TEST–BUDGET SHOES

If the shoe fits, buy it! Especially when these 12 come in around the £100 mark

Like all bike equipment, the price of shoes varies wildly from top to bottom. You can, however, get a lot for £100, as our test found

The contact points between you and your bike – hands, bottom and feet – are critical. Getting just one of these wrong can result in an uncomfortable ride, as you fidget your way around to compensate.

As feet come in all shapes and sizes, cycling shoes have to cater for all extremes of the market. Some brands favour a narrow fit to keep the foot snug and supported, while others prefer a wider fit to allow the foot to sit more naturally within the shoe. When you find one that works, it’s easy to stay with it – just look at the professionals who are prepared to give up sponsorship deals to stay with a brand they know will work for them, or even use unbranded shoes or covers to keep team sponsors happy.

Cycling shoes have come a long way, developing from the wooden-soled variety, which featured a leather upper and either laces or a single Velcro strap to hold the foot in place. Today, shoes offer considerable adjustments either by way of the classic lace or from ratchet and dial systems. Some include footbeds to help support the arch of your foot or mould the shoe to certain pressure points. Soles have become thinner and lighter, but the levels of stiffness have increased. Materials such as nylon, fibreglass and carbon fibre make soles stiff enough to transfer the power but also compliant enough to absorb some road vibration.

We all know of riders who want the latest style, technology, colour or brand, but that can be an expensive way to kit out your feet. So, our test focuses on shoes that come in around the magic £100 mark. All have been tested as standard, without additional footbeds, and using Speedplay pedals to ensure that cleat shape didn’t have any bearing on comfort.