I had been using Specialized BG Comp mountain shoes for collegiate racing for the last year until I switched to these bad boys.
I think that they're very reasonably priced for something, to me, is exactly the same as the top of the line Zxelliums. The black color was another selling point for me as well. They look like a vintage road shoe. Very classic and versatile; doesn't scream for attention like the hot yellow Zxelliums.
Fit was a bit tight on my left foot for a while, but I've since broken them in and now both sides feel great. No hot spots. I went with a size 11, for reference, I typically wear a size 10.5 - 11 casual shoe and my old Specialized BG Comps are size 45. So if you know your size in Specialized, that's a good comparison.
I feel that the straps and ratchet have enough adjustability for my somewhat narrow feet. The velcro straps up front have two different positions, the tighter of the two being plenty to really cinch them down. The ratchet seems to me to have a little too much extra length though.It's good for very "tall" feet, however, I near the end of the strap and it tends to stick out from the side of the shoe.
Overall though, I do not regret this purchase at all. They look great, are stiff and fit well.