Road shoes need to know...

We explain the key plus points and potential pitfalls when choosing your road shoes

Sole stiffness

01 Soles designed for two-bolt SPD systems are more flexible and offer better grip than the soles of dedicated road cycling shoes. The three-bolt system used by the likes of Look requires much stiffer soles to create an efficient pedalling platform, though the trade-off is that they’re much harder to walk in.

When it comes to determining the levels of stiffness of their soles, bike companies don’t make it easy for the consumer, with each brand seemingly having different scales: Specialized’s goes up to 15, Bontrager’s up to 14, Shimano’s 12! But from our experience, full-carbon soles tend to be noticeably stiffer than soles made from nylon or similar material, and if you’re competing, or you value pedalling efficiency over comfort, then our experience suggests that carbon is the way to go, and there are even a few options at around £100.

To protect the soles and to make walking a little easier, most soles have raised, hard, rubber heel and toe bumpers, and in some cases – usually the more expensive models – these are replaceable, which will add longevity.

Closure systems

02 There are numerous closure systems, which are often used in combination: laces; Velcro straps; buckles; and systems from Atop and Boa, which have very narrow cord laces secured by ratcheted dials.

Laces may be the oldest of old-school systems, but they’ve made a comeback – even in the professional ranks – over the last few years. They distribute tension evenly over your foot and are secure, comfortable and, thanks to their low profile, they’re also aerodynamic. They do take a few seconds longer to secure, if that is an issue, and do make sure you tuck them in under the elasticated loop. A lace snagging in your chain could be dangerous.

Velcro straps are quick and convenient to use but the Velcro hooks and mesh can get grubby, which leads us to ratcheted tensioning systems, most notably from Boa and Atop. These draw narrow wire laces over the top of the shoe for a snug and secure fit – especially if there’s more than one dial – and they’re quick and easy to adjust on the fly.

Two-bolt cleats

03 The second type of cleat fitting is the two-bolt system used by Shimano for its SPD pedals and for lookalike pedals from Boardman, Wellgo and others. This system has its background in the mountain bike world, and while it has much smaller metal pedals and cleats than three-bolt, road-specific systems, the mechanics work in much the same way, the cleat clipping in to the pedal when you press down your heel.

The advantage that SPD has over road-specific systems is that the cleat is usually – but not always – recessed into the sole rather than standing proud, which means you can walk in cleated shoes without looking like a newborn giraffe. The soles are usually less stiff than a dedicated road shoe sole – though carbon SPD soles do exist – but from its off-road origins SPD has become the go-to choice for commuters because you can combine reasonably efficient cycling with safe walking. Cleat life should be better too, though clean out the Allen key bolts occasionally as these

You can walk in twobolt SPD-type shoes without looking like a newborn giraffe