Wife's cycling shoes literally fell apart at our last event last year, had to tape the soles up to finish.

She is picky and hasn't found another pair she likes. We live practically across the street from the original Richardson bike mart but hey have a really limited selection to look at and try on since their remodel.

Any recs for a place to go that she can try on a lot of different styles/brands to find something she likes?

Do you have a sun and ski sports? They have a lot of different brands.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SCnMpCB5ho2nfHqL6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Yes. Also see them at events.

Anyone know of other locations of bike mart have a bigger selection?

https://www.bikemart.com/storelocator/

Why not just buy the shoes she liked online?

Problem was that she is picky. She had tried having three or four pairs bought online that she didn't like and sent back. So she was hoping to be able to try in the store.

While out Saturday we hit sun and ski in frisco. They had zero shoes. So we went to bikemart again, they had a few choices, not many.. She found a model she liked. Still had to order it directly online to get the right size.

Seems like the brick and mortar stores are pretty much only stocking bike, and not as many as they used to. Accessories were pretty limited.

Richardson Bikemart used to have good selection. Haven't been there in over a decade though

Yeah they did. They downsized and got rid of the side with apparel and shoes. Now they don't have much.

It's getting harder and harder to recommend RBM for anything these days (including even basic service)...

It's out of your way but Cadence Cyclery has a decent selection. If you're not looking at top end shoes, REI wouldn't be bad nor would Sun & Ski or Scheels. Playtri/RBM/Trek Allen have rather limited selections.

hbc07 said:

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It's getting harder and harder to recommend RBM for anything these days (including even basic service)...

It's out of your way but Cadence Cyclery has a decent selection. If you're not looking at top end shoes, REI wouldn't be bad nor would Sun & Ski or Scheels. Playtri/RBM/Trek Allen have rather limited selections.

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Agree about bikemart. We are across the street from Richardson. Since Jim sold out it has gone sharply downhill. Service sucks. Attitude sucks. We only go when we have to and because it is right there. Did get service there last year and it was fine. But it is not the same place it used to be.

She found some high end shoes she liked and ordered them directly from Shimano online. Bikemarts website didn't list them even though they sell them. Their loss I guess.

RBM does seem limited of late.
Cadence has a good selection.

Look on Amazon, order and return if you don't like.

Sadly, it's our fault (the public) for your LBS going the way of the Dodo bird. Too many of us were going into the store, trying on something and end up ordering online instead of spending in the store. All in the name of saving a few bucks. We're now doing the same thing with bikes and parts. Then we bring the bike into the LBS for assembly or warranty work and we still don't spend money in the LBS. How do you expect them to keep their doors open and store stocked if you won't spend your money there?

The additional issue that many of the old, cool shops are being bought out by the big name brands such as Specialized and Trek. You go into one of those stores and all you find are either Specialized accessories or Bontrager accessories because those big names forces them to carry a large percentage of their products in order to continue to sell their products. It's an insane number, like 60% - 75% of their inventory is supposed to be the big name.

I'm fortunate in that I have several friends in the industry that I can reach out and they can order things for me. I'm a fan of the Giro Empire and Shimano Spyre. Although I prefer the laces over the straps.

Good luck in your search.