A Pro-level cycling shoe for the masses
Written: Jul 30 '03 (Updated Jul 30 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lightweight, three straps, good adjustment, molded heel cap, well-made
Cons: no toe tread
The Bottom Line: Excellent quality shoes. Highly adjustable and lightweight.
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| andylibby's Full Review: SIDI Genius 3 Lorica |
A little background - As a person who rides with a road cycling club 3 or 4 days a week (between 135 and 200 miles total), having good equipment and clothing is not just a plus, it's a necessity.
Sidi Genius 3 features - The Genius 3s are great road cycling shoes. They are lightweight and made from a leather-like material called Lorica which is very durable and also allows the shoes to "breathe," cool feet being very important on a long ride. In addition, there are small vent holes on the sides of the shoe to facilitate further cooling of the feet. The Genius 3s come with a unique adapter plate system that enable the installation of cleats to match every brand of pedal on the market. (For non-cyclists, "cleats" are attached to the soles of cycling shoes that "click in" to the pedals like ski bindings assuring a secure rider/bicycle interface.) The Genius 3s have a molded plastic heel cup that keeps the rider's heel securely in the shoe -- not sliding up and down -- under up and down pedaling forces. This helps to reduce the possibility of heel blisters. The sole of the Genius 3 is a high density molded plastic that is very rigid and lightweight. The main attraction of the Genius 3, however, is the 3 strap tightening system with the proprietary Sidi MicroLock ratcheting buckle which is discussed in detail later. Under the tightening straps is a padded tongue with a soft, pliable upper edge to further aid in overall comfort.
Road shoes - My first road cycling shoes 10 years ago were Look brand shoes that, unlike the 3 strap system of the Sidi Genius 3, had laces that you tied. They fit fine and had a nice stiff sole which is necessary for transfer of power from the foot to the pedal. The only thing was that my feet went to sleep when I wore them. I didn't know enough to know that road cycling shoes have to be adjusted DURING a long bike ride to allow for the swelling of the feet. Wearing the Look shoes I used to suffer from "hot foot" where the bottom of my foot would go to sleep from lack of bloodflow. Quite painful. Hot foot is not a problem with the Sidi Genius 3 as I will explain below.
What a huge difference adjust-ability it makes - The Sidi Genius 3s have a 3 strap tensioning system with the lower two straps (nearest the toes) being velcro closures and the uppermost having a ratcheting buckle that enables easy onboard tightening or loosening of fit. It is this uppermost strap that is the real key to what makes these shoes very comfortable for the long haul.
In practice - When putting on cycling shoes, a rider wants a good, firm connection to the bike so he or she wants their shoes to be reasonably tight. Experimentation will teach a rider how tight to make the two lower straps that go across the toe box and lower arch. Having two straps for this part of the foot, the Genius 3 enables fine tuning the fit of the shoe across the lower foot. The upper ratcheting strap of the Genius 3 may be initially tightened to the point of comfort with the rider knowing that this is likely to be adjusted during the ride, possibly several times. As the rider covers the miles, the feet will begin to swell from added blood flow to the legs and extremities brought about by physical exertion. With the Sidi Genius 3, all the rider has to do is reach down and push the buttons on one side or the other of the ratchet buckle and the tightness of the strap will relax one click for each time the buttons are pressed. If the rider later decides that the shoes need to be snugged up again, the procedure is to reach down and flick the ratchet lever up with the tip of the finger until the desired tightness is achieved. The ability to easily fine tune the tightness of one's shoes while on the bike is a great feature that is just not offered on lesser shoes.
Colors and styling - The Genius 3s come in (to my knowledge) 3 color schemes typically: Black, silver, and blue. All three colors look great and the styling of the shoes is very attractive.
A few minor knocks on the Genius 3 - There are only a few things that could be improved about the Genius 3 and none of these are enough to make me dislike these shoes. (1) The ratchet buckle is held onto to the shoe by little screws that have to be periodically checked for tightness. (2) The rubber heel cap which is held on by a single screw is meant to be replaceable. Unfortunately, most of the ones I have seen that needed to be replaced had to be replaced because they fell off, not because they wore out. I keep an extra pair in my bike bag just in case. (3) The rubber heel cap is the only "tread" on the bottom of these shoes. Most road bike shoes have a little bit of rubber at the heel and another little patch under the toe. This helps the rider to keep from slipping on pavement when walking and also helps the rider to push off with the foot on the ground from a standing start.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andylibby
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Location: Keller, Texas
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Husband, GrandDad, Bicyclist, Vegetarian, Republican Activist, Marketing Rep
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