I’ve been using a pair of Giro Terraduros for a good few years now and they’ve been excellent. Stiff, non-meshy, quickish drying and really comfortable to walk in – the sole has a really nice natural “roll” to it.
However I’ve got to face facts that while the “shoe” part is fine I’ve worn both the outsole rubber and the midsole where the pedal rubs quite heavily and my feet feel really unstable on the pedals, they rattle and I’m having random unexpected unclipping moments.
So I’m after some new daps. I want:-
No mesh (I can’t recall ever having hot feet, but I’ve very often had wet ones)
Pretty stiff
Good all day comfort and especially ease of walking (I occasionally use them for commuting days and at that point could be in them for
16hrs+)
Rubber outsole (as opposed to plastic)
Quick drying
Slinky enough to not look out of place with full lycra on the gravel bike, but not disco slippers either
Non-loud colour.
At the price shoes are now, they need to last too! (the Terraduros are 5 years old, which I’d call a bare minimum. I’m doing a rough 80-100miles a week in them at the mo)
I’ve got a narrowish heel, wide forefoot, and according to my ski-boot fitter laughably high arches. Most shoes, I‘ve got loads of room for my big toe, but my little toe is squashed against the opposite side once they’re done up.
I also pedal quite heels in and rub the **** out of cranks and stays so would rather avoid mid/high ankle padding as it’ll just exacerbate the problem.
Current favourite is the Spesh Recon 2 or 3 or Giro Code Techlace. Most of the other Giros are too meshy otherwise the Ventana looks right or maybe the Sector. I’ve tried a couple of the Spesh shoes and they feel OK, but not as nice as my current Giros. (I seem to be a size smaller in Spesh than Giro?)
I haven’t managed to try a 2 boa shoe, the Recon 2 (single boa) I tried didn’t feel right the way it did up, but it was also a size too big…
Back in the day when shoes cost £60 or £70, this wasn’t such a big decision. I think the Terraduros were £100, now I’m looking at £150-200, buying blind as none of my local shops have much stock and it doesn’t sit easily with me spending so much on something that I can’t try first!
Nowhere nearby stocks Lake, the only Shimanos I’ve been able to try were low end ones in Decathlon and felt awful. Got a Fizik dealer near me, but they only stock the trainery shoes.
Any thoughts, ideas?
Thanks!
I don't know where you are but I struggled with finding a shoe that worked for me until I discovered RMX Custom in Huthwaite (East Midlands). All they do is cycling shoes, so he knows his stuff.
It might be a bit of a trek, but it's worth it to get the right shoes. Give David a call and see if he thinks he can help.
I'm loving my MX241 Wide. He even managed to get the colour I wanted that I thought they didn't do in the wide shoe.
Current favourite is the Spesh Recon 2 or 3
I've just made the same decision/ move as this; from good but worn out Terraduro to Recon. Chose the Recons 2. The Boa is the weakest part but the shoe (in the right size) i find lovely. It's comfy, supportive, and grippy when it needs to be, not regretted it yet.
