28/04/2008

Test: Sidi Genius 5

A pair of shoes by quality, allow a stable and comfortable fit even after many hours, recommended for bike and sports which favour comfort.

The company

Dino Signori, cyclist since he was 15 years old, founded Sidi in 1960, that company is named, then, by its initials and that is born as workshop for the manufacture of sports shoes mountain, and in the '70 to specialised in production of footwear for cycling and motorcycle, boots by road and off-road. Since the first workshop, Sidi gone on, and now has a complete range of shoes for bicycling and motorcycling. Dino Signori, meanwhile, has left flank by his two sons Daniel and Rosella, which along with other good employees has enabled Sidi to become one of the most important world producers of shoes for cycling.

The range Sidi

As mentioned, Sidi has a large catalog that can cover practically almost every need cyclist. From road to Mtb, with carbon soles or not, the range of shoes for cycling of Sidi is supplemented by specific models for women, for those who have a large plant of the foot and winter shoes. The range road has at its top the 2 Ergo carbon, carbon sole; Genius 5 are the top of shoes with plastic soles, while at the base of the range are the Raiden.

The Sidi Genius 5 we tried

The Genius 5, also available in Mega version for those who have a plant of foot wide, are in Lorica uppers and soles and a network belonging to the Millennium series Sole, characterized by the ability to receive any hooking without the need for specific use adapters. The sole is also provided with a number of slots that facilitate graduate placement of same hooking. The sole of the heel is removable and has a building with an accurate rubber that can make good grip on the ground, avoiding easy slide. The heel is thermoformed and carefully padded, and the sole internal, removable and replacement as planned, is anatomical. The closure has three straps, two of which are equipped with Velcro and a special perforation rubbery material that fixing on the base of the Velcro closure prevents the making to move the closure even more secure. The last strap is provided by closing lever that allows a micro adjustment, thus succeeding to block the foot in a safe way. The comfort, in this case, is insured by large areas of polyurethane inserted in the heel that is at the front of the shoe, which ensures greater comfort. Disassembling the shoe you can see the attention to detail, perfect seam of the upper and its coupling to the sole. They are available in black, white, aluminum-black-red, black-aluminium and aluminium-blue night-titanium. Sizes range from 36 to 48 with half measures 41.5, 42.5 and 43.5. The black-aluminum model is also available in sizes 49, 50, 51 and 52. Weigh with our instrumentation revealed a weight of 310 grams each, in size 42.

The road test

We tried long this pair of shoes. Starting immediately showed the ease with which they can assemble and adjust cleats. The references tiered system under the soles are truly effective and allows rapid and precise assembly facilitating also possible even after slight adjustments. The fit is precise: we, with a measure corresponding to 42 feet, found the perfect Genius 5 with the same number (this contrary to what they say that Sidi have a close fit and should be taken more than usual). The adjustment of the straps is precise, especially that of the strap fitted with a lever that allows rapid closure. Even very narrow, you can appreciate the comfort of the sole and upper, which was soft, but strong. From a practical point of view, the treatment by the upper sustained allows a quick cleaning shoe, same thing for the sole. In short journeys on foot, the heel has proven to ensure, even in its conformation minute, a safe ground, even though they are certainly not big shoes walks. Once tightly, the foot remains well within the shoe firm, not warning any discomfort or sense of constraint. Once bike, is valued stiffness of the sole, who have not reached the levels of those in carbon or titanium, can defend showing at the same time very comfortable. Indeed, even after many hours on the saddle, no hassle whatsoever warned at the foot of breathability and its optimal shoe prevents you earn sweat inside. In raises, or uphill, and in general all those conditions under which refers to the decision foot, the shoe was shown to contain the foot perfectly, preventing annoying and unproductive attempts slipping or leaving the heel shoe. In the long distances, have always allowed easy circulation, even without the need to loosen the taking of straps.

Conclusions

The Genius 5 have found a good pair of shoes. Excellently made, have their maximum comfort, even over long distances. The sealing system and the shape of the bead ensure stability of a large foot to the benefit performance. The sole plastic ensures a good stiffness, although they can not reach the values of competitors carbon or titanium.

The price

The suggested price to the public (including VAT) is 163.00 Euro in Italy: a price competitive and certainly, however, commensurate with the quality of construction of these shoes.

Are suitable for

Athlete: agonist wants a more rigid sole, but these shoes are good for those close to world competitions.

GF-tourist cyclist: it is the ideal use of these shoes, comfortable and fairly rigid would ride long the utmost comfort.  

Positive aspects

Quality construction
Comfort

Negative Aspects

Sole not as rigid as those in carbon

For further information:

Sidi Sports
Via Bassanese, 79
Maser 31010-Treviso
Tel. +39 (0)423 923192
Fax. +39 (0)423-546058

Web site: www.sidisport.com
E-mail: sidisport@sidisport.com