Today's weather was on the cool side. I wore 1 base layer + arms & knees. I wore the Sidi shoes for the first time today. They have a Boa tension system. Being that I've never tried them before, I wasn't sure how tight to adjust them. I thought they were supposed to be firmly secured. But, as soon as I got out, I noticed that the tension was too much. I was getting pinch points on the top of the foot. As the ride progressed, I loosened the fasteners. The real test was the return ascent. By that time, I had tensioned the adjusters a few times. As the climb progressed, I noticed that there were still some pinch points. I rode it out to see how they felt as the ride went on. Other observations... The sole is sufficiently sturdy and resistant to straining under stress. There is sufficient support on the arch, although I'm not sure if it would adversely affect over the course of a ride of hours in duration. My feet appear to be oriented more appropriately than the Shimano's. I'm assuming this is due to the fact that the Sidi's have a more firm fit. The cleat platform complies with the Speedplay cleats better than all my previous shoes. In terms of shoe size, I don't think the 44's would feel better. Thus, I will need to ride with them for the next couple weeks until I've made my decision. All the while, researching other shoes that may be of better function and fit. About the ride, briefly, I felt good. Partially due to the weather and the fact that I wasn't putting the hammer down at any given time. No ailments. Balance and form felt better with the new shoes. Gear is working well. Other notes, no other cyclists today.