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Question on cycling shoe fit?

Old 11-27-15, 10:25 PM
  #1  
Jixr
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Question on cycling shoe fit?

Hi all

I picked up my first pair of clipless shoes/pedals today, and i'm a little concerned about the fit of my shoe.

I got a size 43, and my toe area has a bit of space between my toes and the end of the shoe, and i have lots of room to wiggle my toes up and down while in the shoe.

I tried on a 42, and my toe was at the end of the shoe, which is normally how I buy my shoes since they tend to stretch out over time.

The guy at the shop felt my toe in the shoe and said the 43's were fine, but i'm a bit worried that they may be too big and cause issues.

Whats the general recommendation for shoes? Have them tight all around the foot, or only need to be tight across the top of the shoe and give your toes some space?

Last edited by Jixr; 11-27-15 at 10:52 PM.
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Old 11-28-15, 05:41 AM
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Ride them for an hour or two and your feet will swell up and fit the size 43.
I think cycling products tend to be on the small size.
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Old 11-28-15, 06:09 AM
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I started with a shoe that was my normal size and after riding for about a half hour, I would start to get numbness and pain in my toes. I went up a full US size and they work great.
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Old 11-28-15, 06:59 AM
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I prefer a bit loose.
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Old 11-28-15, 07:24 AM
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You don't want a shoe that fits "just right" at the beginning of your ride. Your foot will expand and shoes that are tight can cause all kinds of foot comfort problems. Loose is good.
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Old 11-28-15, 08:02 AM
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In my experience, most cycling shoes don't "stretch" much. Most are made from synthetic materials and unlike regular shoes are designed to have some tension applied to them as you pull up on the backstroke.

Like others have said, a bit looser is preferable, particularly in cold weather. If my shoes are tight, it restricts circulation and my feet get cold.
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Old 11-28-15, 08:33 AM
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+1 to all the above comments about a bit of room being desirable.
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Old 11-28-15, 06:16 PM
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Yes to all of the above. When I started wearing bike shoes, I made the mistake of tightening them up snug (hey, it works for tennis... don't want to jam your toes). Anyway, lesson learned... a little loose at the start, or they'll be tingling numb by Mile 20.
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Old 11-28-15, 08:31 PM
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Loose is good too long is not. You may not be able to get the cleats mounted correctly if the shoes are too long.
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Old 11-28-15, 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Black wallnut
Loose is good too long is not. You may not be able to get the cleats mounted correctly if the shoes are too long.
The traditional wisdom is half to one size bigger is better for bike shoes. Some shoes are designed different and you have to try them on to be sure. I find the Specialized S Works has a bigger toe box and I can wear a bit smaller shoe. The draw back to the closer fit it is I can not wear the S Works making sure my toe nails are clipped or the toes get sore on longer rides. Sidis always need to be one size bigger.
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Old 11-28-15, 11:13 PM
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You need room for heavy wool socks for winter riding.
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Old 11-30-15, 06:25 AM
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For biking footwear, I prefer a bit large rather than tight. I find that my feet swell a bit after I ride awhile. A tight shoe then results in sore feet.
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Old 11-30-15, 08:36 AM
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You want enough room for your toes to move but snug in the heel so it's stationary all the time. Overall it should be comfortable when you put it on and snug enough once you warm up so your feet font move around. Finding the right shoe sometimes is difficult.
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Old 11-30-15, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by a1penguin
You need room for heavy wool socks for winter riding.
Then they can be too big in the summer. Shoe covers or booties help with cold weather riding comfort
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Old 11-30-15, 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Jixr
The guy at the shop felt my toe in the shoe and said the 43's were fine, but i'm a bit worried that they may be too big and cause issues.
The issues being what exactly?
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