Road shoes

Mark Elvin
Mark Elvin Posts: 997
edited August 2012 in Road buying advice
Trying to decide on some road shoes, can anybody suggest any reasonable shoes at a good price please?
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Comments

  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    Visit your LBS and try as many different brands/models/sizes as you can. IMO, fit and comfort are paramount with regards to cycling shoes.

    Saving a few quid by buying online will be a false economy if you're feet are burning half way through a ride!
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    jordan_217 wrote:
    Visit your LBS and try as many different brands/models/sizes as you can. IMO, fit and comfort are paramount with regards to cycling shoes.

    Saving a few quid by buying online will be a false economy if you're feet are burning half way through a ride!

    Good thought. Will most likely do that.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • junglist_matty
    junglist_matty Posts: 1,731
    My feet are wide and most riding shoes are narrow (normal), I use the Shimano R087 wide, very very comfortable shoes.... But probably not if you have narrow feet; if you buy online, you can always return them; then again, it depends what sort of range your LBS has because every bike shop round here stock the same specialized and shimano models (a range of about 5 shoes, hardly much choice!).

    Go try some at your LBS, then see if you can find them cheaper online save yourself a good £20
  • Coach H
    Coach H Posts: 1,092
    junglist_matty wrote:
    Go try some at your LBS, then see if you can find them cheaper online save yourself a good £20

    Don't do this. If you try on at LBS, buy from LBS. You are paying the premium for this service. If you want to buy cheaper from internet take the hassle of possibly not getting shoes that fit and need returning.

    IMHO shoes require a good fit, over style. Good job I really like the look of my Sidi's which fit great :)
    Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    junglist_matty wrote:

    Go try some at your LBS, then see if you can find them cheaper online save yourself a good £20

    To be honest if the LBS service is OK & they are helpfull I'll buy from them as I like to support local shops where possible.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    Most decent shops will have accounts with more than one distributor. Though they may only stock the usual Shimano or Speciliazed shoes they may have access to others and should be willing to order you some in to try.

    I'm all for saving money but using your LBS as a fitting room and then ordering online is, IMO, taking the pi55.
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Coach H wrote:
    junglist_matty wrote:
    Go try some at your LBS, then see if you can find them cheaper online save yourself a good £20

    Don't do this. If you try on at LBS, buy from LBS. You are paying the premium for this service. If you want to buy cheaper from internet take the hassle of possibly not getting shoes that fit and need returning.

    IMHO shoes require a good fit, over style. Good job I really like the look of my Sidi's which fit great :)

    I'd ask them to price match or at least meet somewhere in the middle between the online price and their price.
    More problems but still living....
  • dubcat
    dubcat Posts: 754
    amaferanga wrote:
    I'd ask them to price match or at least meet somewhere in the middle between the online price and their price.

    +1
    2010 Specialized Rockhopper
    2012 Bianchi Infinito
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    jordan_217 wrote:
    I'm all for saving money but using your LBS as a fitting room and then ordering online is, IMO, taking the pi55.

    +1

    Some online retailers do free returns now anyway, allowing you to try them on at home.

    With respect to value for money, Wiggle's brand, DHB, are good road shoes on a budget.
  • Gladiator
    Gladiator Posts: 75
    Coach H wrote:
    junglist_matty wrote:
    Go try some at your LBS, then see if you can find them cheaper online save yourself a good £20

    Don't do this. If you try on at LBS, buy from LBS. You are paying the premium for this service. If you want to buy cheaper from internet take the hassle of possibly not getting shoes that fit and need returning.

    IMHO shoes require a good fit, over style. Good job I really like the look of my Sidi's which fit great :)

    Why shouldnt he do this? Theres no rule saying he cant, all this "if you try on at lbs buy from lbs" bollocks! If the shoes fit and they are £30 cheaper online then buy online, its up to the lbs to be competitive, its not the buyers fault if they arent. Theres a recession on and any savings bought online can buy extra kit. Also in my experience you dont get a premium from shops its a myth, they open the box, ask if they fit ok then thats it, hows that a premium service?

    What a chocolate box world you live in.
  • Gladiator
    Gladiator Posts: 75
    jordan_217 wrote:
    Most decent shops will have accounts with more than one distributor. Though they may only stock the usual Shimano or Speciliazed shoes they may have access to others and should be willing to order you some in to try.

    I'm all for saving money but using your LBS as a fitting room and then ordering online is, IMO, taking the pi55.

    And the lbs charging an extra 30% isnt?
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    derbygrimpeur wrote:
    .

    With respect to value for money, Wiggle's brand, DHB, are good road shoes on a budget.

    Thamks for the heads up, have ordered some of these - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-r10-road-cycling-shoe/
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • boblo
    boblo Posts: 360
    Gladiator wrote:
    Coach H wrote:
    junglist_matty wrote:
    Go try some at your LBS, then see if you can find them cheaper online save yourself a good £20

    Don't do this. If you try on at LBS, buy from LBS. You are paying the premium for this service. If you want to buy cheaper from internet take the hassle of possibly not getting shoes that fit and need returning.

    IMHO shoes require a good fit, over style. Good job I really like the look of my Sidi's which fit great :)

    Why shouldnt he do this? Theres no rule saying he cant, all this "if you try on at lbs buy from lbs" bollocks! If the shoes fit and they are £30 cheaper online then buy online, its up to the lbs to be competitive, its not the buyers fault if they arent. Theres a recession on and any savings bought online can buy extra kit. Also in my experience you dont get a premium from shops its a myth, they open the box, ask if they fit ok then thats it, hows that a premium service?

    What a chocolate box world you live in.

    He shouldn't do this because it's just taking the piss. If you use your LBS to try stuff out at least have the decency to buy from them. Why should they hold stock and spend time with you trying stuff out if you have no intention of buying from them? It's the sale that makes the margin that pays the overhead that keeps the shop....local.

    You wouldn't want someone wasting your time in your line of work then declaring they were off to buy elsewhere as they were £20 cheaper would you?
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Whilst I accept the LBS argument, in this current climate many people need to watch the pennies and if something can be had for £'s less then it is unfortunately always going to be very tempting.

    The LBS may well lose out in this specific instance but if they were nice and helpful etc. I'll wager that you will be back there as soon as a mechanical issue arises or you need a spare part there and then.

    Horses for course really - the LBS is there anyway so it costs them nothing to let you try stuff on - other than a little of their time if they are advising etc. That in itself is not going to be the difference between their success or demise.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • teisetrotter
    teisetrotter Posts: 342
    Bringing it back to the question. I saw these in Sports Direct, seemed to be a steal:

    http://www.sportsdirect.com/muddyfox-rb ... oes-144017
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    smidsy wrote:
    Horses for course really - the LBS is there anyway so it costs them nothing to let you try stuff on - other than a little of their time if they are advising etc. That in itself is not going to be the difference between their success or demise.

    Of course, if everyone takes this attitude the LBS will sell nothing and go out of business. If you try in a LBS, you should buy there. The extra cost is to provide you with that convenience, online retailers have lower overheads, which is why they're cheaper.

    As I mentioned above, many retailers offer very good returns service and if you want to buy online, you should use these.
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    derbygrimpeur wrote:
    smidsy wrote:
    Horses for course really - the LBS is there anyway so it costs them nothing to let you try stuff on - other than a little of their time if they are advising etc. That in itself is not going to be the difference between their success or demise.

    Of course, if everyone takes this attitude the LBS will sell nothing and go out of business. If you try in a LBS, you should buy there. The extra cost is to provide you with that convenience, online retailers have lower overheads, which is why they're cheaper.

    As I mentioned above, many retailers offer very good returns service and if you want to buy online, you should use these.

    ^^this^^
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • rob13
    rob13 Posts: 430
    I bought the Wiggle DHB shoes and personally, theyre not too comfortable for me. I'm looking around for a new set and will then sell the DHBs on. My feet are a bit too wide for them.
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    Rob13 wrote:
    I bought the Wiggle DHB shoes and personally, theyre not too comfortable for me. I'm looking around for a new set and will then sell the DHBs on. My feet are a bit too wide for them.

    Try Northwaves. Traditionally wider fitting than most. They're only shoes I've found that are comfortable for my flippers.
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    derbygrimpeur wrote:
    smidsy wrote:
    Horses for course really - the LBS is there anyway so it costs them nothing to let you try stuff on - other than a little of their time if they are advising etc. That in itself is not going to be the difference between their success or demise.

    Of course, if everyone takes this attitude the LBS will sell nothing and go out of business. If you try in a LBS, you should buy there. The extra cost is to provide you with that convenience, online retailers have lower overheads, which is why they're cheaper.

    As I mentioned above, many retailers offer very good returns service and if you want to buy online, you should use these.

    I think you may have missed the fact that the LBS still get cycle sales and spares sales and workshop work - it was just the clothing where I was suggesting they may lose out to online as they are the items that people try before they buy.

    As I said I do get the argument but we need to be realistic in this time of economic pinch - everyone is looking to reduce expenditure.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    Rob13 wrote:
    I bought the Wiggle DHB shoes and personally, theyre not too comfortable for me. I'm looking around for a new set and will then sell the DHBs on. My feet are a bit too wide for them.

    They are quite narrow as they are a great fit for me & I have quite girly, narrow feet, to match my girly wrists.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse

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