My first pair of cycling shoes were some budget Shimano road shoes. They were not good, but it was the ’90s, and I didn’t know any better. Once I started paying a little closer attention to my kit, I quickly set my heart on a pair of Sidis. At that point in time, the Italian brand was nailing the fit, function and aesthetic. All the cool kids wore them.
I wanted to be a cool kid.
I bought a pair of Sidi mountain shoes because they were cheap, but they didn’t fit me. That’s how bad I wanted them. I knew they were too small. I thought I’d tough it out, because they looked great. So dumb. I gave them to a friend, and spent the money on a pair that fit, and those were my do everything (road and MTB) shoes for a number of years.
As the soles started to finally disintegrate, I got a pair of Diadora, lace-ups. This is when no one was wearing lace ups. It wasn’t cool yet. It might still not be cool. Whatever. I pounded the ever-loving dust out of those.
From there it gets hazy. I’ve worn Lake shoes. Giros. Lots of Giros actually. Mavics. Leatts on the mountain bike. Some Five-Tens. A pair of Specialized Gore-Tex winter boots.
Occasionally, I shop the current Sidis. Sometimes I think they look great. Sometimes not. My experience with them suggests the quality is good, always, but I get sent shoes to try and so the need to spend a bunch of money seldom lines up with my rekindled interest.
I’ve never worn Fi’ziks or Bonts.
My general thing about bike shoes is like my general thing with saddles. What works for me, might not work for you, so I’m pretty reticent about making any recommendations.
This week’s TCI Friday is really just more interested in hearing what your first pair of cycling shoes was, because that first shoe represents this leap into the deep end of the sport. Also, what’s your go-to shoe now? What’s cool?
A pair from Avocet. Molded sole with a ridge for the back edge of the pedal to grip and leather reinforcements in the forefoot for the toe straps. Yep that was a thing.
I recall that they were all black, wooden soled (that I fixed a clete to with tiny nails), uncomfortable and, with the clete engaged and the strap tightened, impossible to get out of the pedal. So I learned to track stand. I don’t miss those shoes/toe clips one little bit, but I can still track stand one little bit.
So long ago (toe clip strap days): Adidas basic, laces, very light leather, leather sole (stiffened with a metal shank, I think). After determining the cleat position (slotted), I took them to the shoe repair shop down the street from the Yellow Jersey Coop. When I asked the owner if he would nail the cleats in place, he showed me to the cobbler anvil, hammer and tacks. Current shoes are Specialized for gravel, mtb, cool-weather road, and Giro Empire knit (laced) for summer road. Specialized high-arch footbeds.
I think my first pair were lace up Patricks which hurt like hell and then Sidi came out with the first Genius which I loved. Alas, my feet didn’t stay Italian narrow for long and I was lucky to be directed towards Lake which have models for all sorts of draft dodging feet like mine. (re: 241/242 lines)
In the late 90’s I got my first pair of clipless pedals which necessitated proper shoes. What I remember about the Northwaves that I ended up with was the peculiar pointy toes they had. I never did get used to the look.
Switched from Vasque hiking boots with toe clips to Sidi MTB/SPD about 91’ and rode em for the better part of a decade. Have had/have a bunch of others over the years, across disciplines. The current pair of Sidis I use these days, mostly on gravel, are definitely the best of them.
The first legit cycling shoes I ever owned were JT’s Nike Pooh Bahs. I had Farmer John tires on my bike at the time so naturally I went with a known quantity. Nowadays I ride flat pedals and the Specialized 2FO Roost Flat pedal shoes. Nothing comes close to these for grip as they dethroned the 5.10s. They are stupid comfy too with a decent amount of protection without feeling like bricks. I have extra pairs as is typical when something works well companies tend to discontinue them, but they are on sale for $50 currently.
Like you, I bought the cheap Shimanos first. And I bought them a little too big so I could wear some thick wool socks in the winter. At some point, I bought Sidis and cycled through multiple pairs. I really love the Giro lace-ups now. Tighten them up, tie them, and they stay tight for the entire ride. No need to re-ratchet or fiddle with them.
Loving my Giro Empire lace-ups. My cycling signature is different color bar tape: blue on the right/red on the left for gravel, green on the right/orange on the left for CX. I match my lace color to the bar tape, which means a lot of back and forth during CX season.
The real treat, though, are my Adidas Velosambas. They look like Sambas, but have a recess in the sole for a SPD cleat. Not particularly stiff, but damn a fine looking shoe.