Sidi is one of the top road cycling shoe brands. Sidi shoes have been worn to victory by most of the top pro racing cyclists over the last 40 years, including three-time winner of the Tour de France, the stylish Spanish rider Alberto Contador. Yes, many of those pro riders were sponsored to wear the shoes, but no amount of money would persuade a professional to wear uncomfortable shoes, and they do like to look good!
The shoes are designed and hand-crafted in Italy. Taste is a personal opinion of course, but to my taste, they are very classy cycling shoes. I also know from personal experience that Sidi shoes are very comfortable, even on long rides on hot days. If you have ever suffered from foot problems cycling when still 40 miles from home or your car, then you know how important that is. I once had to ride 5 miles home one-legged because my left foot had cramped up really badly due to wearing uncomfortable bike shoes!
Many moons ago I had a pair of Sidi cycling shoes which served me well for a number of years, but they were quite old-fashioned looking. They were an all-black design. I much preferred my second pair which I bought in 1999 – Sidi Shadows. That more modern and colorful design came on the market in 1997, but I was lucky enough to find a pair my size gathering dust on a shelf of a small bike shop near my home and got them at a good price.