Let’s get one thing out of the way first. Sidi promotes this shoe as mountain bike attire – XC to be specific – but it’s just as capable as a gravel shoe, which is why you’ll find it gracing both sections of the brand’s website. So, if you see it elsewhere, described as the MTB Aertis, don’t worry; you’ve found the correct shoe, despite the ambiguous name.
In fact, Sidi also makes a near-identical shoe for roadies, called the Prima. The only difference is the sole – smooth and three-bolt ready on the Prima, vs knobbly and SPD compatible on the Aertis. If your road cycling is focused more on coffee stops than celerity, this shoe is the more satisfying solution for frequent café raids and the inevitable comfort breaks that follow. It’s the shoe I chose to wear when I crossed France earlier this year, which gives some insight into our itinerary.
