[CFBlue]

I have no idea which forum this belongs in, but I’m getting desperate. I picked up a pair of Sidi Genius 5 Lorica Road Shoes just before the shop closed. I came home, installed the cleats and was ready for a brief ride before a long one early tomorrow. I feel like a total idiot, but I cannot seem to open the top (ratchet) strap. The book says to press on both sides of the red thingy, but the strap does not seem to want to release. I am being somewhat careful for fear of breaking them.

What in the blank am I doing wrong? Four different people around here have read the instructions and given a try without success. I know our faces will eventually be as red as the buckles, but I sure what to put those shoes on at 6:00am tomorrow. HELP Thanks

 

[GMS65]

You want to sort of squeeze them while pushing them into your foot. Once you get it they work like a champ. I recall having the same problem.

 

[JP]

Try this to release a little tension first. Press alternating sides of the little ratchet release while PUSHING the strap a bit tighter. The push both sides down and pull it out. You need to "unload" a little tension before the release will work.

 

[UFO™]

You are not alone. Had the same problem the first day I had my Dominators.
The instructions are misleading.
Push the releases toward your foot.

 

[CFBlue]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........

Thanks all. I was mashing the heck ouf ot those red releases - then with a simple press "toward the foot" - bingo.

These guys must have written VCR manuals in a previous life!

 

[Mr. Versatile]

I have a pair of Sidi Genius's after riding Shimanos for years & years. IMO/IME that ratchet is just stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

[Srexy]

I have a pair of Sidi Genius's after riding Shimanos for years & years. IMO/IME that ratchet is just stupid, stupid, stupid.

The idea behind it is sound enough - basically if you just squeeze one red thingie, your strap will loosen 1/2 a detent - this might be useful in a riding situation where you have tightened up your shoes but have over-tightened them. Instead of losing all the tension you just back off the strap 1/2 a detent. Now whether this is useful in real life is anyone's guess - I've certainly never done it

 

[pr0230]

Never knew that...

The idea behind it is sound enough - basically if you just squeeze one red thingie, your strap will loosen 1/2 a detent - this might be useful in a riding situation where you have tightened up your shoes but have over-tightened them. Instead of losing all the tension you just back off the strap 1/2 a detent. Now whether this is useful in real life is anyone's guess - I've certainly never done it

Just tried it... thats neat .... thanks...

 

[ampastoral]

don't worry, i spent a good deal of time "checking the fit" on the shoe by "feeling the snugness" when i tried them on at the lbs. each inspection offered another chance for me to NOT be able to loosen the ratchet, while hiding (yeah right) the fact that the shoe was clearly stuck on my foot. eventually, my "careful" caress to check the craftsmanship of the shoe opened the strap enough to where i could get it off cleanly.

so happy with my new shoes, a bottle or so of wine that evening convinced me that they were so snazzy that i should wear them while relaxin on the couch. i thought i was going to have to sleep in them...alas, fortune smiled upon me when the light bulb finally went off.

i proudly report that i can now both put on and take off my sidis with no problems. glad you got it worked out.