This spring has sprung.
So I’m Just Riding Along (JRA) on Sunday when I hear a tiny rattle down and to the right.
No, not a midget buzzworm. They’ve all flown south for the winter. The buckle failed on my right Sidi Whatever. A spring went south and the ratchet lever was flipping back and forth like Kyrsten Sinema, to no evident purpose.
The venerable Sidi cyclocross shoes.
The Sidis are Dominator 5, if memory serves. Not my oldest pair — those would be my Sidi cyclocross shoes, pre-clipless. And I have another pair of Dominators that predates numerology. I’m pretty sure they were just “Dominators.” Who knew there would be so many sequels?
The buckles still work on my ODs (Original Dominators). Not so the hook-and-loop straps. Those break loose and flap like Tucker Carlson’s gums.
Alas, the OD’s buckles are non-transferable. The caliper straps are not simpatico. Thus I had to order up some replacement buckles — which at $18.99 were only slightly pricier than the tab for shipping them to El Rancho Pendejo. So it goes. ’Tis a wonder such spare bits remain available at all.
Meanwhile, the Dominator 10? Be prepared to shell out $329.99, my friend. The good news is, they will probably outlive your feet.
Tags: Sidi Dominator
Mad Blog Media 
November 23, 2021 at 10:15 am |
Yeah, I sympathize with your plight.
I’ve been known to buy up old Sidi shoes just to harvest the hardware and squeek a little more life out of the cycling shoes that fit.
Got me to thinking that if I had a walk-in freezer, maybe I could do the same thing with livers and kidneys…’specially given that I’m having a hard time sourcing factory original spare parts.
November 23, 2021 at 11:25 am |
Pre-clipless? Were those buried under a pile of floppy discs? Buddy, you need some professional help. I know, what about the Apple Power Mac G4?
November 23, 2021 at 5:05 pm |
Clipless, without clips.
So before that, then, with clips.
But what was there before clips?
November 23, 2021 at 7:00 pm |
I kinda miss toeclips and straps. They added a whole other dimension to cyclocross, especially in filthy weather. These kids today, they don’t know what they’re missing. …
And yeah, WTF? “Clipless” pedals lack clips, yet one is said to be “clipped in.” Shouldn’t that be “cleated in?” Pretty casual use of the language. Never a copy editor around when you need one.
November 24, 2021 at 5:36 am |
Don’t forget these.
November 24, 2021 at 5:59 am |
Rivendell has ’em too. Ain’t they cute?
November 24, 2021 at 6:02 am |
The only downside to clips & straps for CX is having the spikes in the balls of your foot. I can’t remember anyone actually bothering to use them. Almost worthless for running & completely worthless for running uphill.
November 24, 2021 at 6:29 am |
For reals. I have spikes, and I can’t remember if I ever used them in a race. They seemed like a real good way to (a) crash, or (2) break an ankle. I had already done both without them, so they seemed superfluous.
November 23, 2021 at 11:36 am |
$329.99? yeah, no.
November 23, 2021 at 12:15 pm |
Cue up Judge Reinhold. The Dominator (X) 10, $300 of thigh slapping, blood pumping, nuclear brain damage. And if you can’t afford them, FINANCE IT!
November 23, 2021 at 3:13 pm |
“So what if it’s as big as a Subaru and costs as much? You’ll never have to trade this in! This is gonna be with you for the rest of your life! And when you die, they can bury you in it!”
November 24, 2021 at 8:10 am |
Several websites have Sidis 25% off right now for you big spenders!!! Happy and safe Thanksgiving to all! Rubber side down! Rule #1 is FUN!! 🙂