Nike's SuperRep Cycle shoes are designed for riding indoors, offering stellar levels of ventilation and quick-drying mesh fabric uppers - but just how effective are they?
Indoor-specific shoe aimed at the recreational end of the riding spectrum
Pros
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Comfort
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Non-slip base compatible with 3-bolt cleats
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Intriguing design
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Ventilation and fit
+
Decent pricing considering brand cachet
Cons
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Sole lacks stiffness
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Fabric upper prone to folding
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The new SuperRep Cycle indoor cycling shoe may very well pave the way for Nike's return to the competitive cycling realm(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
The retention system comprises a brace of Velcro straps(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
Nike's trademark Swoosh iconography is omnipresent - bold on the outer flanks and more stealth-like on the inside area(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
It's a very detailed and attractive package(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
Nike is no stranger to the cycling industry having boasted a sizeable presence in the pro rungs during the late eighties, nineties and early noughties with a portfolio brimming with some of the best cycling shoes on the market. Despite several experimental concepts and collaborations with pro riders - all of which were based around the venerable Mercurial shoe blueprint - Nike hasn't actively been involved in mainstream cycling for the past decade which makes the shoes you see here all the more intriguing.
They're called the Nike SuperRep Cycle, an indoor cycling shoe that is aimed at the recreational end of the riding spectrum. We've been putting them to the test in a variety of indoor settings to ascertain whether or not they've got what it takes to earn a spot in our best indoor cycling shoes buying guide.
Design and aesthetics
While these shoes represent a significant shift for Nike in terms of what we've come to expect from its cycling portfolio, they're very much in line with the SuperRep range of fitness kicks. As such, the shoes utilise an expressive and bold blueprint with a contrasting black/red colourway that provides the perfect canvas upon which to print the brand's iconic Swoosh moniker.
The details continue inside and under the shoe. The sole is constructed from a nylon-based material that features a textured pattern while the toe and heel area benefit from complementing orange traction pads. The orange theme continues inside the shoe where a decorative SupeRep motif adorns the removable inner sole.
Colourways are limited to two options for men (black or white) and three for women (black, white or red).
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Although this looks like it works with a two-bolt mountain bike cleat style, Nike says only three-bolt systems will work(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
The SuperRep uses a heat-moulded nylon plastic half-sole around the forefoot area to take care of power transfer(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
Fit is a little on the small side so we recommend sizing up(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
The shoes are built around a mesh-like, fabric upper designed for superior ventilation (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
A closer look at the mesh-fabric uppers and Velcro retention system(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
Specifications
As far as specifications go, there's nothing fancy going on here. Two Velcro straps take care of retention but these are more centred around finding the most comfortable fit as opposed to the foot-hugging, second-skin-like performance you'll find on an out-and-out high-end road cycling shoe.
At 544g a pair (272g per shoe) they're not particularly the lightest around but they're certainly not the heaviest either. The shoe uses an adaptable cleat insert plate that will play nicely with both three-bolt road and two-bolt mountain bike cleat styles while rubber traction pads located on the heel and toe provide off-the-bike grip. Looking at the sole, it clearly evident Nike has tried something different here. There's no carbon-fibre exotica I'm afraid - instead, it a nylon-plastic moulding that extends around the ball of the foot only, leaving an exposed almost unfinished rear end.
The SuperRep's trump card, however, hinges more around its superlative levels of ventilation rather than outright performance. The shoes naturally feature a highly breathable, perforated sockliner upper complete with venting channels in the sole to help keep your feet cool.
Riding experience
In terms of fit, the SuperRep are not as cosseting as the best cycling shoes but they've been crafted in this fashion for a very particular reason. Where outdoor riding shoes are designed for out-and-out stiffness and performance, the SuperReps represent the very antithesis favouring comfort and ventilation over power delivery. Those who've spent many an hour slogging away on Zwift will be well aware of increasing room temperatures - even when using a fan - and your feet are usually first to suffer. The Nike SuperReps possess a pretty commodious fit, offering plenty of space for your feet thanks to the wider sole platform and manipulable stretch fabric upper that deforms to accommodate your foot shape.
The Velcro closure system, however, is not without fault. Depending on how tight you prefer your fit the SuperReps' fabric upper can stretch resulting in odd creasing along the flanks of each shoe. On-the-fly adjustability can also pose an issue when you're doing a workout or race - I recommend using the shoes a few times before venturing into any form of high-intensity riding.
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While it uses a heat-moulded nylon plastic half-sole around the forefoot, the heel area has no such support and can be manipulated side-to-side by hand - not great news for the sprinters(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
The upper is made from a stretchy sockliner fabric which can result in odd creasing along the flanks of each shoe(Image credit: Aaron Borrill)
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This brings me to the sole. The SuperRep uses a heat-moulded nylon plastic half-sole around the forefoot area to take care of power transfer. Torsional stiffness (as expected) is lacking somewhat and the heel area can be manipulated side-to-side by hand. While this has blighted the overall stiffness index of the shoe you're still able to ride at a relatively decent level of intensity before any flex comes to the fore.
I participated in several Zwift workouts and races to test the performance credentials of the SuperReps and, while they were impressively comfortable, they ultimately lacked the support and glove-like feel that I've come to expect from a traditional cycling shoe. While they were surprisingly effective - even when pushing hard in races - I did find myself having to adapt my riding position to effectively transfer power to the pedals which is something that could potentially impact less flexible cyclists.
Verdict
It would be wrong of me to dismiss these shoes as a viable indoor option based purely on their performance and how they fare in a racing environment. Instead, they cater to those looking for a comfortable, airy shoe that will make the indoor experience a bit more bearable. In that regard, the Nike SuperRep Cycle shoes are fantastic. They're versatile enough in shape and adjustability to conform to most foot sizes/types and the fabric and sole seem to hold up well to repeated use.
Are they a necessity? Probably not, especially if you're an avid cyclist as you'll get better performance and all-round comfort from the shoes you use for training and racing. If however, you're new to the game and want a dedicated shoe that you can use both at home on the turbo trainer and on the smart bike at the gym then the SuperRep Cycle shoes might be a solution. They're also likely to appeal more to brand loyalists looking to add another model to their collection.
Despite it appealing more to recreational cyclists, the SuperRep Cycle shoes have got me excited about the prospect of something more substantial coming from Nike soon - because where there's smoke there's usually fire.
Aaron was the Tech Editor Cyclingnews between July 2019 and June 2022. He was born and raised in South Africa, where he completed his BA honours at the University of Cape Town before embarking on a career in journalism. Throughout this career, Aaron has spent almost two decades writing about bikes, cars, and anything else with wheels. Prior to joining the Cyclingnews team, his experience spanned a stint as Gear & Digital editor of Bicycling magazine, as well as a time at TopCar as Associate Editor.
Now based in the UK's Surrey Hills, Aaron's life revolves around bikes. He's a competitive racer, Stravaholic, and Zwift enthusiast. He’s twice ridden the Cape Epic, completed the Haute Route Alps, and represented South Africa in the 2022 Zwift eSports World Championships.
