I just went to my local shop to get an old Campagnolo hub readjusted that I messed up. The owner was enthusiastic and explained to me what I did wrong. I couldn't find the exploded view online, so the experience of this dude was worth every penny. You are absolutely right with the call to support local shops.
Yeah, my first pair of Sidi road shoes are 10+ years old and going strong. The old-style pull-up ratchet closure is superb. I can't stand the crappy boa/twist closure on my one-year-old Sidi mtn shoes. I have arthritis in my hands and the boa/ twist closures are painful to operate. But Sidi makes Mega sizes, which I need, so I will suffer along with them because of the comfortable fit. Thanks for the video!
My SIDI MTB shoes were great. At first. But after a few years the replaceable synthetic rubber treads perished into something with the consistency of candle wax. Luckily I had bought spare treads. Unfortunately, they had perished too. I ended up binning the lot. These days I ride Shimano shoes. They are affordable, durable and fit my feet well. (ME7s are great). Cheers
I rode with Sidi's from 1995 to 2021. But I needed more reward cleat placement and wedges, so I tried a pair of the Specialized S-WORKS 7. They are my go to shoe now. The built in wedge in the sole along with much greater bolt hole range of movement sold me. Also, I never realized until using the Spec, that the wider toe box was more comfortable. SIDI quality is top notch, but their dated shoe design needs to be updated for better foot ergonomics.
I've been wearing Sidi shoes for the past 20 years I think. I bought my first pair (Genius 5) from a local bike shop. Since then I have purchased all following pairs of Sidis from online shops simply because I could not get them from any LBS, and I live in a major metro area. In the past couple years I have acquired a pair of Sidi 60s, and a pair of Shots. While I really like the build and fit of Sidi shoes, I, like many of my cycling companions all think that the Techno 3 closures are very bad. We all wonder why Sidi won't just acknowledge that Boa closures are superior, and start offering their shoes with Boas.
I have been riding the Sidi Genius 7 shoe since 2003. I hope they never stop making it. I like that it's ratchet and velcro. I like that they are narrow. I have also tried Pearl Izumi, DHB and Adidas.
You already sell Lake shoes, Sidi aren’t comparable. I’ve had both. Keep pushing Lake in widths, nobody has “normal” feet. Sidi Mega make the entire shoe wide, Lake makes the toe box wide, with heat mouldable heals. BTW love the channel and yes, keep bringing the inside scoop. Thank you 🇨🇦
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad I am still using Sidi Dominator Megas I bought 15 years ago for around $200. That's $1 per month I had them. I wouldn't say that was overpriced for what they delivered for me. But I haven't looked at the new stuff and don't know how durable the new materials they use are compared to Lorica, so things might have changed.
I rode Sidi for years too. Some years ago I bought my first pair of Lakes and now have 2 more. They are more "foot shaped" than anything else. Durability is top notch too, bit they are pretty hefty.
I’ve been riding for 25 plus years have tried many different brands over the years, SIDI is by far, in my opinion, the best fit and most comfortable for me. I currently have two pairs one pair is about 10 years old the other a couple of months.
Bagged a pair of 10+ year old Sidi Ergo 3 for $30. Had a slight gash on it but in the main all in excellent condition. Also patented black in colour so I like the shine - never see this in modern cycling shoes.
My feet were designed for Sidis. I’ve owned them for 20+ years. Currently I have three pairs. Always looking for a refresh. More availability is good for everyone. In the past I’ve always had to order them direct for specific colors in the highest grade.
I’ve owned my Sidi shoes since I bought my bike back in 2005. Love them. I hope they last forever. Love the ratchet enclosure with the Velcro tongue straps. If my LBS gets Sidi I’ll buy them there. If not, I’ll buy from you, from somewhere.
Yes I had a pair of Sidis for apprx 10 yrs as my first and only bike shoe...then got another pair of Sidi's as my first pair with the originals as a 'bad weather back up' then got a third pair as my primaries, second pair as the bad weather pair (rain, snow, salt etc.) the originals (now 20 yrs old were retired) and it took me a couple of years to actually put the originals in the garbage...it was like a burial... Sidi's are like that to me...the originals had like 20000+ miles...Sidi's last and are worth the cost to me...they have soul...NPI! ...and thanks for the informative videos
I have two pairs of Sidi road and one mtn bike. None of my local shops sell them. Two pairs are over three years old. The other pair is over 13 years old. I try and support my local shops. My last new bike purchase was in 2017. Picked up a used bike from my local shop this spring. I plan on attending the swap every year great deals. The new bikes have priced me out of the market. Most of this increase is from electronic groupsets.
I've ridden Siri's for 20 years and have owned multiple pairs. I have had a problem with them being too narrow, which might be exacerbated by their approach to using the same sole last for the half sizes just with extra upper material. I have a beautiful pair of Sidi Wire's but can't wear them because they are so narrow. So, now I can only wear Sidi's that come in Mega widths.
I have owned SIDI road and mountain bike cycling shoes for over 25 years using Look Keo and CrankBrothers Candy 2 pedals. Love them. Tried Fizik and went back to SIDI. SIDI cycling shoes all the way for me. Love them and my local LBS.
Still happily married to my SIDI Genius shoes after 9 years :) The only servicing they've ever needed was to replace the heel caps... that's it! Hard to beat well ventilated and supple leather uppers matched with a stiff sole, all in a handmade shoe. Frankly, I wish all shoes (including non-cycling specific shoes) felt as good as these.
A different perspective. Many years ago I worked for the exclusive SIDI US distributor. SIDI never sent a complete order. Example, order 50 size 38 and 200 size 43. They send 60 size 38 and 50 size 43. Also never ship on time. Sounds like not much has changed. So most shops have a hard time getting the popular sizes. Can't sell a shoe line when you can't get the size you need. It appears the situation is better in Europe.
Hello George, Thank you so much for this video! I own a pair Sidi VGC Mountain biking mega shoes I bought back in 1999, $300 and they were worth every penny! The rubber tread on the soles is all but worn away and I have reattach the rigid plastic sole with Gorilla Glue to the upper, yet I still ride with them … but I fear the upper will not last forever. That said, I definitely want to buy a new pair of Dragon 5 mountain Mega size eu 44, but I have a question I was hoping you could answer. The Dragon 5’s, like the earlier versions, have replaceable treads as part of their selling point yet I can’t seem to find anyone who sells the Dragon 5 replacement treads (nearly all are Dragon 4 or Trace). Is this an issue with Sidi changing distributors to QBP or is this a feature that is being phased out and I should buy a different model with a fixed tread? Thanks in advance and yes I love and support my local bike shop! Paul at Atomic Cycles is a great mechanic and like you, he is a surviver! Evan
Had my genius 6.6 carbon since 2008. Always wanted a different cleat position that was more towards the toes. Easily got hot feet from them. Quality wise, they are incredible. Not comfortable without a custom insole. But I will try another brand with better ergonomics once these wear out.
Sidi shoes are completely overrated and have unjustified loyalty from customers. There are so many brands that make better fitting shoes with better materials and better construction ... such as Lake Cycling or Gaerne Shoes. Thanks for watching please consider subscribing
I actually found this video because I’ve seen Sidi shoes on deeper sale on the high end models over the past weeks than I’ve seen in the past. Wasn’t sure if they were revamping the models or what was going on.
Hello Chris the distributorship is the major issue it was in limbo so shops were blowing inventory out. Thank you for watching please consider subscribing
Hello Santiago - you’re not alone. Sidi is for people with narrow feet. The Mega wide is a misnomer they are basically the standard width for other shoe manufacturers Thanks for watching. Please consider subscribing.
Sidi...Assos...here in Germany you had to pre-order a lot just to become a dealer. Then "our" customers came in, tried the products to know the size....and bought online where the retail price was lower than what we could get them from the manufacturer. 😒 Well... that's the reason no shops have those products anymore.😑
Back in the 1980's I professionally raced with Bata shoes with LOOK cleats. When I retired from racing, I tried SIDI shoes with SPD cleats, soft leather upper was comfortable, but the sole became too flexible only a year or so after buying them. This was 25 to 30 years ago, I would like to try SIDI again with the natural leather upper, maybe they are not using the wood sole anymore, or have fixed this problem. I just bought new Specialized shoes this year, but after a long break-in of thousands of miles, they are better, but still uncomfortable and not conforming to my feet like they were supposed to. I believe the soft leather of the SIDI upper will conform very quickly to my feet for a good fit and no hot spots.
I have had 2 pair of SIDI shoes since 1998. First pair I bought from a local shop. Newest pair is from 2012 and it is time for a new pair, but finding them at local shops here is Sacramento has been a challenge. This area is inundated with Specialized dealers of everything.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad the official Trek store here in town is quite fabulous with good people, but we still have lots of local shops along with a few chains. Shoutout to Paco's in Sacramento as my current shop.
How long did it take you to earn a good mechanic rep for new customers to trust you with their baby? Have you overcome the "free service" bike shops offer with their sales plan? I have been riding Sidi since 2004, my problem is I want to use Speedplay X pedals and the cleats are slim pickins, is there an alternative cleat?
I own Sidi road shoes. My local bike shop does not carry them so I had to buy from competative Cyclist. Local Bike shop does not have alot of bike Kits , jackets , tires or shoes anymore. I ride Road , gravel and Mtn bikes which were all bought localy. BTW the shoes last thousands of miles and many years. I must have 15K miles on mine and they look and perform great.
I cannot believe the coincidence! This is so crazy! Just last night, as were falling asleep in our bed, my wife turned to me and asked: “What’s going on with Sidi shoes?” Weird!
I had my first pair of (road) Sidi for 10 years. Replaced the sole twice, the buckle once, and the shoes kept on going. I only got different shoes (non-Sidi) because I didn’t like the styling of their lower tier offering, and the ones I did like were out of my budget. I doubt my new pair will last 10 years, but the features and quality I got for $150 was hard to beat!
To me Sidi shoes look a little bit dated. Personally, I think Sidi lost the battle to social media and appealing to a younger demographic picking up cycling. However, I value their approach to making shoes repairable.
I have very wide feet so SIDI MEGA are the only cycling shoes for me (I have not tried Lake in a real life side-by-side comparison but Mega were wider in my length based on information online). It is rare to see Sidi shoes available yet alone the Mega variant yet alone half sizes so online shopping is the only real option especially since there is possibility of a sale price vs an expensive special order from a LBS, sorry.
I understand pricing can be an issue. If I have to order something for the customer it is new inventory coming in. The sales you find are usually bike shops that need to get rid of inventory and sometimes drop the price down to their costs just to move it and pay bills. I don’t run that kind of shop where I’m constantly “robbing Peter to pay Paul” all my inventory is new, current and usually never been touched by another customer before you buy it. In my experience, Mega has been a misnomer. Lake and Bont have significantly wider shoes than Sidi. Customers have come to me after they have “outgrown” their Megas 😂
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad I should have been more exact in my description - my feet are very wide in the forefoot but normal sized at the heel. There is a popular bike fitter on RUclips who also rates Lake over Sidi but he did say that if you look at the shape of the shoe's sole and it matches the shape of the customer's foot then that is a great indication the shoe will work. Sidi Mega match the shape of my feet not just the width really well. That reinforces point inherent in your video that shoes are so specific to the individual that you need a large range of stock to find the perfect match!
Very true. A friend of mine, A Sidi authorised shop have to throw away a lot of his Sidi shoes, Couldn't sell them because of the sizes which he has to get in order to buy from them. They just come apart, the sole from the upper. He doesn't bring in anymore Sidi shoes.
I've had my Sidi mtb shoes for 6 years now. I've been mostly using them on the road and gravel, with maybe 5-6 mtb rides per year. They are starting to show their age though, as I've already replaced both ratchet straps and one of the actual ratchet assemblies. I'd love to go for sidi again, as the shape perfectly fits my foot, but it looks like they are still using the same design for the inner foot attachment of the strap on almost all models except the 569CAD (yikes!) Tiger . The inner part of the strap has a tendency to rub on cranks unless they are trimmed, and that in turns seem to lower the reliability of the system in my experience. I got the shoes at a local bike shop for a fraction of the msrp because as you said, they were just sitting there for too long and the shop wasn't able to move them. As much as I'd like to just get new ones from the same brand, I think I'll just go to the same shop and see what they have.
I bought a pair of SIDI Wire Vent Carbon Push Road Shoes back in 2017. I’m still using them. Some of the things I like about them are sturdiness, modular in design, stiff soled, conforming. I did have a problem with them. The top closure broke in 2021. Since they are modular, I was able to buy the part that broke. The replacement fit perfectly and brought it back to new condition. I had to replace the rubber feet as well, the parts were very affordable. They were a bit tight when I first got them, but after a month or two, they wore in and have conformed to the shape of my feet. Definitely nice shoes. I would buy them again if I had to.
I have sidi road shoes that are 10 or 11 years old. I love that you can buy parts for them, they are made of leather and work well. I'm actually looking at buying a new pair, but i want something a bit wider and it seems the new shoes aren't leather so I'm not sure.
Sidi has been my go to shoe for decades. On the last pair of Sidi MTB shoes I had the bottoms wore out while the uppers were still good. I tried to buy a new pair at a LBS but they didn’t have my size so I just ordered a pair online ( I already knew my size and was replacing a previous model with the newer version ) because the shop was about an hour away from me.
Used to buy sidi- started trying other brands - just as good at half the price. Shimano has a great product for Mtb and road so does pearl Izumi with great warranty.
I have 3 pairs of Sidi. The youngest pair is 10 years old. I love how durable they are and that they're made in Italy. Wish they were a bit wider, especially as I age. No LBS in my area carry them any more. Maybe with QBP picking them up that will change. Hopefully I won't need another pair for a while. BTW, as a dealer, which models have a wider fit, besides the mega ones?
I have narrow feet and of the shoes I have tried Sidi fit me the best. A problem with Sidi shoes, though, is that the cleat holes are too near the toe. I have had to attach a plate (whose manufacturer I forget), so that I can re-site the cleats closer to the mid-foot. Both of my pairs I bought from the well-known auction website.
I have owned Sidi MTB shoes with replacable sole parts for more than a decade (replacing sole inserts twice) in the early 2000s. Great craftmanship, pretty indestructible. Switched to the top tier Northwave MTB XC shoes because of their superior Michelin sole. For road I've always preferred Bont shoes.
I wear Sidi road shoes against my budget’s wishes because they simply fit. Back when I rode a motorcycle, I wore Sidi boots for the same reason. I’ve tried other brands, but none fit me as well. I wish they did, because the ones that fit cost a fortune! The LBS that sold them to me is now closed, sadly. (Edit: spelling)
I have owned numerous Sidi shoes in both road and mtb models over the past 30 years. The Sidi shoe last always worked great for my feet and I realize that's not the case for everyone. Plus I valued the quality of their shoes, the durability and how they performed. They make a great product imho. Over many decades as my riding preference transitioned I found myself gravitating away from straight road shoes and increasingly to gravel/mtb shoes. I love the ability to walk into coffee shops or around town in the middle of a long day on the bike and not have to clomp around like I have 2 left feet! The beauty of "quality" however is there's always a market out there looking for good stuff. So I've sold off all of my Sidi gear over the years and now I've gravitated heavily towards comfort and walk friendly shoes that still give me decent performance when doing the long distance adventure tours that I find dominating my current riding calendar. My current fav is the Giro VR90 lace up mtb shoe: super comfortable and very walk friendly. On many of these long distance tours you can easily spend upwards of 12 hours a day in your shoes. Comfort, fit and versatility are critical and honestly I've grown to love lace ups. But I have nothing but positive things to say about Sidi. Great shoes that are worth every penny.
I know I can't find shoes to try on at the local shops. So I rely all the more on good info and reviews from experts such as yourself. Thank you! If I lived anywhere near San Diego, I'd definitely be a customer. Not many bike shops know a lot about bike and shoe fitting!
Thanks for the industry news segment. I just purchased a pair of Sidi road shoe to replace a pair of Sidi shoes that I wore for more than 15 years. The new Genius shoes have the Boa fastening system. It seems very secure but not a easy to release as the old velcro type. The Pennsylvania QBP warehouse is here in Lancaster.
Thank You for putting a location to the PA warehouse. When I did Race Across America in 2007 coming in from Western Pennsylvania, through the area of Lancaster, and other places, that is a very hilly area of the state!
I wore Sidi shoes, both road and mountain, about 20-25 yrs ago. I remember they were narrow in the forefoot but didn't really taper much towards the heel. Now that I'm older w/ Morton's Neuroma in one foot, I look for shoes that are wider in the forefoot, but I still need a very narrow heel fit. Call it "V" shaped .. or duck feet! I can't remember the last time I walked into a retail shop and saw Sidi shoes on the shelves. Most around here stopped carrying them as the majority seemed to migrate to Specialized or Bontrager shoes, depending on their main product line. These days, I almost always buy 2 pairs of shoes online in different sizes and return the ones that don't fit. I'm willing to pay a small restocking fee to ensure I get the fit I want. I'd love to be able to walk into a retail store and try/buy them in person - thus supporting the little guy - but I also get the minimum inventory situation you mention that the retailers face.
You sound like a perfect candidate for Lake shoes. I also have large "duck feet"... maybe I should start my own brand of cycling shoes for riders like us! 😛
Good topic. Thanks. I went to every LBS around when I decided to switch from flat to clipless pedals. Really limited inventory and mostly not much help from bike shop people. I did buy a pair of Sidi shoes but should have passed because they didn't fit very well.(no half sizes carried at shop) What helped me the most was the since discontinued PayPal program to reimburse shipping costs for purchases returned. I ordered from shops in Europe and after 4-5 trys ended up with a pair of Gaerne shoes. They are great shoes that fit my narrow feet well. LBS wasn't able to provide what I needed. At least now I know what size what size I need and can see if any LBS carries Gaerne shoes when the time comes.
Sidi mtb shoe outsoles for some time now have been horrible for hiking your bike or just walking over uneven terrain. Very comfortable but I can't risk twisting an ankle. I have ended up using giro lace up mountain bike shoes. Love the Sidi high end road shoes - perfection. I've ridden Sidi shoes over 34 years.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad It was a dominator with 3 different securing mechanisms. A ratchet at the top, a dial and fishing line style in the middle and a velcro strap at the front. It was super comfortable and lasted nearly 20 years. It was the soles that started to crumble and turned to mush that finally ended those shoes. I tried getting them resoled but everyone said it would not be possible due to the materials and construction of the sole. There was a memorial service and a burial in the Rocky Mountains for those shoes.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoadThey have the best soles, fit, durability... Sidi is a small company and because of the sponsorship funds allocated by pro, it cannot compete with multinationals like spec... Or shimano.....
@@tipkeri7923Lake, Bont and Gaerne come to mind as significantly better brands than Sidi. Sidi is completely over priced their shoes don’t fit people as well as you think. Additionally they are not small at all. In fact, they’re too big to offer custom unlike Lake or Bont. Gaerne is truly a better shoe out of the Italian brands - not Sidi. Me thinks you might need exposure to many other brands before you call Sidi “the best” at anything.
Ive bought Sidi shoes for years, its their fit and longevity that sells me everytime. George, would you please talk about why Specialized is pissing bike shops off. They just want to sell direct to consumers without the middleman?
It's not just Specialized. It's my opinion that brands like Canyon (direct to consumer only) are indirectly forcing competitors like Trek, Specialized, etc., to sell direct-to-consumer to stay price competitive. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that the bicycle industry has been able to protect bike shops for so long. Unfortunately, "money talks" and bicycle manufacturers aren't really the friend of local bike shops if that "friendship" means a loss of profit.
Two bike shops here don't carry Specialized products anymore, and their quite hush, hush about it. Unfortunately I've had to go online to buy products instead of supporting my local bike shops. I would hate to see bike shops go under.
I did videos in the past on how Trek and Specialized are buying up LBS’s and making them super stores. If you are a fan of those major brands then you’re happy. But what I have talked about in my videos is the loss of Freedom of Choice because all bikes, all accessories and all clothing becomes Spesh or Trek.
I have 2 pair of Sidi. One road and one MTB that I used for cyclocross. Both are about 25 years old and don't quite fit anymore. I can still ride with the MTB shoes but they are on tight side. The road shoes don't fit at all anymore. Currently riding with Diadora shoes that are about 15 years old on the road. They are still ok but I do need to upgrade.
Oh dear God! I have never kept shoes more than 2 years! I constantly get new pairs. So many advances in materials, technologies, closures and just plain aesthetics. 25 years?!?! And 15 years?!?! That’s just shoe abuse 😂 those old shoes are not providing you any support or performance any longer. You could just be wearing slippers 😂
This is exactly the same thing for me. I have Sidi road and MTB. I can still wear the MTB because I bought them in a wide version. The road version started causing extreme pain after long rides and when I took the shoes off I couldn't walk for about 30 minutes. I now wear GIRO with laces and no more foot problems. Not riding the CX bike much at all anymore and thinking about selling it.
@@charlesmansplaining Back when I bought them, Sidi was a top shoe if I remember correctly. There wasn't near as many options as there is today. Maybe it's time to hit George up for a new pair of Lakes. Nobody near me sells them.
@@chrisparent4660 I'm good. But thanks for suggesting. Back when Sidi was the top brand people were buying them because that's what they were told to buy. The look has gotten boring compared to offerings available today.
As long as Sidi remains in the market, I'm happy. They're ideal for those of us with narrow feet. Worth every bit of the $500 I paid for them.
I just went to my local shop to get an old Campagnolo hub readjusted that I messed up. The owner was enthusiastic and explained to me what I did wrong. I couldn't find the exploded view online, so the experience of this dude was worth every penny. You are absolutely right with the call to support local shops.
Thank You! Please spread the gospel - Support your LBS!
Yeah, my first pair of Sidi road shoes are 10+ years old and going strong. The old-style pull-up ratchet closure is superb. I can't stand the crappy boa/twist closure on my one-year-old Sidi mtn shoes. I have arthritis in my hands and the boa/ twist closures are painful to operate. But Sidi makes Mega sizes, which I need, so I will suffer along with them because of the comfortable fit. Thanks for the video!
Thank you for watching please consider subscribing
My SIDI MTB shoes were great. At first.
But after a few years the replaceable synthetic rubber treads perished into something with the consistency of candle wax.
Luckily I had bought spare treads. Unfortunately, they had perished too.
I ended up binning the lot.
These days I ride Shimano shoes. They are affordable, durable and fit my feet well. (ME7s are great).
Cheers
I rode with Sidi's from 1995 to 2021. But I needed more reward cleat placement and wedges, so I tried a pair of the Specialized S-WORKS 7. They are my go to shoe now. The built in wedge in the sole along with much greater bolt hole range of movement sold me. Also, I never realized until using the Spec, that the wider toe box was more comfortable. SIDI quality is top notch, but their dated shoe design needs to be updated for better foot ergonomics.
I am 61 years and only were Sidi. Only buy online.
Thanks for watching please consider subscribing
... wear* Sidi
I've been wearing Sidi shoes for the past 20 years I think. I bought my first pair (Genius 5) from a local bike shop. Since then I have purchased all following pairs of Sidis from online shops simply because I could not get them from any LBS, and I live in a major metro area. In the past couple years I have acquired a pair of Sidi 60s, and a pair of Shots. While I really like the build and fit of Sidi shoes, I, like many of my cycling companions all think that the Techno 3 closures are very bad. We all wonder why Sidi won't just acknowledge that Boa closures are superior, and start offering their shoes with Boas.
I have been riding the Sidi Genius 7 shoe since 2003. I hope they never stop making it. I like that it's ratchet and velcro. I like that they are narrow. I have also tried Pearl Izumi, DHB and Adidas.
You already sell Lake shoes, Sidi aren’t comparable. I’ve had both. Keep pushing Lake in widths, nobody has “normal” feet. Sidi Mega make the entire shoe wide, Lake makes the toe box wide, with heat mouldable heals. BTW love the channel and yes, keep bringing the inside scoop. Thank you 🇨🇦
In my humble opinion Sidi shoes are overrated and over priced
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad I am still using Sidi Dominator Megas I bought 15 years ago for around $200. That's $1 per month I had them. I wouldn't say that was overpriced for what they delivered for me. But I haven't looked at the new stuff and don't know how durable the new materials they use are compared to Lorica, so things might have changed.
I rode Sidi for years too. Some years ago I bought my first pair of Lakes and now have 2 more. They are more "foot shaped" than anything else. Durability is top notch too, bit they are pretty hefty.
I own 2 pair of sidi ..both pair I bought on offer up...very happy with them
I’ve been riding for 25 plus years have tried many different brands over the years, SIDI is by far, in my opinion, the best fit and most comfortable for me. I currently have two pairs one pair is about 10 years old the other a couple of months.
Thank You for watching
Bagged a pair of 10+ year old Sidi Ergo 3 for $30. Had a slight gash on it but in the main all in excellent condition.
Also patented black in colour so I like the shine - never see this in modern cycling shoes.
My feet were designed for Sidis. I’ve owned them for 20+ years. Currently I have three pairs. Always looking for a refresh. More availability is good for everyone. In the past I’ve always had to order them direct for specific colors in the highest grade.
I’ve owned my Sidi shoes since I bought my bike back in 2005. Love them. I hope they last forever. Love the ratchet enclosure with the Velcro tongue straps. If my LBS gets Sidi I’ll buy them there. If not, I’ll buy from you, from somewhere.
Yes I had a pair of Sidis for apprx 10 yrs as my first and only bike shoe...then got another pair of Sidi's as my first pair with the originals as a 'bad weather back up' then got a third pair as my primaries, second pair as the bad weather pair (rain, snow, salt etc.) the originals (now 20 yrs old were retired) and it took me a couple of years to actually put the originals in the garbage...it was like a burial...
Sidi's are like that to me...the originals had like 20000+ miles...Sidi's last and are worth the cost to me...they have soul...NPI!
...and thanks for the informative videos
I have two pairs of Sidi road and one mtn bike. None of my local shops sell them. Two pairs are over three years old. The other pair is over 13 years old. I try and support my local shops. My last new bike purchase was in 2017. Picked up a used bike from my local shop this spring. I plan on attending the swap every year great deals. The new bikes have priced me out of the market. Most of this increase is from electronic groupsets.
I love my Sidis. Best brand for decades for my feet. Have tried Specialized, Carnac, Lake, Shimano, etc...always come back to Sidi.
Nice to know what works for you!!
I've ridden Siri's for 20 years and have owned multiple pairs. I have had a problem with them being too narrow, which might be exacerbated by their approach to using the same sole last for the half sizes just with extra upper material. I have a beautiful pair of Sidi Wire's but can't wear them because they are so narrow. So, now I can only wear Sidi's that come in Mega widths.
I've ridden Sidis* (never trust your auto-complete!) Sidi Wires* (plural, no apostrophe)
I have owned SIDI road and mountain bike cycling shoes for over 25 years using Look Keo and CrankBrothers Candy 2 pedals. Love them. Tried Fizik and went back to SIDI. SIDI cycling shoes all the way for me. Love them and my local LBS.
Sidi has their fans 😂
Still happily married to my SIDI Genius shoes after 9 years :)
The only servicing they've ever needed was to replace the heel caps... that's it!
Hard to beat well ventilated and supple leather uppers matched with a stiff sole, all in a handmade shoe. Frankly, I wish all shoes (including non-cycling specific shoes) felt as good as these.
Thanks for watching!
A different perspective. Many years ago I worked for the exclusive SIDI US distributor. SIDI never sent a complete order. Example, order 50 size 38 and 200 size 43. They send 60 size 38 and 50 size 43. Also never ship on time. Sounds like not much has changed. So most shops have a hard time getting the popular sizes. Can't sell a shoe line when you can't get the size you need. It appears the situation is better in Europe.
That’s not good business!
Hello George,
Thank you so much for this video! I own a pair Sidi VGC Mountain biking mega shoes I bought back in 1999, $300 and they were worth every penny! The rubber tread on the soles is all but worn away and I have reattach the rigid plastic sole with Gorilla Glue to the upper, yet I still ride with them … but I fear the upper will not last forever. That said, I definitely want to buy a new pair of Dragon 5 mountain Mega size eu 44, but I have a question I was hoping you could answer. The Dragon 5’s, like the earlier versions, have replaceable treads as part of their selling point yet I can’t seem to find anyone who sells the Dragon 5 replacement treads (nearly all are Dragon 4 or Trace). Is this an issue with Sidi changing distributors to QBP or is this a feature that is being phased out and I should buy a different model with a fixed tread?
Thanks in advance and yes I love and support my local bike shop! Paul at Atomic Cycles is a great mechanic and like you, he is a surviver!
Evan
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I have a pair of Sidi Dragons for 20 years, recently bought Sidi Tigers for gravel racing. Love them, robust reliable and comfortable.
Wonderful! Thanks for watching please consider subscribing
Had my genius 6.6 carbon since 2008. Always wanted a different cleat position that was more towards the toes. Easily got hot feet from them. Quality wise, they are incredible. Not comfortable without a custom insole. But I will try another brand with better ergonomics once these wear out.
Sidi shoes are completely overrated and have unjustified loyalty from customers. There are so many brands that make better fitting shoes with better materials and better construction ... such as Lake Cycling or Gaerne Shoes. Thanks for watching please consider subscribing
I actually found this video because I’ve seen Sidi shoes on deeper sale on the high end models over the past weeks than I’ve seen in the past. Wasn’t sure if they were revamping the models or what was going on.
Hello Chris the distributorship is the major issue it was in limbo so shops were blowing inventory out. Thank you for watching please consider subscribing
Hiya George luv. Good to see you ❤
I can't wear Sidi shoes because they are far too narrow. Even their wide models are too narrow for me, especially in the toebox area.
Hello Santiago - you’re not alone. Sidi is for people with narrow feet. The Mega wide is a misnomer they are basically the standard width for other shoe manufacturers
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Sidi...Assos...here in Germany you had to pre-order a lot just to become a dealer. Then "our" customers came in, tried the products to know the size....and bought online where the retail price was lower than what we could get them from the manufacturer. 😒 Well... that's the reason no shops have those products anymore.😑
I know I know I know 😭
Sid,* Assos -* here in Germany ...
I liked my Sidi MTB shoes a lot but I liked my Sidi motorcycle boots more.
I also had Sidi motorcycle boots! Amazing fit!
Can not seem to find any information on the Sidi Wire 2S on the web. Checking if anyone has information.
Thanks for watching
Sidi shoes are well made and last ages, they're just heavy compared to many others.
True and true
Love Sidi shoes! Very comfortable for my feet. Look very cool and I feel like a pro when I wear them
Looking pro is half the battle
Back in the 1980's I professionally raced with Bata shoes with LOOK cleats. When I retired from racing, I tried SIDI shoes with SPD cleats, soft leather upper was comfortable, but the sole became too flexible only a year or so after buying them. This was 25 to 30 years ago, I would like to try SIDI again with the natural leather upper, maybe they are not using the wood sole anymore, or have fixed this problem. I just bought new Specialized shoes this year, but after a long break-in of thousands of miles, they are better, but still uncomfortable and not conforming to my feet like they were supposed to. I believe the soft leather of the SIDI upper will conform very quickly to my feet for a good fit and no hot spots.
I have had 2 pair of SIDI shoes since 1998. First pair I bought from a local shop. Newest pair is from 2012 and it is time for a new pair, but finding them at local shops here is Sacramento has been a challenge. This area is inundated with Specialized dealers of everything.
Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, Specialized and Trek are on a buying spree. They are buying up all the mom and pop shops. 😢
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad the official Trek store here in town is quite fabulous with good people, but we still have lots of local shops along with a few chains. Shoutout to Paco's in Sacramento as my current shop.
My current struggle… I’m still trying to find the right shoes
Keep trying they are out there!
How long did it take you to earn a good mechanic rep for new customers to trust you with their baby?
Have you overcome the "free service" bike shops offer with their sales plan?
I have been riding Sidi since 2004, my problem is I want to use Speedplay X pedals and the cleats are slim pickins, is there an alternative cleat?
I own Sidi road shoes. My local bike shop does not carry them so I had to buy from competative Cyclist. Local Bike shop does not have alot of bike Kits , jackets , tires or shoes anymore. I ride Road , gravel and Mtn bikes which were all bought localy. BTW the shoes last thousands of miles and many years. I must have 15K miles on mine and they look and perform great.
I cannot believe the coincidence! This is so crazy!
Just last night, as were falling asleep in our bed, my wife turned to me and asked: “What’s going on with Sidi shoes?” Weird!
I had my first pair of (road) Sidi for 10 years. Replaced the sole twice, the buckle once, and the shoes kept on going. I only got different shoes (non-Sidi) because I didn’t like the styling of their lower tier offering, and the ones I did like were out of my budget. I doubt my new pair will last 10 years, but the features and quality I got for $150 was hard to beat!
To me Sidi shoes look a little bit dated. Personally, I think Sidi lost the battle to social media and appealing to a younger demographic picking up cycling. However, I value their approach to making shoes repairable.
I have very wide feet so SIDI MEGA are the only cycling shoes for me (I have not tried Lake in a real life side-by-side comparison but Mega were wider in my length based on information online). It is rare to see Sidi shoes available yet alone the Mega variant yet alone half sizes so online shopping is the only real option especially since there is possibility of a sale price vs an expensive special order from a LBS, sorry.
I understand pricing can be an issue. If I have to order something for the customer it is new inventory coming in. The sales you find are usually bike shops that need to get rid of inventory and sometimes drop the price down to their costs just to move it and pay bills. I don’t run that kind of shop where I’m constantly “robbing Peter to pay Paul” all my inventory is new, current and usually never been touched by another customer before you buy it.
In my experience, Mega has been a misnomer. Lake and Bont have significantly wider shoes than Sidi. Customers have come to me after they have “outgrown” their Megas 😂
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad I should have been more exact in my description - my feet are very wide in the forefoot but normal sized at the heel. There is a popular bike fitter on RUclips who also rates Lake over Sidi but he did say that if you look at the shape of the shoe's sole and it matches the shape of the customer's foot then that is a great indication the shoe will work. Sidi Mega match the shape of my feet not just the width really well. That reinforces point inherent in your video that shoes are so specific to the individual that you need a large range of stock to find the perfect match!
@@thisandthatandotherthings indeed!
Very true. A friend of mine, A Sidi authorised shop have to throw away a lot of his Sidi shoes, Couldn't sell them because of the sizes which he has to get in order to buy from them. They just come apart, the sole from the upper. He doesn't bring in anymore Sidi shoes.
I've had my Sidi mtb shoes for 6 years now. I've been mostly using them on the road and gravel, with maybe 5-6 mtb rides per year. They are starting to show their age though, as I've already replaced both ratchet straps and one of the actual ratchet assemblies. I'd love to go for sidi again, as the shape perfectly fits my foot, but it looks like they are still using the same design for the inner foot attachment of the strap on almost all models except the 569CAD (yikes!) Tiger . The inner part of the strap has a tendency to rub on cranks unless they are trimmed, and that in turns seem to lower the reliability of the system in my experience.
I got the shoes at a local bike shop for a fraction of the msrp because as you said, they were just sitting there for too long and the shop wasn't able to move them. As much as I'd like to just get new ones from the same brand, I think I'll just go to the same shop and see what they have.
I bought a pair of SIDI Wire Vent Carbon Push Road Shoes back in 2017. I’m still using them. Some of the things I like about them are sturdiness, modular in design, stiff soled, conforming. I did have a problem with them. The top closure broke in 2021. Since they are modular, I was able to buy the part that broke. The replacement fit perfectly and brought it back to new condition. I had to replace the rubber feet as well, the parts were very affordable. They were a bit tight when I first got them, but after a month or two, they wore in and have conformed to the shape of my feet. Definitely nice shoes. I would buy them again if I had to.
I have sidi road shoes that are 10 or 11 years old. I love that you can buy parts for them, they are made of leather and work well. I'm actually looking at buying a new pair, but i want something a bit wider and it seems the new shoes aren't leather so I'm not sure.
Sidi has been my go to shoe for decades. On the last pair of Sidi MTB shoes I had the bottoms wore out while the uppers were still good. I tried to buy a new pair at a LBS but they didn’t have my size so I just ordered a pair online ( I already knew my size and was replacing a previous model with the newer version ) because the shop was about an hour away from me.
Used to buy sidi- started trying other brands - just as good at half the price. Shimano has a great product for Mtb and road so does pearl Izumi with great warranty.
I have 3 pairs of Sidi. The youngest pair is 10 years old. I love how durable they are and that they're made in Italy. Wish they were a bit wider, especially as I age. No LBS in my area carry them any more. Maybe with QBP picking them up that will change. Hopefully I won't need another pair for a while. BTW, as a dealer, which models have a wider fit, besides the mega ones?
I have narrow feet and of the shoes I have tried Sidi fit me the best. A problem with Sidi shoes, though, is that the cleat holes are too near the toe. I have had to attach a plate (whose manufacturer I forget), so that I can re-site the cleats closer to the mid-foot.
Both of my pairs I bought from the well-known auction website.
I have owned Sidi MTB shoes with replacable sole parts for more than a decade (replacing sole inserts twice) in the early 2000s. Great craftmanship, pretty indestructible. Switched to the top tier Northwave MTB XC shoes because of their superior Michelin sole. For road I've always preferred Bont shoes.
I wear Sidi road shoes against my budget’s wishes because they simply fit. Back when I rode a motorcycle, I wore Sidi boots for the same reason. I’ve tried other brands, but none fit me as well. I wish they did, because the ones that fit cost a fortune! The LBS that sold them to me is now closed, sadly. (Edit: spelling)
So many LBS’s have closed. I hope you have another LBS to go to now
I have owned numerous Sidi shoes in both road and mtb models over the past 30 years. The Sidi shoe last always worked great for my feet and I realize that's not the case for everyone. Plus I valued the quality of their shoes, the durability and how they performed. They make a great product imho. Over many decades as my riding preference transitioned I found myself gravitating away from straight road shoes and increasingly to gravel/mtb shoes. I love the ability to walk into coffee shops or around town in the middle of a long day on the bike and not have to clomp around like I have 2 left feet! The beauty of "quality" however is there's always a market out there looking for good stuff. So I've sold off all of my Sidi gear over the years and now I've gravitated heavily towards comfort and walk friendly shoes that still give me decent performance when doing the long distance adventure tours that I find dominating my current riding calendar. My current fav is the Giro VR90 lace up mtb shoe: super comfortable and very walk friendly. On many of these long distance tours you can easily spend upwards of 12 hours a day in your shoes. Comfort, fit and versatility are critical and honestly I've grown to love lace ups. But I have nothing but positive things to say about Sidi. Great shoes that are worth every penny.
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I know I can't find shoes to try on at the local shops. So I rely all the more on good info and reviews from experts such as yourself. Thank you! If I lived anywhere near San Diego, I'd definitely be a customer. Not many bike shops know a lot about bike and shoe fitting!
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Thanks for the industry news segment. I just purchased a pair of Sidi road shoe to replace a pair of Sidi shoes that I wore for more than 15 years. The new Genius shoes have the Boa fastening system. It seems very secure but not a easy to release as the old velcro type.
The Pennsylvania QBP warehouse is here in Lancaster.
Thank You for putting a location to the PA warehouse. When I did Race Across America in 2007 coming in from Western Pennsylvania, through the area of Lancaster, and other places, that is a very hilly area of the state!
I’ve had a pair for 30 years I haven’t worn them for about 15 years but when I saw this video I dug them out and are going to wear them again cheers 👍
Well then it was a good thing 😂 thanks for watching please consider subscribing
I wore Sidi shoes, both road and mountain, about 20-25 yrs ago. I remember they were narrow in the forefoot but didn't really taper much towards the heel. Now that I'm older w/ Morton's Neuroma in one foot, I look for shoes that are wider in the forefoot, but I still need a very narrow heel fit. Call it "V" shaped .. or duck feet! I can't remember the last time I walked into a retail shop and saw Sidi shoes on the shelves. Most around here stopped carrying them as the majority seemed to migrate to Specialized or Bontrager shoes, depending on their main product line. These days, I almost always buy 2 pairs of shoes online in different sizes and return the ones that don't fit. I'm willing to pay a small restocking fee to ensure I get the fit I want. I'd love to be able to walk into a retail store and try/buy them in person - thus supporting the little guy - but I also get the minimum inventory situation you mention that the retailers face.
You sound like a perfect candidate for Lake shoes. I also have large "duck feet"... maybe I should start my own brand of cycling shoes for riders like us! 😛
Good topic. Thanks. I went to every LBS around when I decided to switch from flat to clipless pedals. Really limited inventory and mostly not much help from bike shop people. I did buy a pair of Sidi shoes but should have passed because they didn't fit very well.(no half sizes carried at shop) What helped me the most was the since discontinued PayPal program to reimburse shipping costs for purchases returned. I ordered from shops in Europe and after 4-5 trys ended up with a pair of Gaerne shoes. They are great shoes that fit my narrow feet well. LBS wasn't able to provide what I needed. At least now I know what size what size I need and can see if any LBS carries Gaerne shoes when the time comes.
Gaerne shoes are premium shoes. I carry them as well.
Sidi mtb shoe outsoles for some time now have been horrible for hiking your bike or just walking over uneven terrain. Very comfortable but I can't risk twisting an ankle. I have ended up using giro lace up mountain bike shoes. Love the Sidi high end road shoes - perfection. I've ridden Sidi shoes over 34 years.
Wow! I got my first Sidi’s in 1999!
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad It was a dominator with 3 different securing mechanisms. A ratchet at the top, a dial and fishing line style in the middle and a velcro strap at the front. It was super comfortable and lasted nearly 20 years. It was the soles that started to crumble and turned to mush that finally ended those shoes. I tried getting them resoled but everyone said it would not be possible due to the materials and construction of the sole. There was a memorial service and a burial in the Rocky Mountains for those shoes.
Sidi is the best cycling shoes
“Best”? There are A LOT of cycling shoe brands. Define what makes them the best. Best at what?
@@SeeYouUpTheRoadThey have the best soles, fit, durability... Sidi is a small company and because of the sponsorship funds allocated by pro, it cannot compete with multinationals like spec... Or shimano.....
@@tipkeri7923Lake, Bont and Gaerne come to mind as significantly better brands than Sidi. Sidi is completely over priced their shoes don’t fit people as well as you think. Additionally they are not small at all. In fact, they’re too big to offer custom unlike Lake or Bont. Gaerne is truly a better shoe out of the Italian brands - not Sidi. Me thinks you might need exposure to many other brands before you call Sidi “the best” at anything.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad 😄😄😄
@@SeeYouUpTheRoadOf course, every seller praises his eggs🤪
Ive bought Sidi shoes for years, its their fit and longevity that sells me everytime. George, would you please talk about why Specialized is pissing bike shops off. They just want to sell direct to consumers without the middleman?
It's not just Specialized. It's my opinion that brands like Canyon (direct to consumer only) are indirectly forcing competitors like Trek, Specialized, etc., to sell direct-to-consumer to stay price competitive. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that the bicycle industry has been able to protect bike shops for so long. Unfortunately, "money talks" and bicycle manufacturers aren't really the friend of local bike shops if that "friendship" means a loss of profit.
Two bike shops here don't carry Specialized products anymore, and their quite hush, hush about it. Unfortunately I've had to go online to buy products instead of supporting my local bike shops. I would hate to see bike shops go under.
I did videos in the past on how Trek and Specialized are buying up LBS’s and making them super stores. If you are a fan of those major brands then you’re happy. But what I have talked about in my videos is the loss of Freedom of Choice because all bikes, all accessories and all clothing becomes Spesh or Trek.
Trek has become the Death Star
Indeed!
I have always called specialized the Evil Empire
Trek is consuming every mom and pop they can@@SeeYouUpTheRoad
I have 2 pair of Sidi. One road and one MTB that I used for cyclocross. Both are about 25 years old and don't quite fit anymore. I can still ride with the MTB shoes but they are on tight side. The road shoes don't fit at all anymore. Currently riding with Diadora shoes that are about 15 years old on the road. They are still ok but I do need to upgrade.
Oh dear God! I have never kept shoes more than 2 years! I constantly get new pairs. So many advances in materials, technologies, closures and just plain aesthetics. 25 years?!?! And 15 years?!?! That’s just shoe abuse 😂 those old shoes are not providing you any support or performance any longer. You could just be wearing slippers 😂
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad So that's why my feet hurt! LMAO
This is exactly the same thing for me. I have Sidi road and MTB. I can still wear the MTB because I bought them in a wide version. The road version started causing extreme pain after long rides and when I took the shoes off I couldn't walk for about 30 minutes. I now wear GIRO with laces and no more foot problems. Not riding the CX bike much at all anymore and thinking about selling it.
@@charlesmansplaining Back when I bought them, Sidi was a top shoe if I remember correctly. There wasn't near as many options as there is today. Maybe it's time to hit George up for a new pair of Lakes. Nobody near me sells them.
@@chrisparent4660 I'm good. But thanks for suggesting. Back when Sidi was the top brand people were buying them because that's what they were told to buy. The look has gotten boring compared to offerings available today.