Dials, dials everywhere — but seldom a shoe in black
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Trends for 2017 road shoes? Dials and bright styles (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Note the three big vents on the front of the sole(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
At the heel of Pearl Izumi's top-end Pro Leader III comes the Elite Road V(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
As with the Pro Leader, the Elite Road V runs the Boa wires like traditional laces, with the dial mounted on the tongue (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Aside from the svelte look, having the Boa on the tongue makes for an even pull on both sides of the shoe, Pearl says (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
This is the only seam on the Elite Road V upper (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
These are the two Elite Road V women's styles(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
No, it's not a ’cross shoe. Lake's CX301 is a heat-moldable road shoe(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Lake's design uses a similar lacing pattern to Pearl's, but with a different dial placement(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Lake's sole is similar to Bont's in its bathtub curvature (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Suplest's Aero Road shoe debuted at the Rio Olympics with the Swiss team(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
The laces-under-a-zipped-cover design is quite reminiscent of Nordic ski boots(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Northwave's Extreme RR shoes use the brand's own SLW2 (Speed Lace Winch) dial(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Special tapes form two Xs on the inside of the shoe and allow for even pressure distribution over the whole foot, Northwave claims(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Sidi's new Shot uses the double-dial-on-the-tongue design that Pearl debuted, but with its own Tecno-3 dials(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Fizik's R1 is unique for a Boa shoe in that the lower dial has a single lace, instead of a loop, like on the upper dial (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Gaerne's G Chrono+ shoes have channels inside the sole to move air through the shoe(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Giro's Prolight Techlace is laughably light(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
A few frame makers like Felt use TeXtreme for its high stiffness-to-weight ratio. Along with laces and a light upper, TeXtreme is how Giro made such a light shoe (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
The Prolight will be available in April for US$500 (UK and Australian pricing not immediately available) (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
The laces can be exchanged for different lengths and different colors(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
The S-Phyre is Shimano's first road shoe with Boa dials(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
There are different types of Boa dials; the top-end option lets you micro-adjust in both directions, and pull open for a quick release(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Every company has its own spin on how to make cleat set-up and adjustment less of a hassle(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
S-Phyre comes in four styles at the top R9 level (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Very early Boa dials had durability issues, but in recent years they have proved dependable (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
The Shimano RC7 brings the price down compared to the R9(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
This Lintaman shoe has a novel design, with not only the heel but the toe having fore/aft adjustment(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Specialized adopted a somewhat similar design with its S-Work Trivent shoe, where the back folds down for on-the-bike access. Otherwise, we haven't seen a design like this anywhere (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
The Bont Riot is a carbon composite moldable shoe that starts at US$159 (UK and Australian pricing not available)(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
The new Bont Vapor + combines pro-level stiffness with a luxury finish, including kangaroo leather upper and an internal leather lining (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Sidi's Shot first showed up at the 2016 Tour de France(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
If Eurobike is any indication, the era of buckle ratchets on top-end road shoes may be drawing to an end. Whether for the smaller increments of adjustment, the lighter weight, or just the me-too trendiness, Boa and Boa-type dials are now de rigueur, with the likes of Shimano, Sidi, Bont, Giro, Pearl Izumi, Fizik, Northwave and many more betting on the thin-lace technology.
Here is a top-line look at many of the latest and greatest road shoes shown at Eurobike. Please note that Specialized and Trek don't exhibit at Eurobike, but rest assured that both American brands are in on the Boa action, with the S-Works 6 and the Bontrager XXX models, respectively.
Dials aside, hi-vis and flash are also in for 2017. Black shoes could be found at Eurobike — but you really had to hunt for them.
Giro Prolight Techlace and Factor Techlace
Giro's Prolight Techlace is laughably light
A few frame makers like Felt use TeXtreme for its high stiffness-to-weight ratio. Giro used the material for the sole on the Prolight Techlace, which Giro expects to come in at about 150g for production models.
Techlace (which consists of standard laces clamped into a Velcro pull tab) first showed up alongside a Boa dial in Giro's new Factor Techlace.
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Shimano S-Phyre
There are different types of Boa dials; the top-end option lets you micro-adjust in both directions, and pull open for a quick release
Shimano's first Boa shoe is the S-Phyre, which comes in the top-end R9 range (230g claimed for a size 42) and the more affordable R7.
Lintaman Adjustable
Specialized adopted a somewhat similar design with its S-Work Trivent shoe, where the back folds down for on-the-bike access. Otherwise, we haven't seen a design like this anywhere
Okay, I can't vouch for the fit, feel or performance of this one, but the novel design was worth sharing, as I've never seen a shoe that tightens at the back and at the toe.
Bont Vaypor + and Riot
The new Bont Vapor + combines pro-level stiffness with a luxury finish, including kangaroo leather upper and an internal leather lining
Bont's Vaypor + combines the stiffness of the Vaypor S pro race shoe with a little high-end cushiness, thanks to a kangaroo leather upper and a cow leather lining. The shoes are heat moldable with a low stack height and a high price (US$499).
The Riot, on the other hand, is heat moldable for US$179 with Boa dials.
The Bont Riot is a carbon composite moldable shoe that starts at US$159 (UK and Australian pricing not available)
Fizik R1
Fizik's R1 is unique for a Boa shoe in that the lower dial has a single lace, instead of a loop, like on the upper dial
The R1 isn't brand new, but just look at that red! Also, Boas…
Unlike most shoes that use a wire loop on the Boas, the R1 uses a single strand on the lower dial.
Pearl Izumi Elite Road V
At the heel of Pearl Izumi's top-end Pro Leader III comes the Elite Road V
Pearl Izumi's Pro Leader III arguably created the dual-dial-on-the-tongue design (see new Sidi Shot below) when it came out last year. The shoe also did away with the traditional cardboard lasting board that most cycling footwear has, lowering the stack height in the process.
The new Elite Road V riffs on some of this technology, notably the absence of the lasting board and a Boa, but at a more accessible price. Aside from the svelte look, having the Boa on the tongue makes for an even pull on both sides of the shoe, Pearl says.
As with the Pro Leader, the Elite Road V runs the Boa wires like traditional laces, with the dial mounted on the tongue
Suplest Aero
Suplest's Aero Road shoe debuted at the Rio Olympics with the Swiss team
Okay, so there is no Boa dial here. Sorry. But this slick shoe debuted at the Rio Olympics on Swiss feet (the company is based in Switzerland), with a decidedly Nordic skiing look thanks to the zipper-over-laces closure.
Northwave Extreme RR
Northwave's Extreme RR shoes uses the brand's own SLW2 (Speed Lace Winch) dial
The new Extreme RR shoes use Northwave's own SLW2 (Speed Lace Winch) dial. It may also be the only shoe with a single dial (without any other additional closure mechanism like Velcro).
Sidi Shot
Sidi's new Shot uses the double-dial-on-the-tongue design that Pearl debuted, but with its own Tecno-3 dials
These first popped up at the 2016 Tour de France, and the venerable Italian cobbler rolled out the details at Eurobike. As with Northwave, Sidi has its own dials.
Click through the gallery above for a closer look at these shoes and a few others.
