Sidi GENIUS 4

Price Paid:  $180.00 at Bike World

Favorite Ride:
Any ride with a friend.

Bike Setup:
'06 Cannondale Six13 with full Dura Ace, FSA carbon bars, Carbon Bottle Cages ;-)

Summary:
I've had the Sidi Genius 4s for going on six years...yes...six years. I put on a modest 3000 miles a year so these shoes have done the miles. What is more important is that they have been like riding in stiff slippers the whole time. My feet have never hurt in these...and I just got back from riding across Iowa (about 500 miles). The rest of me hurt...but not my feet. I know that not all feet fit all shoes perfectly...but my feet fit the Sidis and after some 15,000-18,000 miles they still look good and function perfectly. What other shoe can match that durability and comfort?

Strengths:
Comfort and durability

Weaknesses:
Initial price...but amortized they are cheap!

Similar Products Used:
Lake mountain shoes

Price Paid:  $230.00 at biketires.com

Favorite Ride:
nice pavement

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR, Zipp 404s, FSA carbon cockpit, Ultegra derailleurs, DA shifters, speedplay pedals.

Summary:
had Genius 5s before these and they were wide. but they fit so well, i kept them the whole season anyway. the new silver genius 5s are a better fit and newer.

Strengths:
Sidi. need i say more?

Weaknesses:
ya right!!!!

Similar Products Used:
nothing else

Price Paid:  $229.00

Bike Setup:
'07 Trek 1000

Summary:
I've got flat and wide feet. I tried a pair of Genius 5 shoes. I was told they'd last long. I agree with that. But they felt like I've got a small rock under my flat arch just standing up in the store. Ouch! I tried Shimano, Lake, DMT, Forte, Pearl Izumi, and then Specialized. If you've got flat, wide feet, go for the Specialized Comp Road or Shimano R075. I bought the former because the toe box is a lot more square and the insole feel very flat to match my flat feet.

Strengths:
Lasts a long time, I'm told

Weaknesses:
Not for flat, wide feet!

Similar Products Used:
Forté CR310, Shimano R075, Specialized Comp Road

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Price Paid:  $248.00 at Excel Sports Boulder

Favorite Ride:
Boulder to Estes Park and through Big Thompson Canyon and back-105 miles

Bike Setup:
Trek 5500, Dura Ace Triple

Summary:
In May I bought a pair of SIDI Genius 5's for $248. I had been told they were the mega's for size width D. But I got continual hot spots on the bottoms of my feet, toes and sides of feet. Went to another bike shop and was told that I had the wrong size shoe, need the Mega's size so I was talked into buying another pair of the SIDI Genius 5's again at $248 (standard price). Yesterday I did a 105 mile ride and same problem....excruciating hot spots on bottoms and sides of my feet. I'm taking them back today as I'd been told that this wider size would correct and resolve the hot spots. I just don't think SIDI shoes are that great. I've talked with amny people who had the exact same problem with SIDI shoes...hot spots on bottom of feet. I'll never buy another pair of them, I know that.

Strengths:
None...........

Weaknesses:
2 pair of SIDI Genius's and both developed hot spots on my feet......excruciatingly painful.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano mountain bike shoes...no problem with hot spots.

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Price Paid:  $149.00 at Total Cycling

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere flat

Bike Setup:
Custom Seven Alaris with Chorus, Proton wheels, FSA cranks, Speedplay pedals.

Summary:
I finally retired my trusty Genius 3 Mega's to be my trainer/rain shoes and upgraded to Genius 4 Mega's.

The Genius 4 buckle is the best improvement over previus versions. The pin on the Genius 3 buckle works loose and is a pain to keep pushing back in. No problem like that with the 4's.

The Genius 4 also has a new arch compression strap. Looks cool, but functionality wise I prefer the leather flap of the Genius 3.

Of course, these are made of a synthetic leather called Lorica. The best part is they DON'T stretch, even in the rain. I just put leather lotion on mine to clean them now and then and they look like new. Take a look at a pair of Carnac's after a few rides...all scraped up. My Sidi's are a year old and still look like new.

I can wear the regular width Sidi's, but only with the flimsy insert that comes with the shoes. Quite frankly this is the one dig on Sidi. The insert is crap. I get the Mega's then use a larger insert and they fit like a glove.

I also wish the Mega's came in the colors available in the regular width Sidi's. Sure, black is retro cool, but it would be nice to have a color option.

Still, once you wear these on a long ride you realize what clunkers most of the other shoes are. Most people are turned off by the price, but they are worth it. Besides, you can usually find a great deal on the internet. I like Total Cycling for these deals. www.totalcycling.com Give them a try, you won't be sorry.

Strengths:
Lorica is super durable.
Light.
Classic design.

Weaknesses:
Insert is thin and cheap. Replace it.

Similar Products Used:
Carnac, Shimano, Addidas