Cycling shoes
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Cycling shoes
Picking up my first pair of cycling shoes and I'm torn about the fit. Tried on the 46.5 and they felt snug but comfortable. The 47 felt a little roomier. My question is is it better to go with a snug fit or a looser one
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Snug is better, but if they squeeze your toes you can get hotfoot. Where are they snug?
Different manufacturers fit differently. My feet are relatively narrow (size 13, B width) and I find Shimano shoes work well for me. YMMV.
Different manufacturers fit differently. My feet are relatively narrow (size 13, B width) and I find Shimano shoes work well for me. YMMV.
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They're snug across the top of the foot. Once I tighten the straps on the 47s there is no movement of my foot.
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I like mine slightly loose ... that way I can add extra socks in winter.
My cycling shoes have laces so I can lace them tighter if necessary, or loosen them off if necessary.
My cycling shoes have laces so I can lace them tighter if necessary, or loosen them off if necessary.
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The old advice about getting them small-ish was from the days when they were pretty much all leather uppers, which tended to stretch. Synthetic materials don't do that so much. I go for the same fit I would want in street shoes.
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I think 1st you need a better than they supply with the shoes, insole..
then bring your favorite insole with you, when you go trying on shoes.
I would Not buy 1st pair of bike shoes over the web..
Purpose? go fast performance the shoe would be tighter, sacrificing comfort,
for high rpm lack of slop/motion inside shoe.
A plodding Tourist, my best fitting shoes worked with my <C> record steel pedals and toe clips
Stiff soled, they were like pennyloafers off the bike,
but with Birkenstock cork composite insoles and the loose fit,
the feet were fine on 4+ month tours..
then bring your favorite insole with you, when you go trying on shoes.
I would Not buy 1st pair of bike shoes over the web..
Purpose? go fast performance the shoe would be tighter, sacrificing comfort,
for high rpm lack of slop/motion inside shoe.
A plodding Tourist, my best fitting shoes worked with my <C> record steel pedals and toe clips
Stiff soled, they were like pennyloafers off the bike,
but with Birkenstock cork composite insoles and the loose fit,
the feet were fine on 4+ month tours..
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-17-13 at 08:54 AM.
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Mine are slightly loose, and I've considered adding an insole, but doesn't that defeat one of the advantages of cycling shoes, namely, less give in the sole??
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The cushiest insole in the world won't do anything to alter the stiffness of the shoe's own sole. And that's the part that needs to be stiff.
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Better a tiny bit loose. I need room in the toe area, and I've had shooes that were snug and comfortable when trying them on in the store, but painful at mile 60 on a hot day.
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The cushiest insole in the world won't do anything to alter the stiffness of the shoe's own sole. And that's the part that needs to be stiff.]
and arch support stiffeners have made so so shoes, into something decent for commuting ,
without needing special bike Shoes.
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Phillyfan:
I have two pairs of Northwave Aerlite S.B.S.; one is size 42.5, the other is 42. I bought the 42.5 first and while they felt, and still feel ok, I wanted a lil more snug fit. Both are fine, I just like the tighter fit better. I'm sure if you go up half size, you'll be fine.
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A shoe manuf could probably make a fortune if they made and adv WIDE shoes. For some stupid reason they still seem to follow the italian foot print of shoes that are too narrow. I for instance wear a double E if I am fitted right. For me it is compounded by the fact that I have a very high instep. Shoes that are too narrow give hot foot and pain.
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For most of my life I wished that shoe manufacturers would make much narrower shoes. B is the average width for women, and it's too wide ... I'm flopping about in Bs like they're flippers.
Unfortunately, about 10 years ago I developed arthritis in my right foot and now I have to buy Bs ... but they're too wide for my left foot and still too wide in the heel on the right.
That's partly why I like my Lake shoes ... they've got laces and I can do something to adjust the width, like tighten the left one tighter than the right.
Unfortunately, about 10 years ago I developed arthritis in my right foot and now I have to buy Bs ... but they're too wide for my left foot and still too wide in the heel on the right.
That's partly why I like my Lake shoes ... they've got laces and I can do something to adjust the width, like tighten the left one tighter than the right.
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I certainly would not go with the snug fit .... As another poster said your feet will swell a bit, especially when warm out. I know mine do.
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It's hard enough finding a good fit in regular shoes, but damn near impossible in cycling shoes. I'm wearing some garbage cheap Specialized mtb shoes that are ok. Everything I try fits like a size 3 ballerina slipper, no volume, straight as a string, loose in the heel. Even worse when you're slow and gotta walk the bike up horrendously steep climbs with stiff soles and a slick cleats. Going up a half size, they flex like clown shoes with the flex point behind the ball of my foot, but whatcha gonna do?
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I like a roomy toe box and I have wide feet. I use Sidi Mega's