Sidi Ergo 4 shoes review

Sidi has been supplying high-end race shoes to the world’s best riders since the 1970s and the Italian company’s kicks remain very popular with the peloton’s most prominent riders - double Tour de France champion Chris Froome and multiple time trial world champion Tony Martin, to name just two.

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For just below £250 you get the Sidi Ergo 4 shoes, the company's mid-tier option (its flagship Wire shoes cost around £300) and, a little surprisingly for a brand renowned for its narrow shoes, the Ergo 4 are available in a wide-fit option.

What really makes the Sidi Ergo 4 shoes stand out from the crowd is their high level of adjustability. You can alter the tension of the heel cup to create a snug fit around your heel and the wide instep strap can be moved and adjusted to prevent pressure points across the top of your foot.

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The shoes’ retention system includes a wire, two of Sidi’s proprietary Techno-3 buckles and a strap. This combination allows you to get a bespoke fit that is both comfortable and secure. Using the buckles to set the tension before a ride is easy, as is reducing the tension on the fly; however, compared to Boa dials they are more difficult to tighten on the move, especially if you are wearing gloves.

Whereas many of Sidi’s competitors are introducing lace up shoes (such as the Giro Empire SLX and the Specialized S-Works Sub-6), it is unlikely the Italian company will be following this trend with its founder Dino Signori believing that, although laces may be popular for aesthetic reasons, they offer no performance benefits.

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A prerequisite of high performance shoes is a stiff sole. The Sidi Ergo 4 shoes come with a 12 composite carbon sole which is light and feels like it offers good power transfer to the pedals - however it took a few rides to get use to the firm shoe bed.

There’s a lot to like about the Sidi Ergo 4 shoes. The main draw is the high level of adjustability which helps you get a bespoke fit – you can also get a unique look by customising your kicks with different colour straps and buckles. On the other hand, for competition shoes they are relatively heavy and a little bulky.

For more details visit the Saddleback website.