DLH

I need some suggestions on a new pair of road shoes that are:

1. Comfortable
2. Stiff
3. Won't break the bank

Currently wear an older shimano carbon3, velcro straps and they are yellow, black, grey. Never have really loved these shoes and I get numb feet in them on longer rides.

Sir Real

That's tough to answer until we know how big the bank is.

CyLowe97

Wait for Sidi Genius to go on sale. Not sure what 'break the bank' means for you, but I got a pair for about $150 after the sale price and additional promotional and member discounts from Performance. Love them.

DLH

I am kind of tight when it comes to spending and I find that the less I spend on my cycling the better the home environment is. I am not as lucky as some riders who's wives or husbands do not care (or do not know) how much they spend on bikes and gears.

So, I will say the bank is less than $200.

waterrockets 

+1 on the Sidis. Get the $300 carbons when they go on sale for $200 as last-year's model (watch ebay for this).

Just imagine road shoes that will fit like a dream for 10 years. I had 70,000 miles in my first pair. They're still ridable, but I got some other carbon shoes gratis for a coaching gig, so I haven't worn the Sidis in a few months.

I know this will probably end up in your "breaks the bank" category, but these shoes really are wonderful and will last a REALLY long time.

bravo106

Define comfortable in the context of your own feet - high arch, flat, wide, narrow, narrow heel/wide forefoot, etc.? Without any add'l info, it's like asking about a comfortable saddle.

merlinextraligh

Rocket 7's, 2 out of 3 aint bad.

WildH

Just got a pair of Sidi Ergo 1 for $173. After putting these on and using them, I will never go with another shoe company. They are very comfortable. I think the Genius and ergo are similar with the exception of the strap versus the techno buckle (not necessary).

You can get some good prices on ebay if you know your size. Just an option.

Edit - I digress....I think this depends on what your foot shape is like. If you have a wide foot, Sidi makes a wide option, or you Specialized, DMT, and Shimano seem to be pretty wide. Diadora and Sidi are a little narrower. I haven't found a shoe with an insole that actually is comfortable, but you can always replace those with an aftermarket one. Kmart has a 4 oz. molding insole on sale for $4. These work pretty well. I just got a couple of pairs for my work shoes and cycling shoes.

DLH

I consider my foot to be pretty average 10-10.5, moderate arch and a normal width.

yakes_md

Take a look at Specialized Road Comp shoes. About $120, ratchet strap, stiff and comfortable.

nobrainer440

+1 for Specialized. I have their cheapest road shoe ($95, don't remember the name) and it's great.

Seriously though, reccommendations for shoes are next to meaningless. People talk about bike frame fit being so important, I'm still not sure I buy that, since just about everything can be adjusted. But such is not the case with shoes. Fit is everything, and if it's wrong, you will be in pain. They can't really be adjusted beyond strap tension. DO NOT EVER buy a pair of shoes without trying them on.

bravo106

As others have mentioned, with your budget there's a lot to choose from. From my experience, I'd say the standard Sidi shoe has the narrowest forefoot I've tried. However, its shape doesn't really taper back towards the heel so while they're snug up front, they're a little sloppy back near the heel. The '07 Sidis are supposed to have addressed this with their new heel cup. By far, though, Sidi lorica is the most comfortable upper I've worn.

Shimano, Specialized, and DMT have a forefoot fit that's a little wider than Sidi. I used to have the Shimano 215, which in the shop had one of the best fits I've ever tried. First time out with them, my feet started aching after 5 miles. After a total of 28 miles (on a Sunday), my feet still ached on Tuesday. They were up on eBay by the weekend. There is very little curvature on the Shimano sole, which I'd have thought would've fit my flat feet well. Not so. Specialized Pro Carbons also gave my toes more room than my Sidi G4, but the BG built into the sole made me feel like I was pedaling bow-legged, and I'd get hot spots with them, too. The shape of the DMT last also fits my feet (wider forefoot, tapering towards the heel area, good sole curvature). The tongue is very uncomfortable unless I position it on the outside of my instep. I'd recently read a review on one of the online mag sites, and the reviewer mentioned the same thing, which means I'm not the only one noticing this. The microfiber of the DMT upper is a little "plastic-y" in feel, and nowhere near as soft and comfortable as the Sidi. I've never had any lower foot pain/hot spots with DMT, even doing a 70+ mile ride on my 2nd ride wearing them on my 1st pair which were a size too small. (hint: if you wear orthotics, bring them with you when you're trying on shoes ) Right now, the perfect shoe for me would be a DMT in shape, but with a Sidi lorica upper and fasteners.

Northwave has one of the wider forefoot fits out there, definitely wider than the others I've mentioned (can't compare it to a Sidi Mega, since I've never tried it). Decent heel cup. The sole is a little flat, and I feel a ridge going directly across my mid-foot. It's almost like the front end of the shoe is reinforced and stiffer than the back and I can "feel" where this occurs. I get numb toes on the NW (Aerator 3-strap) while on the road, probably from my feet moving around since the upper is wider (they were a team/club purchase that I probably should've passed on). In the basement on the trainer/rollers, they're ok.

Others I've tried on but haven't owned: Nike tend to run narrow, Diadora/Gaerne/Lake somewhere in between, Carnac usually wider.

I'd suggest not commiting to anything unless you've at least tried Sidi. Of course, YMMV.

haimtoeg

Hunt for Sidi on sale and get them.

JayC

The Pro Comp shoes from Specialized can be had in your budget range.

I was wearing Sidis but just bought a pair of Specialized S Works shoes and like them better. Sidi's are nice shoes and I would have bought them again, I just wanted to try something different this time. I think the Sidi buckle system is better than whats on the Pro Comp, thats why I went with the S Works shoe but whats on the Pro Comp is probably okay for 99% of the people out there.

DLH

Looks like Sidi and Specialized seem to be most popular. I know one of the LBS has Specialized shoes, but I do not think any have the Sidi shoes. I may have to see if anyone carries them nearby, because I would like to try some on to see which shoes feel best to my feet before making a purchase.

waterrockets 

+1 try them on for sure.

If it helps any, my gratis shoes are carbon Nikes. They're fine to ride for free, but I'd never buy them. Comfort is ok, but engineering is absolutely ********. So, eliminating a brand can help too, no?

jmoody15

Check these out. I'm just starting out and have put about 150 miles on these, and I have no complaints. Really cheap ($60), carbon soles, and very comfy. They may show their price after a few hundred miles, but so far, I see nothing wrong with them.

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm...offer=EM072EM3

frischtr

I'll vote for Specialized shoes... I've had 3 pairs, all have been great. I just got a new pair of last year's Pro Carbons for a good price. Ratchet strap and carbon soles for one Benny...

No_Minkah

I just bought a pair of Carnac M1s from Lickton's in Oak Park. They're about twice as expensive as any shoes I've ever bought. I had a tortuous time deciding whether or not to throw down that much money. But, in the end, I ride 300+ days a year, and I wear cycling shoes more than any other kind of shoes. And the Carnacs were like a revelation when I tried them on; I've never had any shoes fit so well. I also tried Sidis in various sizes, but the Carnacs were just dreamy. I hope they last as many years as people say their Sidis have lasted. I'll be satisfied if I get 5 years out of them.

cc3chan

I can vouch for that, just got the 07 Sidi Genius 5.5. I also tried the previous generation Genius in the same size and there is a significant difference in width up front. The older pair squeezed my foot numb, but the new pair was just right and snug.

sogood

You can skimp on many items in cycling, but don't, on anything that touches your body ie. Shoes, gloves, knicks/saddle.

Karpems

Have you tired Louis Garneau shoes? I have a pair and I love them! Try to check them out if possible. They are kind of rare, but I'm really glad my LBS had me try them. I liked them better than the Shimano and Sidi shoes in the same price range.

Dewbert

I love my Sidi's....they have a few models up and down the price spectrum.

hoo_koo

If you've got the right shoe size-- $152.95 shipped for Genius 5 (mesh) at WesternBikeWorks.com; but note that not all sizes are available, and that the original shoe boxes were damaged. But the shoes are fully guaranteed. https://westernbikeworks.com/productdetail.asp?p=SIDMG

hoo_koo

My Sidi Genius 5s arrived today from Western Bike Works in a plain brown shipping box, but well-wrapped in their original Sidi box liner paper with the cardboard inserts in the shoes and the owner's manual included, which was a nice surprise. The shoes are indeed in new condition and, as advertised, the only thing missing is the red Sidi box they came in. A quick check of their site shows they only have sizes 39, 40, 44 & 45 left. Not a bad deal if you're still looking for shoes... and the fit is superb. I can finally retire my old pair of Genius 2s...