moleman76

After many years off the bike, I started riding again this spring. I'm considering modernising my shoes (and pedals), and would appreciate comments on how different brands of shoes fit.

I've searched in this forum, but I don't seem to have found the magic combination of words to find links to earlier threads.

Back in the days when the "normal" shoe stores actually sold shoes in different widths, I bought 9-1/2 B. Nowadays I buy size 9 (usually a D width, but they don't bother to tell you that), and just let my feet spread out a bit.

Present cycling shoes: Detto Pietro #6 with nailed-on cleats. Size 43. A rather snug fit.

When I print out the various "measure at home" shoe sizers from some of the cycling shoe makers, they tell me (it varies) that I am in the range of 42.5 to 43, 9 to 9.5. Sidi's site has a little chart that brings the width of the foot into play -- they think I should buy 42.5 Narrow from them.

Many of the other sites have varieties of shoe size translations from US sizing to Euro. 9-1/2 comes out to anything between 42, 42.5 or 43. Isn't there some absolute size translation (like Celsius to Fahrenheit), or are they trying to incorporate some of the effect of the "volume" of their shoe on the length / size?

Before I go into the LBS and start trying on shoes, I"d just like to be a bit prepared for which road shoe brands fit narrow feet well; and which ones fit, but need a shorter shoe to do the job.

I may stick with the Detto Pietro's for my bike, but I just purchased a bike for my son, and it's newer, with Look pedals, and I know I'll want to ride it from time to time. His feet are still growing -- 10-1/2 headed for 11's -- so we won't be able to just trade shoes.

Sorry for such a long post . . looking forward to comments.

thanks.

kleng

With my experience

Sidi and Adidas run a bit small, I'm 8.5/ 42 in a Shimano and need a 42.5 in a Sidi, in an Adidas they recommend I look at a 43.

roadwarrior

Shoes are built around "lasts" and not every company has the same interpretation...I find Sidi to run true, and Nike to be as much as two sizes smaller and not as wide, for example. If I get a customer with narrow feet and they do not want Sidi, I go Nike.

Sidi makes a narrow, "regular" and a mega for widths. Not in every size, but in the popular and "average" sizes...

I had a pair of Pietros...used to race in them. No comparison to today's stuff, however. Not even close.