CYCLING SHOE REVIEWS
- Strong carbon-fibre base.
- A seamless upper made using a single piece of 3D woven fabric leaves little irritation spots.
- Caters well for cyclists with the narrower and shallower foot types.
- The heel cup – It’s one of the best on the market. Strong, hugging and stable.
- The vamp’s design is top-notch (i.e. The upper area of the shoe where the tongue and Boa’s intersect). Comfortable with plenty of room to clamp down hard on the Boa’s.
- Elegant design.
- The fabric upper stretches with use much more than those shoes with synthetic material uppers.
- The white versions won’t stay white for long.
- Shallow depth and medium fit could limit compatible cyclists.
- Fixed three-bolt cleat placement holes means you’re limited to adjusting the position of the cleat.
- Heel cap isn’t replaceable.
- Laces option with the pull string requires both hands to tighten the laces so adjusting on the go with this version is difficult.
- Shimano S-Phyre (Standard width)
- Giro Imperial (Width)
Rapha has always had quality products that speak of minimalism and sleekness. Whilst they have always maintained pride in choosing top-end materials, there has been a consistent argument that you’re paying more for the brand’s look and ethos than the performance benefits of their products. However, release after release of high-performance kit indicates Rapha is more than just about pretty products and this is what brings us to talk about the Pro Team Shoes – Rapha’s second and much more serious venture into the top-end cycling shoe market.
Built with a semi-curved last and a medium-width profile, this shoe is finished off with a surprisingly shallow and streamlined toe box which indicates it’s more for the thinner, more slender feet of the cycling world. As such, it’s an alternative to the Shimano S-Phyre in the standard width.
Whilst the shoe’s width could be an issue for some riders the upper is ultra-comfortable and glove-like. Shoe width is not something a lot of riders think about and it can be quite deceiving particularly when you’re wearing something as comfortable as the Pro Team shoe. Click here if you want to read more about the ideal shoe fit.
The Pro Team upper is made using a single seamless piece of 3D woven fabric. To the right foot type, this product feels more like you’re wearing a tapered, comfortable woven sock. The fact that it’s seamless and so comfortable is good news for cyclists with bunions and other digital irritations. So much so that this shoe could be an alternative to Lake’s CX241, particularly considering it has a much more appropriate straight last. However, the medium width will likely limit those with bunions from wearing it comfortably so again it’s about horses for courses. If you have the right width, this may be the right one for you.
Rapha has wisely chosen to introduce a dual Boa system as its fastening mechanism over the Classic’s lace and strap system. Again, the position of the Boa’s are comfortable and not dissimilar to that of the Specialized S-Works 7 and Torch. However, they have not added the lower forefoot fastening strap of the S-Works 7 which in our opinion is a wise move as the lower of the two Boa’s has good retention over the dorsal forefoot.
The plastic exterior heel cup provides a very secure fit without any noticeable pressure points. This is the biggest dilemma of the S-Works 7 so some could suggest that Rapha have been so impressed by this brand’s shoe that they wanted to replicate its formula and improve upon it’s weakest points. However, there’s no additional grip on its interior or ability for DIY heat molding so whilst the shoe holds the foot well, this is an addition that could be an added bonus in the shoe’s next iteration.
An interesting design to note is the physical distance between the Boa’s and their respective attachment points as this isn’t something seen too often particularly with Boa’s. The tongue itself is very firm but equally as thin and there’s absolutely no padding so it’s feasible to think some riders are going to feel the plastic cords but we’re yet to feel it. The benefit of having the Boa’s and their attachments so wide apart is simply that it improves the shoe’s overall fit. If the tongue (or vamp as it’s technically referred to as) has less than 15mm or a thumb-width when fitted properly, the shoe is simply too narrow. Since the shoes are designed to fit a variety of foot types, this ensures the Pro Team Shoe will fit well across the board.
One thing that has our attention is whether or not the shoe will be able to retain its strength in the upper for as long as the stiff carbon-fibre base will. Truth is, our team hasn’t been wearing the shoe long enough to really put the shoe through its paces but time will tell and we’ll let you know.
Nonetheless, Rapha has produced something both sleek and thoughtful. The shoe’s width will limit the riders that it truly suits and I suspect some riders will buy it thinking it’s more comfortable than it is practical for their foot’s shape. However, it scores well on our shoe list and that’s why it has been given 4.5 stars. Why the half a star loss? The upper… We really want to see how well it lasts over time.
CYCLING ORTHOTICS
MÍK.FIT PROCESS
