SHIMANO RC5 SPD-SL Shoes

Product Information

Finally there's price: how much are you prepared to spend? There's no substitute for trying before you buy. What are the important features of well-fitted cycling shoes? With the temperature nudging 20 degrees, after six hours of hills my feet were on the verge of overheating. Most cycling shoes can be wiped down with a damp cloth, but don't try anything more aggressive to clean them unless the maker's care instructions advise this.

If you're riding off-roa d or want to have a pair of shoes that are easy to walk in, then go for a pedal system that uses two-bolt cleats such as Shimano SPDs or Crankbrothers Eggbeaters.

Beyond the obvious shoe size, there's a lot to think about when choosing cycling shoes. Even sizing isn't straightforward, as you want a cycling shoe to hold you foot steady to pedal efficiently, so you might need a show that's a half size down from your normal. You can instantly tell it's not an über stiff race shoe as it has a much softer feel when putting down power, but it certainly isn't a wet noodle. The sole is predominately carbon reinforced nylon, especially around the all-important mid foot area and as such has enough stiffness to retain a good level of power transfer. There is flex at the toe and heel area but for many this will be welcome, especially if you tend to ride all-day and/or at steadier paces. I never once encountered the dreaded hotspots or undue pressure that can come from an overly flexible shoe - even when riding for multiple hours on the turbo.

The Shimano RC7s are very easy to recommend, as they do everything you want for the price and arguably look even better. Slip them on, give them a twiddle and you're free to enjoy anything from an epic to a sprint to a race. Ideal. Verdict They have a super-neat wraparound design and a single L6 Boa, which is placed centrally rather than at the top of the foot. Laces are excellent for distributing pressure evenly for achieving a comfy fit for all day rides. Plus the shoes also benefit from the superb FACT Powerline carbon sole, which is one of the stiffest platforms on the market. You can buy arch supporting insoles in your local chemist, and of course there are many brands out there who will create you a custom version should you want something more bespoke. The relatively mild conditions will have contributed to that, but most of the water that entered the shoe also flowed out through the vents in the bottom and didn’t slosh about inside for too long.These Road Shoes are compatible with road bike pedal systems that use cleats with 3-bolt standards, such as: Look Delta and Keo, Shimano SPD-SL, Speedplay Light Action, Zero, X-Series (via 3-hole adapter plate), Campagnolo Pro-Fit, Mavic Zxellium, Time Iclic/Xpresso and Time Impact. Cycling shoes and clipless pedals are the biggest upgrade you can make when you’re new to road cycling.