My feet are hard to fit I guess. Or maybe I'm just really picky. But for whatever reason, shoes are one of my most difficult kit decisions. I usually try several in a wide range of prices and styles, because fit and performance really matter to me. For me, these fit the bill really well. Starting with the closure system, for me, laces are the way to go. I was not always a fan of laces (way too showy in my mind) but the truth is that they really do work well to relieve weird pressure points and control overall fit. These shoes are very comfortable. Next is the sole. These shoes have a really nice and grippy rubber sole, but they are still relatively trim--making them more like a road shoe than a hiking boot. I use these for gravel riding, so for me that's the perfect compromise. Then there is stiffness. If I have a compliant, it's here. These shoes are not the stiffest and I wish they were. But after a half-dozen 30-40 mile rides and one 80 mile ride, I can't say that its really bothered me that much. Power transfer could be better with a stiffer, full carbon sole. But mostly, these have done the job nicely. Next criteria is weight. The lace closure really helps there. These are not road-shoe-light, but they're light enough and much lighter than most of the shoes I tried. So overall pretty satisfied with the weight. Aesthetics--I think these are really nice, understated shoes. And price. These are a mid-range price shoe that have excellent fit and performance characteristics--even with the less than super-stiff soles. For me, these were just right. It took trying on a BUNCH of shoes from Fizik, Giro, and Specialized before I landed on these. And they weren't even on my list to begin with. I'm glad I found them and recommend them.
These are the best short finger cycling gloves I've owned. They fit well, true to size and they last a long time. My last pair survived over 2 years and I ride about 9000 miles a year on average. The gel on the palms placed perfectly and has just enough cushion for me. The loops on the back of the middle 2 fingers make it easier to take them off at the end of a ride. I ordered 2 pair this time just in case they quit making them or change the design before I need another pair!
There's nothing I don't like about this shoe. I use it for all my cycling ... from MTB trails, gravel adventures and road riding. Fit is just a bit on the large side but not bothersome and it gives me room for heavy socks in the winter. The Boa closure works super and won't degrade like velcro straps. The closure also has micro adjustability to get the fit just right. The soles are very comfortable in the hike a bike and walking modes with plenty of sure footed grip. These shoes seem to breathe well and I have no hot spots in the summer heat. I'l know more about the durability by next summer but I'm feeling confident they will hold up to everything I can throw at them. Very pleased with this purchase and would recomend this shoe.
I'm very picky about my gloves, and I like the Giro Strade Dure because they have good padding, well ventilated, and they dry quickly after a hot and sweaty day of riding. I also like the small finger cuffs that help you pull the gloves off at the end of your ride. That's a nice design feature.
