Tuesday 12 January 2010

Aren’t cycle shoes all the same, isn’t it just about which style I like?

Well, as your shoes are the only thing between your feet and the pedals, apart from your socks, they need to be a pretty well constructed piece of kit, if your going to get from A to B in the most efficient and effective way possible. As all the power is being transferred to your bike via your feet, the shoes you choose to wear are a very important thing to get right.

Whether your in the saddle for hours sprinting, grinding, spinning, rolling through the miles or merely commuting to work, what you wrap around your feet, could have a real effect upon your performance and ultimately your enjoyment.

The more connected you feel to your bike the better and what better shoes to wear than SiDi.

I bought my first pair of SiDi shoes from Condor on Gray’s Inn Road, London and was seduced by the design and the fit. As soon as I tried them on they felt so comfortable I didn’t want to take them off. I bought SiDi Energy 2 Carbon Composite in silver and they have been my everyday commute and road shoe for the last couple of years and still going strong. Whether on my fixie or road bike they are my workhorse cycle shoes and I put them through their paces everyday. Since that moment I have become a huge fan and recommend them for everyone, even the enthusiastic amateur like myself.

 

The qualities that set them apart are:

Strength: Ride efficiency and direct power transfer from shoe to pedal in extreme comfort

Style: A thoroughbred shoe, classy, stylish, can be a bit bling, but with a heart of gold.

Versatility: With an adjustable heel cup, buckle and buckle strap you get the perfect fit and you can even buy spare parts if the sole, heel or closure system wear out through miles of good solid riding, without having to replace the whole shoe.

Value: Look at them as a great long term investment – they can be expensive but I recommend trying them on instore to make sure you get the perfect fit and then look online for those bargains. Plenty of cycle sites sell SiDi shoes at a reduced rate, so shop around.

SiDi has built up an amazing reputation over the last thirty years for proving hand-crafted cycle shoes that are used by both professionals and amateurs. SiDi are at the cutting edge of cycle shoe design with many of the features only found on SiDi cycle shoes and with new technology and materials constantly evolving, SiDi shoes just get better and better.

Whether you’re a road cyclist, mountain biker or triathlete SiDi have something specific for you. They also have an extensive range of sizes, including half-sizes in selected models and they also offer an extra wide fit for those with a high arch or wide feet - they call it 'mega' and they even make women specific shoes.

Technical Information

ModelEnergy 2 Carbon Composite
BrandSiDi
Shoe TypeRoad
UpperLorica®

Lorica is a man-made material that is lighter than leather. It is both breathable and water-repellent, however, it does not retain foot odours. As well as being tough and resistant to scratches, Lorica conforms to the shape of the foot like leather without the shoe having to be 'broken in'. Comfort is assured.

Closure SystemSoft Instep Closure System

The wide, anatomical and padded strap has been reduced and coupled to a soft, thermoformed material, increasing comfort and performance. It distributes pressure evenly over the arch area, is adjustable from both sides and can be centered perfectly. The system is serviceable and replaceable, it also eliminates the need for using the SiDi High Instep Extender.

SL Buckle

Allows locking in two different ways: by taking up a number of clicks with one sweep of the lever, or engaging a half click at a time for a truly micro-metric adjustment. The two red flaps may be pressed together for complete unlocking or alternately to slightly loosen the shoe during performance.

Tecno II System

The Tecno II buckle uses a mono-filament nylon line and a fine-tooth ratchet for smooth adjustment and even pressure distribution. The system allows frontal micro-metric closure and adapts the upper to a customised fit. The buckle is serviceable and available as a replacement part.

HeelSiDi Heel

The reinforced SiDi Heel keeps the foot in position and avoids the shoe being deformed by extreme performance or prolonged pressure.

Replaceable Heel Cup

SiDi shoes are serviceable, the heel cup is available as a spare part.

SoleCarbon Composite Sole

Like the Full Carbon Sole, the Carbon Composite Sole is designed for the high-mileage performance cyclist. The material is nylon injected with carbon fibre. This enables excellent stiffness and optimal power transfer. The sole is thinner in the toe area, this brings the foot closer to the pedal axle, allows some flexibility and helps blood flow to the foot.

The nylon used in the Carbon Composite Sole is lighter than normal nylon, it does not absorb water or lose rigidity in hot or humid weather. An anti-slip insert is at the toe and the heel pad is replaceable.

Cleat Compatibility

Three-point fixing, compatible with the Look Keo memory cleat. Two-hole adapter kits are also available.

Compatible with Speedplay pedals (using shim provided with pedals) and the Look Keo memory cleat system.

I love my SiDi shoes so much I invested in two more pairs. Admittedly a bit bling and I do only use them on sunny days, but I couldn’t resist. So if your feeling flush and want to add a bit of ‘sparkle’ to your ride then you can’t go wrong with a pair of Ergo 2 Carbon Lite Vernice. These amazing shoes are engineered for the high-performance, high-mileage cyclist who requires a sole that is rigid, but does not compromise the foot’s blood circulation, therefore guaranteeing comfort and great power transfer. 


 http://www.sidicafe.co.uk/cycling-shoes/road


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