Road cycling shoes are made to make you go faster. It’s as simple as that.

They have incredibly stiff soles to ensure maximum power output and pedalling efficiency – they’re usually made of plastic or carbon. The sole will be baby-bum smooth and the cleats, when installed, will stand very proud of the shoe. Both of these factors make them incredibly difficult to walk in when off the bike.

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They’ll also tend to have a lot of mesh and holes to keep your feet fully ventilated while you’re riding the Tour of California. Obviously.

Cleats

Most road shoes will have a three-bolt cleat mount, meaning they are compatible with road pedals like Shimano SPD-L, Time and Look. If you want to use a different pedal system, it’s best to read all the information about the shoes you’re buying so you can be sure you’ll be able to make it work. You can read our Beginners Guide to Road Pedals here.

Fastenings

Your road shoes are most likely to be fastened with buckles, velcro or BOA lacing. BOA is interesting because it’s so light and is minimises the amount of contact points. The other options mainly fall down to personal preference. Just make sure to try on a number of different shoes so you know what you prefer.