SPD-SL pedals and road shoes

[Ian H]

Changing to stiff-soled shoes would probably do the trick — MTB racing shoes of some kind.

 

[vickster]

These are the ones I have awaiting cleats http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-wm62-womens-mtb-spd-shoes/rp-prod69964

 

[outlash]

I use the Shimano R088 shoes you mentioned earlier up in the thread and I don't have a problem with them, big plus with them is they have the fittings for both 2 & 3 hole cleats so you can pick and choose as you see fit, downside is that they're not recessed so walking is a bit of an issue. SPD's only but: http://road.cc/content/review/90820-shimano-rt82-spd-shoe. Might be wide enough?


Tony.

 

[vickster]

I think I tried that style on before I got the White womens' ones. I've been on this hideous quest before for SPD shoes! I hate buying footwear (and clothes generally)

 

[outlash]

I would imagine touring shoes would come up a little more generous in their sizes because they're designed for walking and all day riding, rather than a straight road shoe, skin tight, all about speed etc etc.


Tony.

 

[vickster]

The very large box arrived from Wiggle (with a pack of starmix hidden at the bottom now ex-Starmix )

The R088 wide are ok, but the ratchet strap digs in a little as I have a high instep (as well as fat feet )
The Shimano women's pair felt too small and too narrow (despite being a 44 as well) and I didn't like the styling with 3 velcro straps rather than a ratchet
The DHB ones look best, not shiny like the Shimanos (a little more expensive although perhaps not at RRP), and feel comfortable, if possibly a little big but the size down will be too cramped I expect (unless half sizes). They smell weirdly of Snadlewood or Patchouli though, dunno why, those DHB peeps must be new-age hippies or summar And lovely and slippy with the carbon soles on the carpet!! And it took me a while to figure out how to open the ratchet strap

Waiting for the Gaerne ones to arrive from CRC to see how they compare, especially as they are black (I'm still not 100% convinced on white shoes)

 

[mattobrien]

I might be a bit late to the party, but have you considered Bont? They do narrow, standard and wide fitting, so potential to find the right width for you.

The Vaypor's are currently 45% off on wiggle and hey come in half sizes, so they are close to budget and fingers crossed they have the right size for you too.

 

[vickster]

I might be a bit late to the party, but have you considered Bont? They do narrow, standard and wide fitting, so potential to find the right width for you.

The Vaypor's are currently 45% off on wiggle and hey come in half sizes, so they are close to budget and fingers crossed they have the right size for you too.

I've sent back the gaerne as although they look good and we ok width wise, they felt very small for a 44 compared to the others

I looked at Bont but the reviews seemed to suggest they were narrow, I couldn't see different fittings and I wasn't keen on the styling and they were over budget for the well reviewed ones. I'll have another look though.

Edit: £125 is too much really and I still don't like the styling...nor can I immediately see wide fitting

Edit 2: cos wiggle don't sell them anymore http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bont-vaypor-road-shoe-wide-fit/

Edit 3: perhaps the plus at over £200, blimey http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Bont/Vayporand-Plus-Wide-Fit-Road-Shoe-2015/2IVO which may be light but they don't look very robust which is more important than weight

 

[mattobrien]

Having checked wiggle, I can see they aren't offering the wide fit . That said, I did find the standard fit was a lot wider than Specialized and Sidi that I had tried before, more support from the sole of the shoe, which rises a little around the foot preventing the upper from pulling the foot too tight.

Shame you are closer as I have a pair of the Vaypor's unused in a 44.5, so you could have tried the on for size at least.

 

[User269]

Specialized are quite wide fitting. They size up small length wise, similar to Shimano so best to try before you buy.

+1. I've a massively enlarged arthritic big toe joint, and the other foot's not too brilliant either. I find the Specialized Comp road shoe (2013) very comfortable in my 'correct' size. It's as good as wearing my normal shoes with which I always have orthotic insoles.

 

[vickster]

My wide feet must be a different shape as the specialized ones I tried on felt more uncomfortable than others

 

[Stephen C]

I have wide feet and I've been using dhb road shoes, same size (41) as all my other shoes and have no complaint, they are still going after 2 years of daily use and will almost certainly get the same again.

 

[BigCoops]

I use R540's (yellow Cleats) and DHB R 1.0 shoes in a size 46. I have very wide size 11 feet and the fit is good enough to do 30+ milers with no issues, they're not carbon soles, but even so, very stiff. They use three velcro straps, which help as you can loosen them off as your feet expand.

You can get SPD-SL cleat covers for those times where you have to walk in the shoes, they take a lot of the slip away and save the cleats from wearing quickly. Most decent bike retailers will sell them.

 

[mythste]

What type of soreness? I've been playing around with my cleat placement a bit recently and found that one foot is much more comfortable "towed out" (heh) than the other. Feels a bit wonky at first but soreness on the bottom of my foot has stopped.