Shimano SH-RP5 Cycling Shoes

Shimano SH-RP5 Cycling Shoes Info

You may watch and admire the pros at the Tour and marvel at their advanced equipment dripping with carbon, but that doesn’t mean you need to take out a second mortgage to get a similar level of performance in your shoes. The Shimano SH-RP5 Cycling Shoes are an endurance shoe built on high quality specs.

The first key to any ride is comfort. You’re not going to make it very far if you are uncomfortable. The Shimano SH-RP5 Cycling Shoes are intended to keep your feet comfortable while still allowing the power transfer from your legs to the pedals. One thing you should keep in mind is that having the right sort of shoes will not only keep your feet comfortable, but will also help relieve fatigue in your calves, hamstrings and lower back. The SH-RP5 alleviates any such mechanical troubles by focusing on producing a shoe last design with an optimized toe-spring section that promotes a smoother, more energy-efficient upstroke. They call this Shimano Dynalast, but what it will mean to you is that the cycling shoe will play a role in supporting your foot and pedal motion at the toe-spring section to keep the tension down in the plantar, calf, and hamstring muscles. But it will provide enough support that you won’t get a wiggly, inefficient pedaling motion. The outsole is made from a light weight glass fiber reinforced nylon for a durable springiness, but stiffened with a carbon fiber composite plate for optimal power transfer. You don’t want to lose any of your pedaling energy in a squishy sole, but if you are apt to take some long-haul rides, you really won’t want to have hot-spot causing hyper stiff shoes. This Shimano solution provides you with the best of both worlds. And as a shorthand help, Shimano places this shoe as a seven in terms of stiffness, on a scale that peaks at twelve for the stiffest Shimano soles. So you really are hitting that perfect sweet spot.

If, in the past, you have shied away from some of the Shimano shoes because they had a slightly bulky design unpleasing to the eye, you’ll definitely do a double take with these. The elegantly cut, surround upper pattern not only provides the perfect balance between secure hold and malleable comfort, they look super slick, and as a result are ideally aero. It is a “surround” upper wrap design that will prevent your feet from shifting inside, but will not cut off the circulation as you tighten down the ratchet. And the synthetic leather will wear like steel. It is pleasantly minimalistic and avoids the cluttered over-design that is unhappily common on many cycling shoes. The ratchet offers an adaptable closure system that will adjust itself to the various instep heights and shapes that are inevitable for pros and amateurs alike.

The Shimano SH-RP5 Cycling Shoes pairs best, according to Shimano, with their PD-5800 pedal, though the soles do offer a wide degree of cleat adjustability, ensuring you can use these with just about any pedal that works with a three-bolt cleat out there. But since they also have drillings for a two bolt cleat, they are cleverly both SPD and SPD-SL cleat compatible, and are promoted as a perfect option for your spin classes where it’s likely just about everything will hurt but your feet. A pair weighs about 507 grams (size 40) and are available in women’s sizes from 36 all the way up to men’s 50.