Shoes - How to buy them?!

Holmesy321

In the market for some new shoes. Unfortunately, with the prevalence of online retailing, no shops seem to actually stock a reasonable amount of brands/models to try on.

I originally bought some Giro's 3 or 4 months ago (that I did try on) but they were my first pair of cycling shoes and I bought way too loose, so I'm looking for something new that fits better.

My feet are somewhere between an 8.5 and a 9, and are quite wide but also fairly flat (so anything high volume is baggy on the top), 43 tends to be too short, 44 tends to be roomy on top.

Having tried on all that a couple of Evans stores in London, and a couple other small retailers in the city, have to offer I still haven't found anything that feels quite right.

Short of buying 10 pairs off Wiggle and returning 9 of them, what am I to do?!


In case it matters, I'm looking for something primarily for commuting and a few longer rides with a 2-bolt recessed cleat that doesn't look particularly 'off-road'. The Giro Privateer R are the ones I have, and I like that styling and the fact they're stiff enough to pass for decent road cycling.

I do, for the most part, hate the look of Sidi shoes (with Sidi written all over them and the shiny heels) but may have to cave to buying some if they fit... Even if I do look a prat walking round Sainsburys with them on.

imposter2.0

If your current shoes are too big, how about a smaller pair of the shoes you've already got?

Secteur

I am terrified of buying road shoes, so much so that I still wear the same shimano road shoes 5 years after buying them as they are perfect.

I have spent hundreds of pounds on 3 pairs of shoes which felt perfect when trying on, but caused pain when actually cycling by which time (After just one ride) they were marked and couldn't be returned.

What are you supposed to do? You don't know if they'll be perfect till you ride them properly, but once you ride them properly they become unreturnable.

So, those 3 pairs sit in their boxes never to be worn, and I still use my original first pair which fit perfectly but are tatty (and no longer made, so I can't just buy an identical pair). Would love some better quality ones, or just better looking ones.

I do have wide feet, so my choices are limited. Regular fit never works for me, without forefoot pain.

mrb123

Secteur wrote:

I am terrified of buying road shoes, so much so that I still wear the same shimano road shoes 5 years after buying them as they are perfect.

I have spent hundreds of pounds on 3 pairs of shoes which felt perfect when trying on, but caused pain when actually cycling by which time (After just one ride) they were marked and couldn't be returned.

What are you supposed to do? You don't know if they'll be perfect till you ride them properly, but once you ride them properly they become unreturnable.

So, those 3 pairs sit in their boxes never to be worn, and I still use my original first pair which fit perfectly but are tatty (and no longer made, so I can't just buy an identical pair). Would love some better quality ones, or just better looking ones.

I do have wide feet, so my choices are limited. Regular fit never works for me, without forefoot pain.

You could always try selling those 3 pairs. There is a classifieds section somewhere on this website I believe!

Holmesy321

Imposter wrote:

If your current shoes are too big, how about a smaller pair of the shoes you've already got?

Tried it. The 43 are too short, the 44 are too roomy on top

stueys

Wiggle, with it's excellent customer service, is your friend. My feet are a nightmare to get shoes for, I buy multiple sizes from wiggle, sit with them on my feet for an hour in the lounge and then send back what doesn't work. Works well for me.

sungod

you mention flat feet, that can cause knee problems, using insoles with extra arch support would take up some volume and might also reduce the risk of injury, the specialized bg footbeds are worth trying - being in a shop with the different sizes/heights available is better than diy

'london' covers a wide area, sigma sport in kingston has quite a good range, they do have wide versions and/or half-sizes in some shoes

Bo Duke

I know the problem.....

I generally buy size 48 or 49. I was in Dallas and went to a great shop called Richardson Bike Mart where they have hundreds of bikes, shoes etc... I went for a Sidi road racing shoe... tried on 48, 49, 50, 51 before settling on a 52 !!
There's no way in month of Sunday's my feet are 52!! A pal of mine who works for adidas tells me there is no internationally agreed measurement of shoes and all manufacturers are basically at liberty to use their own interpretation of what a given size actually is. I passed through Dallas again 18 months later and went back for a second pair... simply to avoid the problem again in the future.

Holmesy321

Stueys wrote:

Wiggle, with it's excellent customer service, is your friend. My feet are a nightmare to get shoes for, I buy multiple sizes from wiggle, sit with them on my feet for an hour in the lounge and then send back what doesn't work. Works well for me.

Yep that's what I thought I might have to do, but I feel a bit cheeky doing it... Also to buy 2 or 3 styles in 2 or 3 sizes is a big deposit!

sungod wrote:

you mention flat feet, that can cause knee problems, using insoles with extra arch support would take up some volume and might also reduce the risk of injury, the specialized bg footbeds are worth trying - being in a shop with the different sizes/heights available is better than diy

'london' covers a wide area, sigma sport in kingston has quite a good range, they do have wide versions and/or half-sizes in some shoes

They're not mega flat, but quite. When I say flat I meant more so around the metatarsals on top, so any HV shoe to accommodate width is very loose on top. I hope to get a bike fit done sometime in the nearish future and hopefully that may be addressed, or at least I can be advised on what to buy.

Sigma Sport looks good but there doesn't seem to be a good range of SPD shoes that look vaguely sleek outside of GIRO (or mega expensive specialised) which decidedly my feet don't like.


Bo Duke - tell me about it, it's a nightmare!

prhymeate

When I moved from spd to speedplays I must have ordered about 5/6 different shoes in two different sizes from wiggle, sigma sports etc. I have wide feet so it's always difficult to find shoes that fit well. I think you just have to accept it might take a bit of time and a lot of returns to find something you're happy with. I ended up with some Sidi wide fitting (Mega) shoes which I have been really happy with, so much so I bought another pair when they were on sale.

izza

Go to a Luck UK dealer - they will deal in mm and can fit guys with different sized feet - thereby avoiding the need for two pairs.

northpole

You could try Condor Cycles near Holborn (just along from junction with Theobalds Rd & Greys Inn Rd who used to carry quite a good range. There is also a Cycle Surgery store near Holborn tube station which may help justify the effort to get there?!

Peter

kleinstroker

You could probably get away with insoles on the shoes you have if you're just commuting and odd long ride. It would be the cheapest option until you find that perfect pair.

JesseD

for wide feet try Shimano Shoes as they come up wider than most, plus it your feet are freakishly wide then they also do a wide version! Also depending on your budget, some models are heat mouldable, I have a pair of last years R320's which were moulded in the shop to my feet and they are the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever bought.

meesterbond

Holmesy321 wrote:

Stueys wrote:

Wiggle, with it's excellent customer service, is your friend. My feet are a nightmare to get shoes for, I buy multiple sizes from wiggle, sit with them on my feet for an hour in the lounge and then send back what doesn't work. Works well for me.

Yep that's what I thought I might have to do, but I feel a bit cheeky doing it... Also to buy 2 or 3 styles in 2 or 3 sizes is a big deposit!

Stick them on the credit card and make a fairly quick decision and you can get them refunded before the bill is due.
I think I had four pairs delivered (in a mammoth box) and ended up keeping one of them...

It was the same with TT helmets - it was the only place I could try on more than one model at a time - none of the bricks and mortar shops nearby even had more than one brand.

Secteur

JesseD wrote:

for wide feet try Shimano Shoes as they come up wider than most, plus it your feet are freakishly wide then they also do a wide version! Also depending on your budget, some models are heat mouldable, I have a pair of last years R320's which were moulded in the shop to my feet and they are the most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever bought.

Yes, this is what I had to do - Shimano shoes, a size up and in the wide fitting.

I have never had a problem with normal or running shoes, always buying standard sizes, but for me cycling shoes have to be extra-wide to avoid foot pain. I guess it's because they are so rigid with so little stretch to them.

singleton

Holmesy321 wrote:

Tried it. The 43 are too short, the 44 are too roomy on top

You could either buy both sizes and sell the other shoe on ebay, or, maybe try to find something that's in between. E.g. I've got a pair of 43.5 Shimano R170, maybe other companies make half sizes as well.

I can't say whether they will be perfect for you - but they may be worth a try.

Holmesy321

Having tried on the 44 regulars of the Giro's I have in the shop today, I remember why I went for HV - The metal buckle that the middle velcro strap folds on sits right on the metatarsal of my big toe with the regular fit and was immediately uncomfortable. I've noticed this with a few shoes.

In hindsight this should probably have suggested I try something different. but at the time that was all my LBS stocked that was decent and I wanted some shoes there and then.


My feet are wide (ish) at the ball of the foot, but shallow and quite flat. So most of the 'room' is just back from my toe. I had thought about getting some kind of insole to take up some volume, but then I'd have had the problem with the buckle on the top of the foot again.


I think I'll give Condor in Holborn a go tomorrow, see what they say, and then go mad on Wiggle with the credit card if it's not resolved. 0% interest for a while longer anyway!

On a sidenote regarding insoles

What 'off the shelf' insoles do people get? Are they cycling specific? Full length? etc. If I was to try something cheap in these shoes.

gingermagician

Sigma in Kingston is by far the best bricks & mortar shop I've been to in terms of breadth of shoe brands/styles/stock.

Specialized for off the shelf insoles.

Alex99

northpole wrote:

You could try Condor Cycles near Holborn (just along from junction with Theobalds Rd & Greys Inn Rd who used to carry quite a good range. There is also a Cycle Surgery store near Holborn tube station which may help justify the effort to get there?!

Peter

I bought my current pair from Condor because they had the widest range of any shop I could find.

I'd also think the ordering 10 pairs from Wiggle option is good too.

Smaller shops, unfortunately, I have found are pretty much useless.

izza

Just got my latest pair.