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Giro’s popular new lace up road shoe, the Empire is now available in both colors, online and at your local Giro dealer. I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair. The quality, as with any Giro shoe is superb. Check out more details and sizing information here, at Giro.
I have a problem. I can’t seem to turn down a pair of road shoes. Especially the 74 road from Specialized. These shoes have all the bells and whistles of a modern road shoe but are clad in a supple kangaroo leather. Complete with Specialized’s Boa technology, the only thing that’s throwback about the 74s is their material.
Right off the bat though, you’ll notice that the silhouette is lower than other shoes. By comparison, the heel is a centimeter lower than others I own. I thought it would be an issue with rubbing but all it took was putting the shoes on, tightening the two Boa lace systems and immediately, you can feel how different these shoes are.
It doesn’t end there. The Full Body Geometry system features in the outsole and High Performance Footbed change your alignment while pedaling, while reducing hot spots. Without going too far into this fit theory, it essentially straightens your legs as you pedal. Basically it feels like your cleats are wedged towards the outside of your shoe. A sensation that disappeared after a few miles.
The Boa system is easy to adjust on the fly, after you’ve done 30 miles or so (my feet swell during riding). While some have complained about the heel cup and ankle rub, I will say that like a good work boot, fit is essential. You’ve really got to nail down your size, so buy from a local dealer, or be prepared to send a pair back if you ordered online. At $400 a pop, you’ll want to make sure you have the proper fit. A shoe that’s properly fit will not rub.
For instance, I normally wear a 47 but ended up sticking with a 46. They’re were a bit tight on the sides of the shoe but have already begun to form around my foot. There is no fore and aft movement when I pedal: they’re snug but comfortable. Since I have only ridden these a few times, I’ll have to leave this Initial Reaction where it stands, with a follow up to come. Until then, check out some more photos in the Gallery.
And I literally just got back from a kick-ass ride myself. Gotta love Cadence!
So here’s a factoid you might not have been aware of: Vittoria shoes, the brand, are in fact older than Vittoria tires. Don’t ask me why Vittoria tires decided to take their name but the main point to take away from this is that Vittoria shoes have been around a very long time.
When they re-issued their classic cycling shoes a few years back, people applauded them. The 1976 line was before any other company went for that “vintage look” and Vittoria is one of the few manufacturers that have said experience under their laces. Naturally, when they reached out to me to try out a pair of the 1976 Classic Carbon Road Shoes with a carbon sole, I did and have been riding them for a little longer than a month.
Right out of the box, they’ve proven to be just as comfortable and durable as any modern road shoe and I have yet to critique anything in their design. People complain about the laces but if you’ve been riding long enough, you know how tight or loose you need to have your shoes. I have yet to adjust them on a ride. The leather is incredibly durable and the vented perforations keep your feet cool, even in the Texas summer heat. To boot, they’re made by hand in Italy. In one word: perfetto!
Click on the above photo to launch the gallery, or here to open in a new tab.
Since their first models dropped two years ago, Chrome has been working on improving them. Introducing the Truk, as modeled here by Massan.
Now that’s what I’m talking about. If you’re going to do high visibility, go with a product(s) people will wear. For Fall 2012, Giro announced new high visibility models in their popular road and dirt shoes, along with the classic cycling shoe, the Empire. See all the models at Giro.
Over the past few years, Vans’ presence in the BMX industry has grown and here on PiNP, I’ve done my best to bring you the recent collaborations. From Cult to Empire BMX and as a continuation of Van’s offerings, these new Shadow Conspiracy SK8-mids.
Unlike the previous releases, these shoes come as a pack and are celebrating a decade of Shadow Conspiracy. With a trucker, a t-shirt accompanying the box, alongside these SK8-mid, 106 vulc gum sole, denim and suede sneakers. There are so many solid details here, right down to the waxed laces. Ten years in the cycling industry is no easy task. So pick up a pair now, exclusively at Dans Comp. It’s a shame these aren’t available at local shops…
Click on the above photo to launch the gallery, or here to open in a new tab.
I’ll take two. Seriously, how bad-ass are these shoes Giro made for Skratch Labs? Please, please put these into production.
Look, I’m going to be honest. Rapha gave me these shoes and sure, doing a write up was part of the “deal”. I’m a journalist in many ways and part of that is promoting products. But I’ll never pump up the hype on something I’m not into. Like nice cycling shoes, a nice bottle of bourbon needs no hype. While, going for a cheap bottle can result in a great night, you’re better off going for the good stuff if you’re into enjoying the evening. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy cheap bourbon and not have fun.
Hell, Fighting Cock is a great $15 bottle and Bookers or Basil Hayden’s is a good mid-range, coming in at $30-$40. Jim Beam is out of the picture, leave that shit to the sports bars. Makers is perfect for a bourbon and ginger, as is Buffalo Trace but Van Winkle Special Reserve, like the Rapha Grand Tour Shoes are just a step up from the rest. Giro‘s line of cycling shoes are like bourbon: there’s something for everyone. It just so happens that the Grand Tour shoes are the Van Winkle of the line. The bourbon’s good to go but how have the shoes been holding up?
Check out more below
Vans has historically been tied to BMX and skateboarding, so it only makes sense that they would support one of the biggest companies in the industy. There’s no comp when it comes to Empire BMX. This is Texas after all. To commemorate general badassery, the guys designed the Empire BMX Ruark shoes to smoke bowls, dirt, street and parks alike.
Featuring a canvas upper, Vans BLC cupsole, Vanslite midsole for fewer bruised heels, the WaffleGrip outsole, and a vegan-friendly construction, the Ruarks are a large improvement from the standard, off-the-shelf Vans. I went up to see these in person yesterday and photographed them at the newly constructed Empire BMX bowl.
Pick these up at Empire BMX for $59.95
Check out more photos by clicking the photo above or here to open in a new tab.
For 2012, Fred Perry has continued their popular cycling line:
“Following on from the success of the ‘Fred Perry X Cycling Blank Canvas’ celebrating the link between sport and subculture Fred Perry brings you the second drop of cycling product this Spring / Summer ‘12. The classic cycling shirt has been standard Mod attire since the early 1960’s, today the cycling range resonates with Fred Perry aficionados and cycling enthusiasts alike.”
Check out more below, including a discount code for UK readers of this site!
When I was in Portland, before my tour, the guys at Rapha North America told me about this collaboration with Giro that they had been working on. Their idea was simple: make a cycling shoe that boasts the performance of a modern race shoe, influenced by the classic models from the 70’s. If anyone has nailed that ideology down, it’s Rapha. The Grand Tour Shoes embody the same stylistic approach as their apparel line and by style, I mean simplicity. These minimally-branded, perforated white leather shoes utilize the same technology as Giro’s professional racing shoes and look damn good.
I’ve broken this review down into a gallery, with the captions describing each photo, so take note. See for yourself by clicking the image above or here to open in a new tab.
