Help with Shoes and a Helmet!
 

I'm scraping all my money together and trying to get the best deals as possible. I just do not know enough about what I want to purchase. I need Road shoes and a helmet for both racing and training. My budget is not very large so I am stalking ebay like a hawk and I'm looking any deals on the millions of sites on the interweb.
I currently wear a Limar 910 (med) and Sidi genius 5 (44). I do not have experience with any other shoe or helmet. I'm hoping you can help me out here.
I've found these "deals" but know nothing about fit, quality, ect.
UVEX FP3.1 for 135
Uvex FP 3.0 for 140
Giro Prolight for 115
Lazer Genesis RD for 143
Or continue to try and get a Prevail for less than 160 (160 is the top of my budget)
As far as shoes go I can spend 250
Giro Trans for 150
Mavic Zxellium Ultimate for 210
Mavic Zxellium for 170

Thanks for any insight and help.

Specialized S works helmet and s works shoes (though i think the s works shoes will be out of your budget). check out ebay on both. I have seen both on there within your budget, just have to find the right size.

I have both and they work great for me. The s works shoes are the most comfortable I have ever worn. Just because they work great for me, doesn't mean they will fit you properly though.

Is your current gear broken? You are wearing a $70 helmet and $250 shoes. Why do you need anything different...especially if you are worried about a tight budget? What do you expect to get out of new gear? Seriously, the Genius 5 is top of the line at that price. And I really don't know what a new $140 helmet is going to do for you that your current one doesn't.

because its fun to get new stuff! I get it cuz I do it even though I'm on a tight budget as well. I like top notch things. Takes me longer to save for them, but I still get them.

BUT pgjackson brings a good point. At your budget you have good shoes. I can see wanting a better/cooler helmet though. What is the reason for wanting new gear?

Check the Specialized websites for some deals on a lot of helmet and shoe close-outs.If you are on a budget, is there any reason why you are aiming for a Prevail helmet? There is the Propero and Echelon.

Sounds like the OP is new to cycling and maybe doesn't realize that his current stuff is fairly high-end gear. My current helmet is a $30 Bell...works just fine.

mannuel, you said you dont know anything about fit. Thats going to be very important. some people can get their feet to fit into sidi's or other brands. If you dont know what fits, be sure to go to some LBS and try some on to get a better idea of what you like and dont.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. I'm not new to cycling, I just do not know enough about the products I'm interested in. I've had the same shoes for going on 4 years now, and helmet for at least 2. The helmet I have I cannot stand and would never recommend. The shoes were great (dead now) but seeing as I paid 250 for them and they sell for that I figured buy shoes at a better deal. That was my logic.

I don't know too much on the fit of the giro and mavic shoes or most of the helmets. I went to my lbs and tried on sidi's and s works (prevail and shoes). I know my size but I do not know how some of the helmets fit. I'm a 44 on the money and Helmet I'm a 55cm.

Very good point. I was all set to get some Sidi 5s. Kind of obsessed with it actually. Tried on a pair and they fit really well (MUCH better than my old LGs). Then I tried on the cheaper Giro Trans and it was all over. Giro just fit my feet better. OP, find a LBS that has a big selection and spend a good deal of time trying on all brands of shoes in different sizes. They all fit differently.

Like I said above...get out there and start trying stuff on. Don't take our word for it. Shoes are intensely personal. Just because Giro fits my feet best...they might actually kill your feet. Helmets...my advice is to start at the cheap end and work your way up. You might find something perfect for $30.

I am also a 44 and made a switch to the s works shoe. I started with the sidi ergo 2, then went to shimano R220's and then the s works. The S works has been the most comfortable BY FAR for ME. has a nice size toe box and the ability to tighten down the shoe with the boa straps is very nice. The sidi ergo had a very nice heel adjustment and super light. the shimano was the heaviest but was also comfortable. (I just go them to small) The shimano was a wider than my sidi's. Looks are all a matter of personal choice but I think the shimano's are the cats MEEEEOW all around for comfort and looks.

helmets: get someone who works a shop to help you. hopefully they know a thing or two and aren't just there for a paycheck and work their shift. My bike shop has a lot of knowledge and took the time to show me the difference between helmet fit. there is a difference between them. some protect the front or back of your head better then the next you try on. after trying them on have the salesman look to see which helmet will have the best coverage of protection.

I just want the least-dorky looking helmet. ;)

Gotta second what Bianchi said about the Specialized S-works shoes. I'd been through a similar progression of shoes, and the S-works are without doubt the best fitting, most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. That said, don't take my word for it. Try'em before you buy'em. You'll find the S-work run about 1/2 size larger that the same size Sidi's

-Bert

I'll make sure to call around and see if anyone has the products I'm interested in. It's been hard to find shops that sell Giro and Mavic shoes. If anyone has used what I'm interested in I'd still like to know some pros and cons. Thanks again everyone.

The goal is to find a helmet that does both look good and protect just as well. S works is the best looking helmet IMO. I can testify that it protected the back of my head very well. After flipping over the bars and landing straight on the back of my helmet, I would have been in some serious trouble if my helmet did not fit me correctly when this happened.

100 dollar helmet...200 dollar shoes....you are not on a budget son....just saying

Too bad you're not a 46. I've got some Sidis, Bont A2s, and year old S-Works that I'm thinking of parting with.

this? : http://www.realcyclist.com/louis-gar...bota-ii-helmet
and maybe this --> http://www.realcyclist.com/louis-gar...-hrs-shoe-mens

I love louis garneau but their helmets are HIDEOUS

the one I linked isn't that bad, but I agree some(most) of their helmet are hideous like you say :)

I have the mavic Zxellium shoes and they are the best I have ever owned. Stiff, comfortable, and look sharp. I get complements on them all the time. You may even be able to get them for a little under your budget. I saw them on bonktown for pretty cheap the other week so I would look there. If you do get them for a good deal spend the saved money on the helmet and get a Orbea Odin. It is by far the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn with huge vents that give you plenty of breeze and airflow and pretty light to boot.

Thank you again for all the information. I'm about to go 30 miles to try on a bunch of helmets and shoes. I'm hoping this helps my decision.

Thanks for the link I had not even considered LG shoes they look good, yet another option.

"100 dollar helmet...200 dollar shoes....you are not on a budget son....just saying"
Everyone is on a budget, I saved up and sold a few things to be able to spend a bit more than entry level. The way I see it you wear your helmet and shoes more than anything else on a bike.

Okay I spend the day going to bike shops trying on different helmets and shoes. That was the best advice as it turns out I was not even the size shoe I was wearing! haha Turns out I'm a sidi 43.5 after a very nice employee from Velo Pasadena helped me try on about 6 pairs of shoes.

So now it's between 2 shoes.
Giro Trans for 160 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Giro-Trans-R...item53ea0ae81e

or an older but new Sidi 5.5 for 170 (with shipping) http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/198...-Road-Shoe.htm

I'm racking my brain trying to decide so any help would be appreciated.

If you're going to go for the Sidi 5.5's at $170., for $29. more, you should get the 6.6's.
Helmet, if you haven't gotten one yet, Giro Prolights are being blown out between $84.-99.

Pricepoint did not have my size in the 6.6. I found a used pair for 203 but I don't like the idea of used shoes.
As for the giro I tried that on at the bike shop and it didn't fit my head very well. I had a long list and crossed all of them out. These are the two that both look good on me, and feel like I'm being hugged by a small Slow Loris (this is good).

update I went with the 5.5's
Now the next decision is the helmet. It's between the Uvex FP 3.0 for 140 shipping included or the LAS VICTORY is 168 +shipping. The LAS is over the 150 I wanted to spend but I only spent 170 on my shoes and had a budget of 250. So I could spend the extra and be okay financially. As far as fit they are both very comfy.