Shimano

I needed to replace some shoes that I'd worn for a few years. I had become sensitive to the shoe rubbing on my big toes. I usually wear a size 9 shoe and have a foot that is just a little wider than usual. These fit me very well, and I was pleased with the toe room. I am happy with the quality of the construction, and feel they were priced right. I've only ever had the one other pair of shoes with cleats, so I can't compare them to more expensive brands. I am happy with these after about several 25-30 mile rides.

I bought the 11-36 version to use on my 8100 ultegra bike for a sub 1:1 climbing ratio. This is technically out of spec for the ultegra rear mech, but after a small b screw adjustment it is working without any issue. The ultegra cage is shorter, so maybe chain wrap could be an issue, but using the auto shift function prevents any extreme cross gears where chain length might be a concern. This 105 cassette does not have the HG+ teeth profile, but I honestly cannot tell any difference compared to my ultegra cassette while riding.

I bought these 160 mm Shimano crank arms to replace the original 170 mm cranks that came with my bike. These cranks were a simple install. I used Shimano's torque guide to ensure all the screws and bolts were properly tightened.

I bought these for a size 49 frame Trek Domane to better fit the small frame and my smaller size. I get much better power transfer with these shorter cranks, especial during cold starts. I used to climb steep hills in the lowest gear but now I can climb the same hills in 3rd gear. My average RPMs tend to be higher now but that's not a problem. My average speed may have changed a small amount but mostly there is just a very noticeable improvement in the quality of my rides.

Two different cranks size calculators suggested I use 157.5mm cranks but these cranks were the smallest size I could find. I'm really glad I found them. The difference 10 mm makes for me is dramatic.

These are excellent higher end shoes with a few quirks. They're light and slim on the foot, they don't feel or look bulky like some other shoes. The dual Boa system is great. My gripe with them is that they're kind of awkward to put on. The tongue is attached to one side of the uppers, so they don't open quite as wide. Also, the material around the collar seems to be some kind of non-slip material, I assume so your foot doesn't slip around while riding, but it also makes putting the shoes on more difficult, instead of your feet just sliding in. And I mean these are more of an annoyance, rather than a true fault of the shoe design.

Once you're riding though none of that matters. The uppers are stiff and the Boa straps make adjusting them a breeze. The "grid" on the soles help you match the alignment of your cleats, Aside from the two Boa dials, they're sleek and just feel quick. As for their stiffness - on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is a super stiff race shoe, I'd say they're an 8. Good and stiff with just a hint of noticeable flex when out of the saddle. I do wish that they came with an additional arch support size like the RC902 did.