racing shoes

blade912

Could some give me some advice where a good place to buy racing shoes in the dublin or on line.
Somewhere not to expensive

Ryaner

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ and http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ have a very good selection right from cheap shoes up to Sidl carbon ones.

blade912

thanks Ryaner

scottreynolds

blade912 wrote: »

thanks Ryaner

And in Ireland, Cyclesuperstore, Cycleways, Cycle Surgery, world wide cycles..... ah gaw on support Ireland might save a job or too.

blorg

Chain Reaction are in Ireland

Seriously though if buying shoes it can make sense to go for CRC over Wiggle- if you need to send them back both have excellent no question return policies but the postage back to CRC is a lot cheaper.

tunney

I'm constantly amazed that the two things that you have to try before you buy are the two things that are constantly recommended to buy online.

Pick a good brand, try them on, see what they feel like and then pick. Specialized bike shoes have always come out top for me.

blorg

He asked for Dublin OR online and got suggestions for both. For a first pair of shoes as Tunney says probably is important to buy in a local shop, once you know your size though you can fire away with the online purchases.

tunney

blorg wrote: »

He asked for Dublin OR online and got suggestions for both. For a first pair of shoes as Tunney says probably is important to buy in a local shop, once you know your size though you can fire away with the online purchases.

Less about size and more about brand, I think. Find a type of shoe that works for you - your foot shape and pedalling style - and once you have that buy them wherever you want, just get the brand right. I know when I tried a new brand without trying them before (top of the range Sidis) I ended up riding 20km in them and then having to flog them to Tiny for a huge loss.

lukester

tunney wrote: »

Less about size and more about brand, I think. Find a type of shoe that works for you - your foot shape and pedalling style - and once you have that buy them wherever you want, just get the brand right. I know when I tried a new brand without trying them before (top of the range Sidis) I ended up riding 20km in them and then having to flog them to Tiny for a huge loss.

How do you find the right brand and size if you want to buy them online?

Lumen

tunney wrote: »

Specialized bike shoes have always come out top for me.

Me too, really nice fit. The only problem is that they're ugly. Hmmm, actually those are growing on me.

As someone who finds buying a stamp a hassle, buying shoes online and dealing with returns is not ideal.

tunney

lukester wrote: »

How do you find the right brand and size if you want to buy them online?

Thats my point.

Try and buy in a shop. And then once you know what you like, go from there. I know I can order any size 44 spesh shoe and its like a glove (I've three pairs now)

tunney

Lumen wrote: »

Me too, really nice fit. The only problem is that they're ugly. Hmmm, actually those are growing on me.

As someone who finds buying a stamp a hassle, buying shoes online and dealing with returns is not ideal.

I have those exact shoes. Another great feature is that they clean up brand new. I covered one of mine in blood and you'd never know now from looking at it. I'd almost binned them!!

lukester

tunney wrote: »

Thats my point.

Try and buy in a shop. And then once you know what you like, go from there. I know I can order any size 44 spesh shoe and its like a glove (I've three pairs now)

Heh, looks like I'm in the same boat, size 44 Specialized too, and they fit me perfectly, although have hankered after other brands lately.

tunney

lukester wrote: »

Heh, looks like I'm in the same boat, size 44 Specialized too, and they fit me perfectly, although have hankered after other brands lately.

I made that mistake too. The wedges that are built into the soles of spesh shoes make a huge difference. I tried everything with the sidis - lewedges and everything. No luck. Problem only became apparent when cycling.

blorg

tunney wrote: »

Thats my point.

Try and buy in a shop. And then once you know what you like, go from there. I know I can order any size 44 spesh shoe and its like a glove (I've three pairs now)

That is a good point, it is what I do myself. I too am a Specialized fan and have two pairs in 45. First pair came from Cycleways, then I knew 45 Specialized would work for me and when the first wore out I bought two more pairs cheap online.

I then tried on your old 45 Sidis from Tiny before buying mine (also secondhand from a Boardsie.)

My experience with them was interesting- trying them on they seemed fine. To be honest wouldn't have been able to tell much from this at all if I did it in a shop. As it is I tried on Tiny's and cycled his bike around for a few km. This was better than a shop but when I got my own ones, again they felt fine for the first few km but then they were pretty bad for the first couple of rides, foot felt a bit sore and they felt very narrow.

However I persevered and after a few hundred km they were fine. I use them for most of my road riding now and all the racing. Did the Marmotte in sandals as the Sidis were a bit new at that point and I thought it would be too much of a risk.

Also I note you take 44 in Specialized but got 45 in Sidi? Could this be part of the issue? How did you find them?

tunney

blorg wrote: »

That is a good point, it is what I do myself. I too am a Specialized fan and have two pairs in 45. First pair came from Cycleways, then I knew 45 Specialized would work for me and when the first wore out I bought two more pairs cheap online.

I then tried on your old 45 Sidis from Tiny before buying mine (also secondhand from a Boardsie.)

My experience with them was interesting- trying them on they seemed fine. To be honest wouldn't have been able to tell much from this at all if I did it in a shop. As it is I tried on Tiny's and cycled his bike around for a few km. This was better than a shop but when I got my own ones, again they felt fine for the first few km but then they were pretty bad for the first couple of rides, foot felt a bit sore and they felt very narrow.

However I persevered and after a few hundred km they were fine. I use them for most of my road riding now and all the racing. Did the Marmotte in sandals as the Sidis were a bit new at that point and I thought it would be too much of a risk.

Also I note you take 44 in Specialized but got 45 in Sidi? Could this be part of the issue? How did you find them?

Going point - I'm a 45 in spesh too. Issue with the sidis was not the fit, I thought they were way more comfortable, issue was with the lack of the wedge in the sole. angles of pedal, ankle, knee and hip just weren't right and power generation went down for me.

niceonetom

Lumen wrote: »

Me too, really nice fit. The only problem is that they're ugly.

2010 model. I'm so getting them.

Lumen

niceonetom wrote: »

2010 model. I'm so getting them.

They still look like a golf shoe.

niceonetom

You look like a golf shoe.

lukester

niceonetom wrote: »

2010 model. I'm so getting them.

Me likey.

Vélo

niceonetom wrote: »

You look like a golf shoe.

Hehehehehe

Vélo

I really want these. I nearly bought them last week and I think they'll be my next purchase.

Lumen

Vélo wrote: »

I really want these. I nearly bought them last week and I think they'll be my next purchase.

I have them (well the shiny white ones). Comfort-wise I preferred my Spesh MTB shoes TBH. They felt fine in the shop, but I tend to get foot cramps on the bike. I've done less than 500km in them, so perhaps they'll break in.

alfalad

So are the spesh a wider fit than the sidi? Thinking of buying a new pair in the end of season sales!

lukester

alfalad wrote: »

So are the spesh a wider fit than the sidi? Thinking of buying a new pair in the end of season sales!

Sidi do a 'mega' fit which is wider than the standard shoe. Not sure by how much.

alfalad

lukester wrote: »

Sidi do a 'mega' fit which is wider than the standard shoe. Not sure by how much.

But they only come in black as far as i can see (or at least according to CRC) so that is a big no no, breaking a euro rule so badly is just asking for abuse!
Plus i prefer white anyway!

Thanks though.

rottenhat

Lumen wrote: »

I have them (well the shiny white ones). Comfort-wise I preferred my Spesh MTB shoes TBH. They felt fine in the shop, but I tend to get foot cramps on the bike. I've done less than 500km in them, so perhaps they'll break in.

Do road shoes break in much? I'm optimistically hoping they'll shape to my foot a bit over time but between the synthetic leather and the extensive plastic around the buckles it doesn't seem like there could be more than marginal change.

lukester

alfalad wrote: »

But they only come in black as far as i can see (or at least according to CRC) so that is a big no no, breaking a euro rule so badly is just asking for abuse!
Plus i prefer white anyway!

Thanks though.

Sidi come in lots of colours. Lumen's Ergos in white vernice are about as white as a white man at a KKK meeting wearing white patent shoes.

Caroline_ie

rottenhat wrote: »

Do road shoes break in much? I'm optimistically hoping they'll shape to my foot a bit over time but between the synthetic leather and the extensive plastic around the buckles it doesn't seem like there could be more than marginal change.

I don't think so since you are not really putting any weight on the sole ... I have a pair of sidi ( in leather) that were a bit tight, used them for 2 years and are still as tight ... I read somewhere that you can stretches your shoes by freezing the shoe with a bag of water in them... the water will expand in the shoe when it freezes... I haven't tried it.

lukester

rottenhat wrote: »

Do road shoes break in much? I'm optimistically hoping they'll shape to my foot a bit over time but between the synthetic leather and the extensive plastic around the buckles it doesn't seem like there could be more than marginal change.

I hear tell that Lorica doesn't change much. Leather will break in a bit more. You want them to be snug and comfortable, not tight and uncomfortable.

alfalad

lukester wrote: »

Sidi come in lots of colours. Lumen's Ergos in white vernice are about as white as a white man at a KKK meeting wearing white patent shoes.

Sorry i mean the mega version of the shoe only comes in black as far as i can see.

Caroline_ie

Lumen wrote: »

They still look like a golf shoe.

actually .. these do

Billy Whizz

Specialized S-Works shoes are the business, pricey though!

blorg

alfalad wrote: »

So are the spesh a wider fit than the sidi? Thinking of buying a new pair in the end of season sales!

I think Specialized are wider than standard Sidis, yes. As for break-in, I am not 100% sure if it is "break in" but my Sidi Genius 5.5s certainly went through a distinctly uncomfortable first 300km or so (at which point I was really thinking I would have to dump them) before becoming fine... I still think my feet might be better suited to Specialized though and will be looking out for a road pair in the sales. Not 100% sure on the little dial idea rather than ratchets though.

Caroline_ie

Anyone tried the mavic? ( these are the ladies ones )

blorg

The Mavic shoes are former Adidas (Mavic made all Adidas' cycling kit but has now taken over the branding also as Mavic has more cachet with cyclists than Adidas.)

They are quite narrow compared to Specialized and Sidi, particularly constraining in the big toe area.

Turbulent Bill

On the online buying vs. LBS, I found 53 Degrees North to be very competitive for Specialized shoes. Bought a pair of Comp MTB shoes, and with the 10% membership discount they came out at less than €90. Online they're usually about £100 / €120, plus you can try them on properly in the shop.

Home:Ballyhoura

blorg wrote: »

Specialized would work for me and when the first wore out I bought two more pairs cheap online.

blorg wrote: »

I still think my feet might be better suited to Specialized though and will be looking out for a road pair in the sales. Not 100% sure on the little dial idea rather than ratchets though.

First of all these sales you mention are the January sales I presume? Also, I am looking at some Specialized shoes online (yes, even the one with the little dials!) and they seem to be the exact same price everywhere I look. You say you got some cheap online, is there somewhere I am missing that does good value of Specialized shoes? Thanks

Bikerbhoy

blorg wrote: »

I think Specialized are wider than standard Sidis, yes. As for break-in, I am not 100% sure if it is "break in" but my Sidi Genius 5.5s certainly went through a distinctly uncomfortable first 300km or so (at which point I was really thinking I would have to dump them) before becoming fine... I still think my feet might be better suited to Specialized though and will be looking out for a road pair in the sales. Not 100% sure on the little dial idea rather than ratchets though.

H Blorg

With regard to the above did you have a problem with both feet, just my problem seems only to be with my right foot and Im on verge of gettin rid to be honest (the shoes, not my foot) and going back to DMTs. I would have at this pont gone well over break in point as you call it.
Load of S**t to be honest Im well pissd at this stage :mad::mad:

Signal_ rabbit

I recent bought these, they were quite reasonable and very comfortable.

Its true what I explained to my missus when she asked why I need [yet] another pair of cycling shoes, they do make me go faster!

blorg

@H:B- January sales, yes. Cycleways had them in 44 and 46 but not in my size 45. I tried on the wrong size and the BOA dial retention system was very nice indeed. I will keep a look out but to be honest my Sidis are fine.

@Bikerbhoy- IIRC it was both feet and they felt just a bit narrow under the bridge. I have thousands of km on them now and find them pretty comfortable.

seanie500

anyonne have any thoughts on the shimano R160's? I see them on both chainreaction and PX website with a huge reduction on them

none seems to have mentioned them on here. any reason?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=38352