I have several pairs of the Sidi Alba and use them exclusively for my road rides. Comfortable, fit well and the combination boa and velcro strap system seems to work well for me. Highly recommend, especially when they are on sale.
I was due to replace my shoes and decided to try a pair of Sidi. I started out with the Alba 2 to see if I liked them. They are very comfortable and stiff, and the fastening system works well after I took five minutes to figure out how it worked. These aren't vented as much as my previous shoes, so I wonder if they may get hot at times. They were back-ordered when I placed my order, but they shipped as soon as they were available. The price seemed really good, so a good value. I'm happy with them so far!
I do like these shoes and they get better the more I ride with them. The tops of the shoes are soft and cinch up well using the Sidi closure windup system, which takes some getting used to. I would have preferred a second winder for better tightening than velcro straps. The soles are very stiff and push a lot of power to the pedals well. The outer edges of my feet feel a slight discomfort and can't explain why. I chose the white and red colored shoe and am happy with it. The size 12 I wear was a good choice for me. I am using them with Favero Assiomo pedals and they are a good match and feel like very solid connection.
Picked these up as my first road shoes in 20 years as I get back into road biking actively and prep for a century ride.They're everything one can expect from Sidi, a well-designed, well-fitting shoe. Lots of adjustability to customize fit based on your foot sizing needs. Offers excellent power transfer and stiffness for the price point and the uppers seem to be every bit as durable as other Sidis I've owned. About the only criticisms I might make of the shoe is I wish the midsole had a thin flap to hold the plate for SPD-SL cleats in place and further isolate the plate from the insole. They're also not terrifically breathable, so not ideal for hot days.
I was shocked they were not made in China, that alone made me smile. I've only used these for approximately 400 miles and here is my opinion, made in Romania, looks to be top notch assembled, very comfortable, well worth the money.
I have spent less money on uncomfortable shoes that brought me to here, I needed a road shoe for the vector 3 pedals to go groading in and these are very nice, I will find out how they will handle the abuse the Alba shall receive.
I had a little trouble with the fit. I have an older pair of Shimano road shoes that I was replacing that were size 46. The SIDI size 46 were too small. I exchanged them for the size 47 and initially they seemed fine. Now after riding in them for a few weeks I am afraid that they will stretch out and be too big. Probably should have gone with the 46.5 but I couldn't return them after riding in them.
Good shoe for the price. A bit stiff (especially the top of the shoe tongue that rubs against my foot) but once they're broken in, feel great. I ended up purchasing cycling insoles separately for a better overall experience and love the combo.
The best thing about this shoe is the construction. They look like they will last for years to come. Also some of the parts are replaceable like the rear traction piece and the tension adjuster. I wish I could rate them 4.5. The adjustment of the tension string is a little bit awkward. It is kind of hard to do once you are riding. It is easy to release but difficult to tighten.
Very stylish red white and black. Has the classic Sidi construction and comfort. The ratcheting system is not as easy as the older model to use while riding if you need to tighten, but loosening is still quick and easy.
Very stylish red white and black. Has the classic Sidi construction and comfort. The ratcheting system is not as easy as the older model to use while riding if you need to tighten, but loosening is still quick and easy.
My bike is white with red/black accents. All my kits are white,red/black. All my Sidi shoes are white,red/black. So the white,red/black Alba was a" no brainer " addition to my shoe collection. To open and close the shoe, the top Tecno-3 will send you to Tech Manual, but after a little practice, it's quite easy. Great shoes!!
