Gunfunk

I am a size 42 to 43 generally, about a size 9 in Nike shoes. I have a wider foot around the balls of my feet and therefore I experience pain in my current pearl izumis'. They are mountain bike shoes that I wear with spd pedals on my road bike.

One day I went to a store and asked about wide cycling shoes, not preparing to buy that day. I was given a pair of Sidi Genius 5 and Dominator 5s to try on, in the Mega (wide format) in a size 42.5. They felt AMAZING! However, I was scared away by the nearly $300 price tag. This was last year, and in retrospect, after riding another season in these painful pearl izumis, I should have pulled the trigger. Now, money is less of a concern as I value comfortable shoes, and I'm ready to.

So now I have some options: the Genius 7, the Dominator 7, the Ergo 4, and the Dragon 4. All of these come in size 42.5 and with a mega fit. In making a decision, I come to this board with some questions:

1. Do I want a road shoe? Is there an advantage for a casual rider that averages 70-100 km per week and consistent trainer use during the winter (I am in Canada)? I use mtb shoes as I like to walk in them comfortably. I really do not want to slip, or feel like a penguin. Are sidi mtb shoes much easier to walk in compared to the road shoes?

2. What is up with the Techno3 buckle system on the Ergo 4 and the Dragon 4s? Is it just me or does the conventional buckle system seem much easier to loosen, and has more adjusting features? Is this wire buckle system a turn for the worse?

3. I noticed that the sole on the Dominator 7 is not replaceable like it is on the other models; is this a noteable deficiency? I presume as these shoes should last some time, therefore isn't having the sole replaceable almost necessary?

4. If there is some advantages of using road specific shoes, what brand of pedal/cleats do I want? Is one brand better or more walkable than the others?

Your general comments would also be appreciated. Thank you!

catgita

Sidi uses similar stiff soles on both the MTB and road shoes, so there is no meaningful advantage to road shoes. You may be told the road shoes are lighter, and that the SPD are a bit wobbly in comparison to a road cleat. But that is nothing if you need to walk or stop frequently in traffic.

Replaceable soles won't come into play unless you do serious walking or running in them. If you haven't worn down shoes in the past, you probably won't now.

GuitarBob

Shimano and Lake also make wide 'road specific' shoes, so you might have a look. I have those as well as a pair of Sidi Genius something-or-other and the Sidis are my least favorite. YMMV.

tagaproject6

Competitive Cyclist is currently have a sale on their Sidi MTB shoes. The Cape and Drako are excellent shoes.

popeye

My $100 shoes lasted less than a year before the sole separated. My Sidi's are still going strong after more than 10 years but they don't look pretty. The type of cleat is going to determine if you can walk or not.

msu2001la

MTB vs Road Shoes is mostly personal preference. I've been riding road in MTB shoes for years, mostly because I ride in urban areas and like dual-sided MTB pedals due to all the clip-in/clip-out at stoplights, but also because I ride Cyclocross and MTB and didn't see a need to own multiple pairs of shoes. The only way I'd consider road-specific shoes is if I only rode rural areas on my road bike where there was limited walking and clip-in/clip-out happening.

As for the buckle system, my Sidi Drako MTB shoes have this "Techno3" system. It's very easy to use and provides the ability to make very tiny adjustments to the tension. It took a while for me to get used to it, as I was coming from a more traditional buckle system, but now that I'm used to it I love it.

My Sidi shoes are awesome and I don't regret the purchase at all. By far the best bike shoes I've ever owned.

gsindela

Sidi's are great, but heavy.

Gunfunk

The drakos would be nice, except they are not available in the Mega wide fit. Also, the drakos come with a slightly different buckle system, they are the techno3 'push' while the dragons have the regular techno3. I think you can buy the push buckles and place them on the dragons though.

hobkirk

Replacement soles: I bought my Sidi's used through eBay about 3 years ago. I was immediately impressed by how effective the ratchet straps were and the extra stiffness. But they get old. The soles wear, especially. I replaced the soles about a year ago and the new sole pads seem to be wearing quickly.

I am about to replace the fuzzy side of the Velcro on the straps and I will probably replace the original insoles. But I am pretty sure I will not replace the sole rubber again.

mercator

I walk around in my 8 year old dominators all the time, and see no need for a replaceable sole. They are excellent shoes.

trekmogul 

IMG_0690.jpg


Just bought another of the newest SIDI Road Shoes and love the quality of the shoe...

TimothyH

Sidi Mega are not really wide as in EE or EEE. They are wider than the non-Mega version but are far from comfortable for those of us with truly wide feet and/or high arches.

They will last a long time. Mine lasted 12 years of hard use until the soles literally detached from the last. But they never were truly comfortable for my wide feet.

I gave up on replacing the rubber sole pads after they wore out a few times.

Speedplay are probably the least walkable.


-Tim-

Gunfunk

So what shoes do you recommend for more width? I am looking for an mtb shoe to work with my road bike.