nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
I'm hoping to be in the market for some cycling shoes, I'm normally 10.5-11 uk size. Should I be going a size bigger?
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Adam4868
Guru
Probally but it does depend on the brand for the fit.If you can't get to try them.on (probally not because shops are limited) Buy some online with free returns and get a couple of sizes to try.
OP
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nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
Spd-sl I'm thinking.
vickster
Legendary Member
Find ones you like and look for reviews on seller sites, usually have a lot of comments about sizing. Do you have narrow feet, wide feet, high arches ,high instep, flat feet, all will affect fit.
I have wide feet, high arches and high instep...I couldn’t find one pair of SL shoes to fit a few years ago when I considered. Probably tried 20 or more pairs from loads of makes! Hence free delivery and free returns (it’ll cost £6 or more to send shoes back otherwise)
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nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
I dont want to spend to much at first. Which brands are value for money?
OP
OP
nickg
Veteran
- Location
- Colchester, Essex
And which sites are good to be looking at?
CanucksTraveller
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
- Location
- Hertfordshire
All and none, just depends what lines are shifting, which are due an upgrade, all sorts. There's some budget brands (Decathlon and erm... that's possibly it) that are cheap full stop, then there are more well known brands where you can still find an arguably better shoe for a good price.
I only really like North Wave shoes as they fit me well, they can be expensive full price but I don't think I've ever paid more than 50-60 pounds for a pair on Wiggle.
Fit is key, the advice so far on that has been good. You need to find a brand that feels right.
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
It depends on the brand.
I've got cycling shoes (SPD-SL) from North Wave and Diadora and they both fit true to size. Both pairs were bought in sales at very reasonable prices.
I've got cycling shoes (SPD-SL) from North Wave and Diadora and they both fit true to size. Both pairs were bought in sales at very reasonable prices.
CanucksTraveller
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Isn't that weird, I find North Wave are small on me and I need a size up, occasionally two. It's why I order in the Vickster method, I.e. buy two pairs and return the tighter one. Just shows how there's a real need to try everything on in cycling, sizing is crazy erratic in this pursuit particularly.
Don't even get me started on Italian brand cycling clothing. Going by my trials, an average large Italian man must be about 5 foot max, and 6 stone. Forgettaboutit!
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I think I've got "normalish" shaped feet, and I've always found Shimano cycling shoes are a pretty accurate fit and are comparable to the sizes I use for civilian footwear. I think they also do a wider fit option on some models, to cater for the broader Anglo Saxon foot (our Continental brethren tend to have narrower feet apparently).
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Whereas I have "widish" feet and I've always found Shimano cycling shoes a terribly tight fit, more than 1 size smaller than I use for civilian footwear!
I currently wear a pair 2 euro sizes bigger than the size I'd normally wear. I'd say that they are about half a size too long but I can take up the slack with the straps to prevent the shoes moving around. The extra space is great when my feet start to swell on long rides on hot days.
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PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
I have broad flat feet and find it difficult to buy comfortable shoes. I always buy one size up.
I bought two pairs just before lockdown, a pair of Fizik winter boots and a pair of Specialised road shoes. I toyed with the idea of ordering multiple pairs from different suppliers but couldn't face the thought of having to return numerous pairs before finding, if at all, something which fits. I made a list of all the local stockists, planned a sensible driving route and visited each in turn till I found what I needed.
Shoes are a very specific thing in terms of fit and comfort. I wouldn't consider online........which obviously means waiting though in my area some bike shops are open.
I went to Decathlon, the first time I've been in one of their stores. The shoes are certainly cheap and a quick examination shows why. You get what you pay for. My overall impression was Decathlon is full of cheap tat made to a price point with little if any concern about quality. I'll never go again.
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