JohnJ80

Our plan is to do a tour in Norway next summer.

We will be doing this as a lightweight, relatively high speed credit card tour.

I’m looking at some bike shoes that are more walkable than more normal Sidi mtb shoes for this trip - I’ve seen the Sidi SD15’s but they seem to be getting a reptuation for having to flexy of a sole. The other alternatives that seem to fit me well are the Giro Terraruro’s.

I can’t seem to find a lot of the Sidi SD15’s and the ones that I do seem to be aimed more at harder core MTB riding as opposed to touring - which I think is their intended purpose per Sidi. Has anyone had any experience with either of these two shoes while touring? The idea would be to have these be the primary (maybe only) shoes to take on this trip so walkability is important, probably equal to the “ride-ability” on the bike.

J.

djb

I dunno, but in my experience, how a shoe fits me personally is the real decider, as diff brands can have rather marked diff fit feelings. They are your feet, but I personally would put this at the top of the important list, and I know there are lots of diff models by all the main companies that are very walkable in--but if you are really hammering it a lot, a much stiffer shoe is clearly nicer to ride in and will be easier on your feet (assuming the fit is very good for your feet shape/arch/whatnot).

I know its boring and time consuming, but visiting numerous stores really is the only way to know how a given model works for your feet.

JohnJ80

I have both the SD15’s and the Giro Terraduros in hand to evaluate fit. I’ve been cycling for decades so I’m familiar with shoe fit. Specifically, what I’m trying to figure out is how well either of these shoes will work if they are the only shoes I bring. This tour will be equal parts cycling and walking around so the walking piece is probably more important than it might be for some. Since it’s lightweight touring, (~20 lbs of stuff on the bike including panniers), this becomes a fairly important decision. If I was willing to carry a lot more stuff, then adding a pair of walkaround shoes would be less of an issue.

The Terradurro is walkable but it’s mostly due to the shape of the sole - it’s a little bending near the toe (helpful for things like kneeling). The shank is a very firm nylon that will cycle well. The SD15 has a sole that is much more akin to that of a hiking boot and is much more bendable. I’m wary of this for miles of pedaling on clipless pedals.

Both shoes fit well. I prefer the boa-like lacing on the Sidi to the more traditional strapping on the Giros. So I guess I’m looking for feedback on the sole of the SD15 and if it’s too flexible for decent cycling.

djb

good luck with getting some feedback. I would only add that having done bike trips in the past where I only had one pair of shoes, biking shoes, I did learn later that I really preferred to bring another pair of runners or whatever simply to get my feet out of the shoes that Ive been in all day biking.
As you say, if the sd shoes have a much more bendable sole, it could be annoying riding, but I imagine it comes down to personal choice for diff people.

bradtx

JohnJ80, It will depend on the pedal's platform size. Large enough to help support the shoe will allow for the less stiff sole. The better the shoe is for walking, the better for the tour IME.

Brad

JohnJ80

I suppose I could bring a pair of Chacos or something.

Part of what we’re going to ride is the Rallarvegen trail which can get fairly gnarly in places (rock) which I’m anticipating might require walking the bike through. So a nice vibram sole will be nice but a less bendy shank probably a win there too. It will be a little more towards mtb style riding vs road.

I’m thinking that the Sidi’s might not be the ticket but I really hate to see it go that way since I like the shoe. But I’d really like to make sure I’m not missing something.

J.

djb

seems to an outsider that you should prioritize the walking comfort, and I do realize that another pair of shoes does add space and weight. If you do go the one shoe route, having some extra socks to help reduce the shoes getting really smelly could be an option, but it sounds the way you describe it that you would appreciate a more comfortable walking bike shoe over the gains of a pure "best power transfer" shoe, and I would imagine that even the more flexible one will still be a reasonable riding shoe.

if its not really hot, this also helps with the shoes and your feet not feeling so gross at the end of the riding day.

JohnJ80

Won’t be hot, it’s in the mountains of Norway and north of the Arctic Circle for practically all of it. I’d guess 70F would be a warm day for them.

Neither of these shoes are “best power transfer” if you compare them to carbon soled shoes. Neither of them are pure walking shoes either but both are relatively decent at walking (Sidi a bit more than Giro). But there is a fair amount of pedaling involved. I really need to make a decision on the flexibility of the Sidis.

My hiking footwear (typically Garmont) are stiffer than the Sidi’s. It’s possible to bend them significantly with toes to heel and sole on the outside. You can’t do that going sole on the inside of the bend to that extent, but you can bend them that way a bit. I have high arches so my feet do not bend that way very well.

Anyhow, I think it’s going to be the Giros unless I can find someone who has experience with the Sidi’s and can give me some feedback (as much as I’d like Sidi). I’m surprised that they didn’t put in a stiffer shank in the Sidi shoe given how easy it is to make a decent walking shoe with a stiff shank. Maybe that is a change they make in next year’s model.

J.

veganbikes

I do like my Terraduros though wish I had gone with the HV version because I have a bit wider feet. Though I would gladly try some Sidi's if I could find someone who sells them in my area so I can try them on or even better if I were a dealer.

JohnJ80

That's what I finally decided upon and I'm glad I did. I've got almost 100 miles on them so far and I've tested them by walking about a mile continuously. The Terraduros pass the test. I was essentially able to forget about them while doing one of my normal daily 20+ mile rides hammering away (so they will be fine for a tour). When I get up and stand on the pedals and pump hard at them they flex only slightly and not noticeably unless I'm really trying to see if I can feel it. So the flex is good (or lack thereof) and from that perspective, they disappear and become a non-factor. They are a decent cycling shoe.

They are heavier and I do notice it a bit compared to my carbon soled competition style mtb shoes. Again, not really a factor in a tour that much when I need the walkability.

With respect to walking, they are fine. It's sort of like walking in Birkenstocks or my other hiking shoes with stiff soles. But it's fine and I would have no problem wearing them for a day walking and biking. The cleats are recessed sufficiently that you don't get the cleat grinding on bits of sand on concrete like other more traditional mtb shoes. They also hook up very nicely with my Speedplay Syzr pedals.

I do wish they had some sort of a boa system for lacing which I find to give a more secure but less pressure sensitive method of connecting my shoe to my foot. This is kind of a retrograde step back to 10 years ago with the velcro straps and a clicky instep ratchet that is really kind of a gross adjustment compared to boa style closures.

I reluctantly sent back the Sidi's. I absolutely loved the upper on those shoes - really a great fit. But the sole is a disaster and I don't know how Sidi botched it so badly. The thing is so flexy that it would be painful over time and for any serious peddling especially for me (I'm not a lightweight). It's possible to fold the shoe completely in half by bringing the toe up to the heel. It's better in trying to flex the toe and heel down due to the shape of the sole, but it is still too flexible. I tested them out by standing on things like chair rungs that allowed support under the ball of the foot but left the heel in free space. If I were to stand on the pedals, this would get downright painful in short order.

Sidi has another shoe that is similar that they actually market as an MTB shoes called "The Defender" but in talking to their US arm, they have a stiffer sole, but still no shank in the sole. While it can be stiffer, I don't see how it can be stiff enough without a shank and just a rubber sole. So that's a nonstarter for me and probably more of the same as the SD15. They also have a cuff sort of arrangement around the upper on top that I wouldn't like but someone else might.

I do like the SD15 and if Sidi stiffens the sole so that it's similar to the Giro, then I'd turn around and buy those shoes. That said, I'm pretty happy with the Giros and think they will work very well for me for the case where I need a decent cycling shoe that is walkable.

I did go with the HV version (I have a D-width to slightly wider foot) and the standard Giro (in all their shoes) seems to be lasted for a C width foot. The HV version seems to fit just right. The insoles that come with them are the standard crap insoles that come in all cycling shoes and are essentially useless unless you have flat feet. I replaced them with a pair of the Specialized Body Geometry insoles that I had (high arch) but the Sole ones (heat moldable) also work. I've used the Sole insoles for years - I don't use their heat molding process, but I use a heat gun and my fingers to form them into the shape that I know works for me with increased metatarsal support and main arch in the proper shape and place.

So, a bit long winded, but I think I've characterized the shoes pretty well. As much as I love the Sidi fit and their superb cycling shoes, I think they missed on this shoe and need to go back and add a significant shank to the shoe. Especially so in a shoe at this price point ($200). This isn't an entry level shoe for a casual cyclist at that price, it's going to be a more accomplished cyclist who is going to pay that much and will expect more from the shoe. The upper, however, is terrific.

J.

djb

not long winded, may help someone in the future looking for info on either of the shoes.

oh, dont forget, always recheck the cleat bolt tightness a few times in the next while, new ones have a habit of getting loose for a while.

JohnJ80

Thanks for the reminder about the bolts. Probably a good idea to get that done today before I ride.

djb

I'd check them a few times over the first weeks of riding. I once did a trip with someone who had new shoes, new bike etc, and after a few days near some stores he went to unclip and the cleat stayed in the pedal, as the bolts had come loose and he hadnt noticed that it was getting odd getting unclipped (cleat moving around).

very luckily there was a rental place nearby and we were able to borrow a set of pliers to yank it out, as it sure as heck wasnt coming out by hand or with the screwdriver on my multitool (which I didnt want to break with the forcing).

also very luckily the threads were not damaged and I was able to screw it back it, and also both bolts were with the cleat in the pedal, not lost.

I think the plastic or whatever in the sole gets compressed a bit, hence the slight loosening. In my experience, after checking a few times and maybe needing a slight turn once or twice, they generally stay tight for a long time. This year I borrowed someones old shoes and repositioned the cleat on one side, and it needed a slight tighten after a few days also.

JohnJ80

Agree. I think you're characterization of the mechanism for the cleat loosening is accurate.

J.