Somewhere in the mists of time, the reason for cycling shoes being colloquially known as ‘disco slippers’ has been lost (or at least we can’t remember what it is, anyway). Today Shimano have launched their latest addition to the genre – the range topping RX910 S-Phyre gravel race shoe. Apart from the fact they look drop-dead gorgeous, why else should you consider adding them to your Christmas list this year? Read on to find out….
For 99% of us, owning a set of these fantastic looking race shoes will probably not make us any more likely to end up on a podium at a world cup gravel race in the near future. In fact the market for Shimano’s new RX910 shoes is probably pretty small, but our suspicion is that the majority of the gravel riders who buy them won’t actually wear them in competition, they will be worn on a Tuesday night ride or a Sunday coffee ride. The fact that the usage case for these shoes is bigger than just racing mean that Shimano’s design team have had to try and make them be all things to all people, so the list of features is pretty impressive.
Shimano say that the new shoes offer “road-level power transfer, off-road capability and all-day comfort”, but trying to make a shoe super-stiff for efficient power transfer and flexible enough to walk in must have caused the design team some headaches. Designed in conjunction with pro gravel racer Pete Stetina, the sole of the RX910 shoes is where the innovation is perhaps most obvious. Traditionally, SPD shoes designed for off-road usage have had a “pocket” surrounding the cleat mount pockets. This pocket provided a small amount of space around all sides of the mounted SPD cleat and created the flat platform which was the contact point between the sole and the pedal body.
With the new RX910s, instead of the cleat pocket being fixed, Shimano have created the ‘pontoon cleat system’ which they describe as “enabling a road-shoe-like pedalling interface while maintaining SPD compatibility and off-road functionality.” The pontoon system comprises “a pair of modular, replaceable TPU contact blocks that dramatically improve the shoe-to-pedal contact point and optimize power transfer.” The pontoon moves vertically or laterally with the cleat which helps provide “consistent support and efficiency, no matter how your cleats are set up.”
Anyone who has previously used Shimano's XC903 shoes in a mountain biking environment (or the R903 shoes on the road) and found the fit to be to your liking, will be pleased to know that the upper of the new RX910 inherits the same fit and feel of the XC903 and the R903. This means there should be no worries about getting the right size or the fit of the RX910 shoes.
As well as the new pontoon cleat system, the new shoes feature a range of updated features:
- Stiff Carbon Sole (Stiffness Rating 12/12): Shimano’s stiffest sole for maximum power transfer
- Seamless Midsole Construction: Reduces stack height and improves foot stability
- Dual Drainage Holes: Drain water for river crossings and rainy-days while providing ventilation on hot rides
- TPU Lugged Outsole: Lightweight lugs shed mud while providing ample traction for off-the-bike technical terrain
- Anti-Twist Stabiliser Heel Cup: Keeps your foot locked in during explosive sprints and long efforts
- Dual BOA® fit system Li2 Dials: Micro-Adjustable fit and secure closure on the fly
- Surround Wrapping Upper: Comfortable, breathable and built for long-haul durability
We’ve scoured Shimano’s feature list and no-where does it say that their new shoes will give the owner the fitness, skills, tactical capabilities or immense speed of a top-level gravel racer, but we’re sure that’s just an oversight from the marketing team.
The RX910 disco slippers are available in Deep Sea, Blue, White and Black from Shimano stockists and cost US$480.00, €419.95 EUR or £369.99. You can find more details here.
New CL-MT001 SPD cleat launched too!
Unlike pretty much everything else in the bike world, Shimano’s iconic two bolt SPD cleat has remained unchanged since its launch 30 years ago, but this is set to change with the launch of an updated version.
The snappily named CL-MT001 SPD cleat differs from the OG (SH51) version in that rather than requiring a toe-first technique to click in to the pedal, the MT001 cleat allows the rider to engage in multiple ways – toe first, heal first or just stomp down – the new cleat should be able to cope with all of them.
While a new cleat might not be seen as world changing, launching an updated version of a product after 30 years of constant use is a bold move. The new cleat will allow both experienced gravel/CX riders to speedily clip-in in a situation where they have to dismount/remount their bike and will also appeal to novice riders trying to get to grips with clipless pedals for the first time. The new cleat is backwards compatible with existing SPD pedals and shoes which Shimano says “allows riders to experience improved performance and versatility without replacing their current setup” (although we think the new cleats would look great mounted on the bottom of a pair of the RX910 shoes of course…..)
The CL-MT001 SPD cleats are available now from Shimano stockists. You can find more details here.