I love my Speedplay pedals (Aero) and for years have used the Sidi Wire Carbon SP shoes (with four holes to accept the Speedplay cleat without an adapter).
My Sidi shoes are nearing retirement and I am trying to find new ones, but am not having any luck. Perhaps this model has been discontinued? Anyone know of a good source in the US or Europe?
Alternatively, what shoes - with four holes instead of three - do people like to use with Speedplay pedals? I’d really prefer to avoid using adapters, hence my preference for a four hole shoe.
I love my Speedplay pedals (Aero) and for years have used the Sidi Wire Carbon SP shoes (with four holes to accept the Speedplay cleat without an adapter).
My Sidi shoes are nearing retirement and I am trying to find new ones, but am not having any luck. Perhaps this model has been discontinued? Anyone know of a good source in the US or Europe?
Alternatively, what shoes - with four holes instead of three - do people like to use with Speedplay pedals? I’d really prefer to avoid using adapters, hence my preference for a four hole shoe.
Thanks in advance.
I believe Northwave has four bolt shoes, at least mine from 2 years ago were like that.
I love my Speedplay pedals (Aero) and for years have used the Sidi Wire Carbon SP shoes (with four holes to accept the Speedplay cleat without an adapter).
My Sidi shoes are nearing retirement and I am trying to find new ones, but am not having any luck. Perhaps this model has been discontinued? Anyone know of a good source in the US or Europe?
Alternatively, what shoes - with four holes instead of three - do people like to use with Speedplay pedals? I’d really prefer to avoid using adapters, hence my preference for a four hole shoe.
Thanks in advance.
if what you’re looking for is a lower shoe height v the pedal, i don’t believe you get that with the shoe you have (and are looking to replace). if you see my own analysis of this, the sidi isn’t lower, it just has the height of the adapter built into the shoe. if i were you, i wouldn’t have a 4-bolt pattern be the driver of my shoe decision. i would be happy if i could get that in a shoe, but if a shoe is superior in fit and performance, i don’t think the lack of a 4-bolt pattern is a detriment to that shoe.
Some of the smaller custom companies are still doing SpeedPlay. Rocket7 for example.
I do hope Wahoo comes out with a line of shoes now that they own SpeedPlay.
Thanks for that. I was not familiar with Rocket7, but took a look at their web site. Appears to be nice stuff, although not cheap. Will certainly consider Rocket7, but a bit lighter on the wallet would be welcome.
if what you’re looking for is a lower shoe height v the pedal, i don’t believe you get that with the shoe you have (and are looking to replace). if you see my own analysis of this, the sidi isn’t lower, it just has the height of the adapter built into the shoe. if i were you, i wouldn’t have a 4-bolt pattern be the driver of my shoe decision. i would be happy if i could get that in a shoe, but if a shoe is superior in fit and performance, i don’t think the lack of a 4-bolt pattern is a detriment to that shoe.
Thanks Dan, the points you make are good and the article that you referred to is very helpful. For me, the Sidi shoes are comfortable, but that’s not to say that others - whether 3 bolt or 4 bolt - aren’t. I will investigate. In your message you mentioned a shoe being “superior in fit and performance”. Could you unpack the “performance” dimension of your comment? What factors do you consider when thinking about performance of a shoe?
if what you’re looking for is a lower shoe height v the pedal, i don’t believe you get that with the shoe you have (and are looking to replace). if you see my own analysis of this, the sidi isn’t lower, it just has the height of the adapter built into the shoe. if i were you, i wouldn’t have a 4-bolt pattern be the driver of my shoe decision. i would be happy if i could get that in a shoe, but if a shoe is superior in fit and performance, i don’t think the lack of a 4-bolt pattern is a detriment to that shoe.
Thanks Dan, the points you make are good and the article that you referred to is very helpful. For me, the Sidi shoes are comfortable, but that’s not to say that others - whether 3 bolt or 4 bolt - aren’t. I will investigate. In your message you mentioned a shoe being “superior in fit and performance”. Could you unpack the “performance” dimension of your comment? What factors do you consider when thinking about performance of a shoe?
i’d have to know what it is you’re referencing. i don’t remember saying that about a particular shoe. the shoe i prefer to ride it is the shimano s-phyre road shoe. it fits, it’s adjustable with twin boas, my feet don’t get hot spots in them, they don’t deform under load. but i could also imagine being happy in a different shoe.
I purchased 2 pairs of Rocket7 custom shoes15 years ago, 1 pair for racing(no socks, smaller) and 1 pair for training, which have about 150,000 km on them. The racing shoes are like new(only a few thousand km’s on them). The training shoes will need to be replaced in the next 1-2 years. If you are looking at a cost/season, theses shoes are way less expensive than anything out there. Plus you get a custom fit, 4 holes for Speedplay, super stiff carbon sole, and as a result very efficient power transfer. Fantastic investment.
Lake has several models. I ride in the 403 wides with custom colors. I tried on 4-5 different pair of lakes and was all over the sizing. 43.0 in some 44.5 in others for the same room in the shoe.
Great shoes. What I did with lake and several other brands was order in 4-5 pair of shoes I thought would work. Sit around in the house working in them for 3h, sometimes less. If my feet weren’t comfy at the end of that trial they went back.
fwiw I was coming from custom d2’s and they 13 or 14yr old. Wanted something stock since all the stock shoes were the cost of custom shoes back then and custom shoes have doubled or more in price. Plus wanted 4 bolt so I didn’t need an adaptor plate.
As per Slowman’s comments, most of the Speedplay (really Time) specific shoes I have measured out don’t wind up having any stack difference between the Look version plus adapters. The need to build up the sole of the shoe to make a flat area for the pedal interface gets you most of the way there, and then if they add in any fore/aft adjustment (which isn’t needed with Look style)… it’s typically a wash.
That doesn’t mean there’s no reason to get them, though. It’s pretty great to be able to adjust the cleat fore/aft without taking the top plate off.
I love my Speedplay pedals (Aero) and for years have used the Sidi Wire Carbon SP shoes (with four holes to accept the Speedplay cleat without an adapter).
My Sidi shoes are nearing retirement and I am trying to find new ones, but am not having any luck. Perhaps this model has been discontinued? Anyone know of a good source in the US or Europe?
Alternatively, what shoes - with four holes instead of three - do people like to use with Speedplay pedals? I’d really prefer to avoid using adapters, hence my preference for a four hole shoe.
Thanks in advance.
I’ve had Bont and Gaerne in 4 bolt. Highly recommend the Gaerne. Using the G.Kona these days for my tri bike.
Take Dan’s stack comment as n=1. Whether there is an additional 3mm stack “built in” to 4 bolt does will depend on the brand but I just don’t see it for most of them. I’ve had three shoes that are 3 bolt (Bontrager, Louis Garneau, and Specialized) and two that were 4 bolt (Bont and Gaerne). Also tested 3 bolt Lakes. Used Speedplay on all of them. All are top level shoes touted as having minimal stack. I measured stack at mid-pedal with the cleats in rear most position with a caliper and in ALL cases, the stack was 3-5 mm lower in the 4 bolt shoes. There is also a pic floating around of Giros in 3 and 4 bolt version and speedplay cleats, where you can also see a significant difference. The reason it may look like there’s additional stack in 4 bolt shoes is because they are thicker at the front and rear to accommodate a flat cleat shape. But the center is usually very flat and thin since there are no bolts. You won’t know for sure til you measure yourself, but in every case that I’ve seen, the 4 bolt version were lower stack even with the cleats placed rearward.
Perhaps even more importantly, the 4 bolt shoes feel more solid. I don’t know if it’s due to the extra stack or if the 3 bolt adapter plastic is soft, but when I click in or ride hard, it feels softer with the adapter. I don’t notice it after a while until I go back to a 4 bolt shoe and it still surprises me every time.
I recently got the Lake 403 4 hole for Speedpaly and it is simply AWESOME! Carbon moldable sole ( the WHOLE sole), superior materials, 2 Boa and the the fit and function is superb! While you need the SS steel plate to fit below the cleat, they put you at the closets to the pedal axle of pretty much any shoe. I would guess the fit would be awesome for you, as the Sidi’s have always been fairly narrow and these are too. I have multiple pairs of Lakes, Shimanos and other brands, but these are o much better than any shoe i’ve used in 40+ years, they are the real keeper. Give them a shot!
I love my Speedplay pedals (Aero) and for years have used the Sidi Wire Carbon SP shoes (with four holes to accept the Speedplay cleat without an adapter).
My Sidi shoes are nearing retirement and I am trying to find new ones, but am not having any luck. Perhaps this model has been discontinued? Anyone know of a good source in the US or Europe?
Alternatively, what shoes - with four holes instead of three - do people like to use with Speedplay pedals? I’d really prefer to avoid using adapters, hence my preference for a four hole shoe.
Thanks in advance.
I’ve had Bont and Gaerne in 4 bolt. Highly recommend the Gaerne. Using the G.Kona these days for my tri bike.
Take Dan’s stack comment as n=1. Whether there is an additional 3mm stack “built in” to 4 bolt does will depend on the brand but I just don’t see it for most of them. I’ve had three shoes that are 3 bolt (Bontrager, Louis Garneau, and Specialized) and two that were 4 bolt (Bont and Gaerne). Also tested 3 bolt Lakes. Used Speedplay on all of them. All are top level shoes touted as having minimal stack. I measured stack at mid-pedal with the cleats in rear most position with a caliper and in ALL cases, the stack was 3-5 mm lower in the 4 bolt shoes. There is also a pic floating around of Giros in 3 and 4 bolt version and speedplay cleats, where you can also see a significant difference. The reason it may look like there’s additional stack in 4 bolt shoes is because they are thicker at the front and rear to accommodate a flat cleat shape. But the center is usually very flat and thin since there are no bolts. You won’t know for sure til you measure yourself, but in every case that I’ve seen, the 4 bolt version were lower stack even with the cleats placed rearward.
Perhaps even more importantly, the 4 bolt shoes feel more solid. I don’t know if it’s due to the extra stack or if the 3 bolt adapter plastic is soft, but when I click in or ride hard, it feels softer with the adapter. I don’t notice it after a while until I go back to a 4 bolt shoe and it still surprises me every time.
I’m looking for the Gaerne G Kona in 4 bolt but can’t find them
I’m curious about the aversion to the adapter plate. I’ve been a Speedplay user for 10+ years, and have worn a variety of shoes (Shimano, Giro, Pearl Izumi) and have always used the adapter plate. I see no hinderance or performance loss. I say find the shoes that you are happiest with and three or four hole should be secondary. Kind of like getting a bike fit before choosing the bike you want.