AFTER the bike itself, and a helmet for obvious safety reasons, a good pair of cycling shoes must rank as the next most important purchase for a rider.
After all, it is they that are responsible for transferring the power needed to get anywhere to the pedals.
I can tell you from experience that a pair of ill-fitting or uncomfortable shoes can ruin the whole cycling experience.
But choosing a good pair can be a bewildering exercise.
Fizik aim to remove that confusion from the equation with their latest Infinito R1s.
Developed in collaboration with pro cyclists, the Italian brand says these shoes feature the latest in performance road shoe technology and are ‘built for better-than-ever comfort, fit and power transfer’.
They are lofty claims, but I can say that having tried them out for an extended period of time they are not empty words.
From an aesthetic point of view, the R1s are exquisite. Smooth, sculpted lines immediately draw the eye – it’s almost a shame to put them on and introduce them to the big bad world of muck, grime, wear and tear.
Weighing in at 232gms, they may be lightweight, but they have been constructed to last. The ventilated sole is made from carbon and the uppers laser perforated microtex, a synthetic leather. Though sturdy, they are also flexible, making them feel a part of you as opposed to some kind of torture device you are unwillingly locked into.
The biggest talking point, however, is the way the shoe is secured around your foot.
My previous shoes have generally involved some form of ratchet and additional velcro fasteners.
Fizik have gone down a completely different route and it explains the reasoning behind the shoes’ name. Infinito refers to the apparent infinite number of degrees to which the shoes can adjusted via the Boa fastening system.
Located midway down the shoe and another towards the ankle, the system employs steel-coated nylon laces threaded through a number of different fabric guides – one on the top and a further five lower down. These used to be plastic, but Fizik has replaced them with fabric in order to eliminate pressure points on the foot.
Pull the dials vertically and you can open the shoe out, making slipping your foot inside a breeze. Once in, push the dial down and twist – the laces tighten, pulling the shoe around the rider’s foot.
It appears a relatively simple concept, but one that is deployed to perfection and what’s more it works.
On trying the shoes for the first time, I tightened both the left and right to roughly the same level, believing both feet to be pretty much the same.
However, it was clear on walking around that this was far from the case. Whereas the right felt fine, the left was causing me a significant degree of discomfort – to the point where I could imagine having to stop during a ride to take them off.
A quick turn of the lower dial, however, meant I could alleviate the pressure until it was both secure and comfortable.
In terms of price, the R1s are not cheap, but I do think the expense is justified. At a penny shy of £325 they may well be out of the pocket of many riders, but if you are serious about your riding and want something both stylish and with substance then these have to be a serious consideration.
- For more details visit www.fizik.com
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