Road Cycling Shoes Manufacturers

There are thousands of different on the market and how much you can afford will affect what you buy. Let’s start from the top; shoes with a lace-up fastening system are a thing from the past, now we have Velcro and some different adjustable ratchet tightening systems, these are designed to hold your feet securely and comfortably in your bicycle shoes.

Your foot cannot be constricted or crushed and one of the best closure systems is from Sidi shoes, on their top of the range “Sidi Ergo 2″. It has three different buckles on the same shoe, the lower strap is Velcro, the middle strap is a nylon string with a tightening system for comfort across the top of the foot and then the top strap is a plastic ratchet that is tightened or loosened by a lever for micro adjustment, to get the correct tension on your foot. Sidi have many shoes at different prices, their carbon soles are some of the best made.

Shimano don’t only make cycling components, they have a range of clothing and some fine shoes. Shimano pedals were designed to fit their own SPD style pedals, these took a smaller shoe cleat with just two bolts, since then SPD’s for road bikes are not so popular as they were, but the Shimano cycling shoes are still very popular as they can fit all pedals.

The top of the Shimano range is the R215B, it has the usual three closures, two Velcro and a micro-adjust buckle. They take all the different shoe plates and with an adapter you can also fit Look pedals to the hollow channel carbon fiber sole which is light and very rigid for power transference.

•    Lake
•    DMT
•    Carnac
•    Spiuk
•    Louis Garneau
•    North Wave
•    Adidas
•    Diadora

…and many other manufacturers make very good shoes. The main problem you can have is finding the one that fits you the best; most have a similar closure system with three straps or adjustable ratchets. Most uppers are made of a plastic material that is both strong and comfortable, the main thing you must look for is that the sole will take the cleats of your choice of clippless pedals and most importantly that the sole fits your feet.

As with all shoes the sole shape and dimensions are different from one manufacturer to another and you have to try a few before you find the sole that suits you. The Italian shoes tend to be narrower and the German and French a little wider, but this is a general guide and cannot take the place of trying the shoes before buying.