New Road Shoes/Shortlist Of 3/Which Ones?

furiousox

Looking to buy myself a decent pair of road shoes.
I've narrowed it down to 3 choices and I'd appreciate some feedback.

Diadora Pro Racer in Black/Yellow @ E137 (were E344)
Diadora Jet Racer in Silver/Black @E142 (were E356)
Sidi Genius 5 in White/White @E163 (were E233)

The Diadoras have the best price reduction on them and the Proracers are Cadel Evans shoe of choice.
The Sidis look a bit better and have the option of a wide (mega) fitting
(I have a large and wide foot, size 46) but the Sidis apparently have a 'bump' on the insole which some find uncomfortable?
Diadoras have a carbon sole, Sidi doesn't.
I'd appreciate any advice, especially from anyone who's actually worn any of these shoes.
I'm hoping to buy a decent comfortable pair of shoes which I expect to last for a few years.
(I would say comfort is a bigger priority than sole stiffness)
Currently using Shimano size 46 which are a bit narrow on me.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55908

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=69089

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=68451

Thanks!

ednwireland

i've been wearing diadora shoes for years and have speed racers (ok not pro racers) from 2010 and now just got a new pair in the sale. the new ones i find very comfortable and very light.

furiousox

So, in the name of "research" I ordered a pair of Sidi Genius 5's and a pair of Diadora Jet Racers both in size 46 from CRC.
The plan was to try them both then return the unwanted pair for refund before the credit card bill arrives!
I ordered them on Monday and they arrived today.
The Diadoras seem to be a better quality shoe.
The clasps, upper and buckle are all very good quality.
The ventilated carbon sole is a work of art! (see photo)
Sadly they are definitely too big for me, I can squeeze my little finger into the gap at the heel.
Also, they aren't silver...they are SILVER!!!!
(Very very silver)
Now....the Sidis....
They look and feel cheap compared to the Diadoras which is disappointing as they are also an expensive shoe.
And the sole is part (not full) carbon.
They're also very, very white but I guess they wouldn't stay that way for long.
And they fit me like a glove.
I think the mistake I was making before was to go for a 'roomy' shoe but this was allowing my foot to slide slightly and my toes to end up squashed and numb.
The Sidi's are tight without feeling uncomfortable.
The insole support feels odd, I'm not sure if I like that feeling of pressure underneath the arch of my foot.
I haven't put cleats on yet, I'm just going to wear them on a carpeted surface tonight to see how they feel.
At the moment, the diadoras are definitely going back.
The Sidis are a "definite maybe" but I'm not 100% convinced they're "the ones" yet
Can anyone give me some feedback on the Sidis?
Will they stretch and soften over time?
I'm especially wondering how that arch support might feel after 4 hrs pedalling and with cleats attached!
Maybe different insoles would make a difference?

EDIT: Was wondering about the Specialized shoes with the rotary closing system too but haven't tried them yet.

Pics of both shoes below.

NamelessPhil

I've got a pair of women's Genius 5 pro. I've had them since last October and have cycled over 1000km in them. They fit me like a glove too. I have a high instep and I like the arch support that the sole gives me. Mine are still white because they've been hiding inside neoprene shoe covers all winter, you could always use a shoe protecting spray like the ones for trainers if you wanted to keep them white.

I prefer shoes that fit like a glove even for my normal shoes. I've had no issues with these shoes other than slightly numb feet if I've tightened the straps too much. I find if I scrunch up my toes, tighten the straps and then release them one notch, I'm fine for a long ride. The longest time I've spent in them was 160km and just under 6 hours last weekend.

tl:dr I have them, they're grand.

furiousox

Thanks Phil, good to know.
I'd hope that they would scruff up a bit as they're an almost dayglo white at the moment.
I also tried removing the insoles and (to me) they felt a lot more comfortable straight away.
Pity they're not a full carbon sole but they feel pretty damn good now with no insoles.

NamelessPhil

I forgot to say that my normal shoes are usually 5.5 UK or anything between a 38 and 39 EU. I have narrow heels and I had to get a size 40 in the Sidis. The glove-like fit was a bit disconcerting at first but I prefer it.

mossym

it's a pit the diadoras didn't fit better, i have the pro racers a few weeks now and have to say i love them, can't fault them at all. that said i can't say they are any better than what you kept, having not owned them.

granda

get your feet measured properly first furiousox, i had the same problem when buying shoes and found that my feet where very wide so to fix this i was acually wearing shoes one size to big to fit my wide feet, i was recommened either northwave or time shoes as they are wide fitting. after choosing northwave they fit like a glove in the proper size

fat bloke

Pics are pants. I'd be wary buying shoes online myself sizing can be all over the place.

I have ordered a pair of these though from Hollingsworth Kilmacud.

BDK

I have the SIDIs for the last 2 years and they still look and feel like new,mine are the black ones.You can replace the buckle and heel on these if needed so should last a long time more.The vents in the soles of the Diadoras would be nice in very hot weather but for the other 364 days of the year would be a great place for wet road muck to enter...

BDK

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Sidi Genius 5 Pro Road Shoe black






Instead of RRP*** 189,99 €
124,99 €
You save 34%

Free Shipping1.Price incl. VAT
for shipment to Germany.

crosswords

I have the SIDIs - very high quality and will last years but they kill my feet. Serious pain in my arches when racing. I hate them.

Specialised Shoes are wonderful - they have always fitted perfectly - but they do not last.

I had diadoras, addidas, and shimano before and they were all very good, but never as good as the specialised.

jimm

furiousox wrote: »

EDIT: Was wondering about the Specialized shoes with the rotary closing system too but haven't tried them yet.

I have the 2009 Specialized S-Works Road Shoes with the "Boa" dial and steel laces. Still going strong and still very comfortable since then with over 20,000km in them. I was a bit concerned at first about the steel laces which are very thin, and I was always expecting one to snap mid-ride but thankfully not so far. Probably jinxed it now.
Read somewhere that they are made from Aircraft Grade steel.

Just bought a pair of the 2012 model in the recent sales, (they now have 2 "Boa" dials) but will keep them for the summer as the current ones still have plenty of life left in them.

furiousox

crosswords wrote: »

I have the SIDIs - very high quality and will last years but they kill my feet. Serious pain in my arches when racing. I hate them..

I found that high arch uncomfortable too.
Did you try removing the insole or using a different insole altogether?
I thought they were better with the insole removed.

furiousox

Ok, I think I am finally sorted!
I swung into Cycleways earlier and tried on some Specializeds.
He had one pair of S-Works left on sale price but (naturally) they were half a size too big.
I then tried a pair of Pro's and they immediately felt right.
The Sidis from CRC felt kinda right but these felt good straight out of the box.
I got them for E165, went home and tried them on versus the Sidis & Diadoras.
The Diadoras are probably the best for build quality and the Sidis might work for me with a different insole but I knew straight away the Pro's were the way to go.
Now, I need to return the Sidis & Diadoras to CRC before the credit card bill arrives!

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/55399/Specialized-Pro-Road-Black-Shoes-SALE/

crosswords

Excellent Choice Mr Sox.

Buying Specialised Shoes is akin to a summer romance.

It won't last forever, and you know this, but how wonderful it feels.

furiousox

Why not, do they wear quickly?
Tried them today and I found them comfortable, very stiff sole too so no numbness or hot-spots.
Definitely feel I made the right choice.
(It's mr ox btw not mr sox! )

crosswords

Mr Ox,

They will wear out, laces will break, fastenings will snap, soles will come off - if you use them lots.

That said, you can repair or replace almost all of the bits.

All my shoes are now specialised.

You made the right choice. happy cycling.