loose (to allow me to bend my foot easily). Of course a more snug foot/pedal interface applies more for spinners than mashers.

samp02

go to LBS. get the right size shoe and you will off to the races.

nomo4me

I wear a 9.5 EEE US = 43 cm.
My size 44 Specialized cheapo road shoes fit me with plenty of room.
Sidis are evidently a bit smaller on a relative scale.
Today I shipped back to Nashbar a pair of size 44 Sidi Domintor Lorica Mega Mtn shoes, they were wide enough but not quite long enough for a heavy sock in the winter. I ordered a size 45 replacement and I expect all will be fine.

kevinmcdade

I, too, agree with the comment on buying shoes locally. Different brands will fit differently.

I have two pairs of shoes, one fits snug, very snug and the other one is large enough that my toes do not touch the tip of the shoe and I have room to wiggle my feet around a little bit. While wearing my snug pair, my feet are numb very early into a ride. My pair that fits "correctly" seem to get more comfortable as my ride progresses. The wiggle room that I have in them while not riding goes away as my feet heat and makes them fit perfect as my feet swell. I bought the shoes at two different shops and got the opinions of two different people before I bought them.

terrymorse 

Something else to think about. Your feet swell on long rides, so you need to be able to loosen your shoe straps enough to accommodate the larger foot. If you loosen the straps and the shoe still feels snug, it's probably too small.

DeanC

Yup. If you're going to the store to try them on, go as late in the day as possible. Your feet swell as the day goes on.

I bought a pair of the Specialized Carbon shoes this year and sized them so that I have between a half-finger and finger's width of room between my toes and the end of the shoe. The toe box is wide enough that I can easily wiggle my toes but the opening of the shoe easily tightens enough that I can't lift my heel on an out-of-the-saddle climb.