bike shoe fit

rah2774

I've had my current shoes about 5 years now, but only really been riding the last 2 seasons and after spending a lot of time in the saddle last summer I became less and less enchanted with my current shoes (losing both big toe nails in late August after a century ride - I can remember how much pain I was in in the tops of my toes that day)... now I'm finally getting healed up, off injured reserve, and gearing up for my first race of the season I need to start shopping for shoes .

I'm not entirely sure how to be sure they fit well - I've seen a few things online about sizing/fitting - curious what your thoughts are (not on brands, but on what I should look for to be sure they fit me well, I'll keep my toe nails, and minimize blisters, tingles, etc).  I was at a tri shop yesterday (the only place that has Sidi T2s in stock) and the guy told me to walk around the room - didn't talk to me, look at how the shoes he handed me fit (after determining my size on the metal slider), etc... and I don't really see why walking matters, not like I'm going to be doing that motion on the bike.  FWIW, I thought they were probably too big - at least compared to how my specialized fit me now. 

I don't really have a preference for road versus tri (I did see that thread) - and if I go with a tri shoe, I'll likely keep my road shoes in use for bad weather days.

thanks!

Michele Cellai

 Becky- My shoes can feel a bit loose in the toe box when I put them on, but my feet tend to swell during exercise. Every shoe I own, from work to workout has a large toe box. My feet are wide at the ball. In all of my years (and I am probably about to jinx myself) I have never had blackened or lost toenails. For my TT bike, I wear a pair of Pearl Izumi tri shoes with the single large/ wide velcro strap. At the strap I can get a tight fit, my feet are not sliding around as there is no side to side motion in pedaling and the fore/ aft fit is fine. On my road bike, I've been though MANY pairs of road shoes. Many are too narrow in the ball/ toe box. Currently I am using the widest pair I could find that are not tri shoes and it seems OK.

Coach Rich

Do you know what size your current shoes are? For some reason I tend to think in Euro sizes for cycling shoes and running shoes (and motocycle boots), couldn't tell you what my US size is for normal shoes...cuz I only own like one pair . I would:

• Use that size as a baseline (use Euro as you're able to get a more precise fit, I think)
• Try on a number of shoes by the same manufacturer. Sounds like you need a bigger shoe so I would try going up a size.
• Once you know your size, consider purchasing online. You're sure to get your size that way vs having to rely on what the LBS has in stock.

Maybe buy some tubes or something while you're in there trying on the shoes. Another consideration is socks vs no socks. My tri and road bike shoes are different sizes, to account for no socks on the tri bike, with socks on the road bike.

 

Paul Hough

I've been having some right foot pain for several months now, but not enough to bail on IMCDA. Earlier I was thinking it was a run problem, but after I moved my long runs to a dirt surface, I'm starting to suspect that the problem is really coming from my biking tri shoes being too narrow. After some experimentation, I pitched my 4 year old Nike tri shoes which had been relegated to training only, and started using my Shimano TR 50s since my right foot hurts less in those. But I think I'm like Michelle - my feet must be swelling when I ride long. I size for my right foot which is 1/2 size larger than the left. Now I've been thinking of going up one size to have more room and be able to put a pair of orthotic inserts inside.

rah2774

thanks.
I think one of the online things I read was to go try shoes on at the end of the day - presumably bc your feet will be more swollen, which makes sense... and to take the socks in that you plan to wear (if you plan to wear them).
One post said not to bother walking around for feel since that's a motion you don't do in the shoes.
Another warned of excess room and suggested my missing toenails was because the shoes are too big (I just don't agree with that - at least in my case my feet don't move forward, it was more the pressure from the top of the shoe where there is no give at all... could be the material/stitching rather than the fit).
curious if you had secret fit advice or tricks to test out when the shoes are on (like when wearing hiking boots you walk up and down a ramp to see if they give at the heel or push you too much forward)...
I was definitely planning to order online (for price) once I figure out what I want and what size I need. And, to be nice, if a clerk does spend time with me I will buy something at the store, just not the shoes. :-)