"Ahoy ! Yes, the Marressi shoes look deluxe. Budget constraints?directed me to a "cobbled" solutions, literally. I took modern "cleat" Sidis - one of the?less high-tech styles that fasten with only velcro straps and not the velcro strap & buckle combination - to my local shoemaker who removed the velcro straps and punched w/eyelettes holes for laces. The shoemaker charged me approx. twenty dollars for "cobbling" together traditional shoes from modern. Hahahaha - I wouldn't be surprised if Harvey and his cobbling tools could do it at the next swap !? All in good jest, Harvey. ? Regards, Richard Cielec"
I did the same thing with a pair of Sidi's that had worn out velcro straps. I thought that with the traditional cleats from Yellow Jersey that fit the 3-hole pattern they would be a great comfortable shoe for use with traditional clip & strap pedals.
But, the soles are so much thicker than an old style racing shoes that the overall height with the cleat makes them really hard to get in out of the pedals, it's impossible to just "flip" in. And even if you can catch a toe on the pedal with the curved slippery nose of the show they will not slide in without reaching down and holding the clip up with your hand. I tried button head screws in the cleats, and tried to file the profile of the cleats a bit to help, but they are just too tall a combination to work well.
I'm wondering if the new Marressi's set up with a tradtional cleat would have the same problem as they look to have a very thick sole as well? I'd want to hear from somebody who has been riding in them before I would consider a pair.
Cheers, Jon Williams
Grants Pass OR USA