Road Shoe Upgrade - Should I go SIDI?

[lejogger]

I've got to the point where my dhb R1 shoes are now approaching 2 years old and have probably done the best part of 6000 miles on both my tourer/commuter and carbon best bike, and are looking a little tired. This is fine for the commute, and was fine in the winter under overshoes, but on the weekend club ride I'm feeling a bit like a scruffy git.

I like the idea of something with a bit more stiffness - so probably a carbon sole, and a bit more comfort. This is what I've seen:

dhb R2.0c. £79.19. A decent upgrade from what I have now, and a decent price, but sometimes with the dhb I feel more like I'm putting my foot into a flat soled gola football boot from the 80s rather than a modern sporting shoe.
shimano R106 £78.99. Nylon sole so is it worth the extra money over the dhb R1.0 that's less than £45 with my platinum discount.

But then I wondered if I should push the boat out... I can get the 2011 version of:
SIDI Five £133.24. The reviews are excellent and rave about the comfort, the stiffness, and the fact you can replace the heel and the ratchet should they fail before the rest of the shoe. Are they £50 more of a shoe than the dhbs?

Any thoughts are welcome. Should I be looking at any others?

 

[black'n'yellow]

The first requirement for any cycling shoe is that it should be a comfortable fit. The second requirement is that it should still be a comfortable fit after several hours. You really need to go and try some on before you start drawing up a shortlist. If needs be, it's worth spending on the right pair...

 

[ColinJ]

I really like my SIDI shoes but I haven't worn them for a few years now because I switched to SPDs on all my bikes. I think if when I get fit enough again to climb steep hills in a 39/29 gear, I will put my Look pedals back on my Cannondale and start wearing the SIDIs again.

If you are happy with paying £133.24 and like the shoes, then they are worth it! The law of diminishing returns always sets in, but only you can decide where the cut off point is.

(I was really lucky and got my SIDIs cheap because the owner of the shop wanted to clear very old stock and I knew someone who worked there who realised that they were my size! )

 

[lejogger]

The first requirement for any cycling shoe is that it should be a comfortable fit. The second requirement is that it should still be a comfortable fit after several hours. You really need to go and try some on before you start drawing up a shortlist. If needs be, it's worth spending on the right pair...

Thanks for the advice...
I usually shop online though... I feel a bit guilty about spending 30 mins trying them on in Cycle Surgery but then walking out and spending my money elsewhere, even if it's £80 or so less. I mean if I ordered from Wiggle, they're very good about returns if they're not up to scratch.

 

[lejogger]

I really like my SIDI shoes but I haven't worn them for a few years now because I switched to SPDs on all my bikes. I think if when I get fit enough again to climb steep hills in a 39/29 gear, I will put my Look pedals back on my Cannondale and start wearing the SIDIs again.

If you are happy with paying £133.24 and like the shoes, then they are worth it! The law of diminishing returns always sets in, but only you can decide where the cut off point is.

(I was really lucky and got my SIDIs cheap because the owner of the shop wanted to clear very old stock and I knew someone who worked there who realised that they were my size! )

£133 is a good £80 odd quid off the RRP, so it is a pretty good deal. I don't think I'd be happy paying any more than that to be honest when I know the £45 dhbs did a very admirable job. Some of the shoes out there are practically £300. Can they really be THAT good?!! Do they have rockets strapped to them?!

 

[ColinJ]

£133 is a good £80 odd quid off the RRP, so it is a pretty good deal. I don't think I'd be happy paying any more than that to be honest when I know the £45 dhbs did a very admirable job. Some of the shoes out there are practically £300. Can they really be THAT good?!! Do they have rockets strapped to them?!

I know what you mean! I wouldn't pay £300 for a pair of shoes. If I had money to burn, I'd rather buy 2 pairs for £150 each, or just the one pair and give the other £150 to a deserving charity!

I am currently riding in ALDI shoes which cost under £20 so they were great value for money. They don't look as nice as the SIDIs and they are not quite as comfortable, but they do the job. I'm too hard up to buy a pair of SIDI SPD shoes!

 

[lejogger]

I know what you mean! I wouldn't pay £300 for a pair of shoes. If I had money to burn, I'd rather buy 2 pairs for £150 each, or just the one pair and give the other £150 to a deserving charity!

I am currently riding in ALDI shoes which cost under £20 so they were great value for money. They don't look as nice as the SIDIs and they are not quite as comfortable, but they do the job. I'm too hard up to buy a pair of SIDI SPD shoes!

My best mate and 'chap who got me into cycling' has been in the same pair of aldi shoes for as long as I've cycled with him. They've done LEJOG, a tour of ireland, a daily commute and countless club runs. If they get damp they smell like death itself! He didn't scrimp on his two titanium bikes though.

I guess his theory is to spend it where it counts...

 

[ColinJ]

My best mate and 'chap who got me into cycling' has been in the same pair of aldi shoes for as long as I've cycled with him. They've done LEJOG, a tour of ireland, a daily commute and countless club runs. If they get damp they smell like death itself! He didn't scrimp on his two titanium bikes though.

I guess his theory is to spend it where it counts...

My shoes honk a bit too! I keep forgetting to dry them after wet rides so they just kind of fester ...

 

[Lard Armstrong]

I have Sidis and never looked back, they are a sublime fit and are comfortable all day. I have replaced the heels once, easily & cheaply.

Remember that Sidis are Italian and can be a narrower than Specialized or other US brands. You may also need to go up a size.

It's all about the fit.

 

[dellzeqq]

I've had six pairs of Sidi shoes and I cannot think what possessed me to buy the second, let alone the third, fourth, fifth and sixth. They're overpriced, the twiddly tightening things are rubbish, and they fall apart. The latest ones, the Sidi Ergo Carbon 2 have just disintegrated, with the lining turning to mush. And the distributors don't know the difference between an SPD-R and an SPD-SL.

Ten years ago they were on their own, but now the market is full of cheaper alternatives. Susie's Spesh road shoes, which cost all of sixtyfive pounds, are just as light and stiff as the Ergo 2s. Go figure.