Thinking of trying lace up road shoes

[TomP]

I like leather cycling shoes and the look of lace up ones. Are there any recommended brands and how do you hide or cover the laces so they don't come undone and go into the chain rings? Thanks :beer:

[oldguy00]

I like leather cycling shoes and the look of lace up ones. Are there any recommended brands and how do you hide or cover the laces so they don't come undone and go into the chain rings? Thanks :beer:

I think the most popular, and probably the highest quality laceup, is the Giro Empire SLX. Didn't work for me as they were too narrow. But if they fit, really really nice shoes!

[mass_biker]

Love these.

Coming from a history of "alternative" closures (velcro, BOA etc.) I find that the Giro Empire allows me to get it "just right". And with none of the fussy drama I experienced on my BOA closures (although that may have been a bad batch).

As to your question re: laces in the spokes...the Giro Empire has an elasticized lace keeper of sorts that allows you to tuck the excess back along the length of the tongue. Hard to explain, but once you look at it, it makes total sense. I've never had any problems.

One consideration - if you like to tighten your straps heading into a sprint etc., not going to be possible with lace up shoes. The same goes for loosening these up mid-ride without dismounting.

[tbike4]

I tried the Giro Empire shoes with laces only. Not my cup of tea. I do have the Giro Factor Techlace so it has laces and Boa combo.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/giro-factor-techlace-shoe-mens?CMP_ID=PD_GOc014BR&CSPID=0916&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PSBR&k_clickid=_k_Cj0KCQiAn8nuBRCzARIsAJcdIfMLvVed1-GwWIogJNCc-vgkTTVvdQkVmGs6ETbw9N6jk-l5MlngITwaAq-bEALw_wcB_k_&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn8nuBRCzARIsAJcdIfMLvVed1-GwWIogJNCc-vgkTTVvdQkVmGs6ETbw9N6jk-l5MlngITwaAq-bEALw_wcB

This may be akin to a saddle as it is a personal fit item and what may work for some will not for others. Giro shoes fit my feet very well and I like to adjust the fit during a ride and get a little tighter fit. I just stop pedaling for 5 seconds, reach down and turn the Boa.

[eippo1]

I have a pair of the Giro lace ups for mtb and gravel. So darn comfy as they do not bind the top of my foot and work really well for my high arch. There is a lace stow where you just tuck them under. Never had an issue with mtb rides or long distance all-day gravel rides.

[DeBike]

I really like Giro Republic but they are not leather. I double bow tie pretty much all lace up shoes that I have. Never had an issue on the bike. There is a pair of Giro Republic leather shoes, size 44, for sale in Bike Forums C & V forum.

[Veloo]

A number of companies jumped on that bandwagon. You have quite a few choices. Some may be discontinued now so maybe you'll score one on sale.

https://garneau.com/us_en/l-a-84-cycling-shoes-1487244

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-dorica-carbon-road-shoe/

https://www.scott-sports.com/ca/en/product/scott-road-rc-lace-knit-shoe?article=2758846156024

Older article.
https://www.sportive.com/cycling-shoes/518604/all-about-that-lace-7-of-the-best-lace-up-cycling-shoes

[jmoore]

Lake has another option
https://lakecycling.com/products/cx1c?variant=45904633545

[Ralph]

I was so happy to get away from those old lace up bikes riding shoes of the past. Couldn't imagine going back. Never would actually. Of all the closure systems I have used over the past 40 years or so....think BOA's are the best. Can adjust while I ride.

[Hindmost]

...I was so happy to get away from those old lace up bikes riding shoes of the past...

I bought and rode with some of the Giro lace up shoes couple of years ago and really liked the comfort. But during each ride after a couple of miles I would find myself having to get off, sit down, and adjust the laces. When was the last time I had to do that?

It was when I also had toe clips and straps. Toe clips no longer get any respect but at least you could adjust the straps while riding.

[dbnm]

I have both the Giro Empire SLX and the Rapha Classics.

The Raphas have a roomier toe box than the Giros.

I've never had to stop to re-tie my shoes. Ever.

[Veloo]

Dromati.
https://dromarti.com/collections/road-shoes

[MagicHour]

Love my Giro Empires and Republics - the fit and comfort work really well for me, especially the newer knit models. I don't mind boas, just haven't come across the right pair yet that fits as well as these. Once I've broken them in and laces are "bedded in" you kinda know how to do the laces up just right and it's rare that I'll need to adjust any further during a ride.

[cgolvin]

I have a pair of ~3 year old Giro Empires, think I have stopped to tighten the laces once. Very comfortable, laces stow as described above. I'd consider the Rapha ones that @dbnm has but they don't have replaceable heel pieces.

My brother has a pair of Vittoria 1976 (https://www.vittoriacycling.shop/gb/15-1976-series) -- really nice classic look IMO, remind me of my old Detto Pietros. It looks like the current lineup only offer nylon soles, but you might be able to find previous models that are carbon.

[Butch]

I like the laces. I have a pair of the Giro Empire shoe we did with a moots logo while I was there and at the beginning of the summer I got a pair of the Mavic All Road Pro shoes for gravel and mtb. The Mavics have a "autolocker" eyelet that separates the lower laces from the upper so you can adjust the lower and leave it then just tighten the top when you tie the laces. Both shoes have an elastic strap to capture the loops on top of the shoes. For me both are very light and comfortable, but I agree shoes are like saddles find what fits.

[junkfood]

I have some Specialized sub 6 and really like them. They have a little piece on the tongue to tuck the laces into. I personally have no issues with feeling like I need to adjust them mid-ride.

-Jake

[grateful]

These are the bomb

[Hank Scorpio]

I had two pairs of Giro empire SLX. The first pair ripped through at one of the eyelets. Comp Cyclist warrantied them. When I got the new pair I popped brass eyelets in before ever lacing them. Have held up great since but I favor my pair of Bonts over the Giros.

[robertbb]

I tried the Giro Empire shoes with laces only. Not my cup of tea. I do have the Giro Factor Techlace so it has laces and Boa combo.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/giro-factor-techlace-shoe-mens?CMP_ID=PD_GOc014BR&CSPID=0916&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PSBR&k_clickid=_k_Cj0KCQiAn8nuBRCzARIsAJcdIfMLvVed1-GwWIogJNCc-vgkTTVvdQkVmGs6ETbw9N6jk-l5MlngITwaAq-bEALw_wcB_k_&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn8nuBRCzARIsAJcdIfMLvVed1-GwWIogJNCc-vgkTTVvdQkVmGs6ETbw9N6jk-l5MlngITwaAq-bEALw_wcB

This may be akin to a saddle as it is a personal fit item and what may work for some will not for others. Giro shoes fit my feet very well and I like to adjust the fit during a ride and get a little tighter fit. I just stop pedaling for 5 seconds, reach down and turn the Boa.

Endorsed on every level.

[TomP]

Thanks everyone. I just purchased some Lake CX-1 leather. I'll post how they work out.

[RKW]

Thanks everyone. I just purchased some Lake CX-1 leather. I'll post how they work out.

I've had a tab open on my browser for the better part of a week waiting to pull the trigger on those. LMK what you think.

[Hawker]

Sorry but I was chuckling to myself over this retro move a week ago. When I first got into serious cycling, the best shoes you could buy still had wood soles and Velcro had not been invented yet. Laces were a pain in the butt. For the manufacturers today to find a new way to promote cycling shoes with laces....requires a bit of chutzpah and some good marketing. :)

I'm hoping downtube shifters and toe clips with straps aren't next.

[sparky33]

Quoc (https://quoc.cc/)

Their gravel shoe is super comfortable. The lace ends tuck into a loop on the tough. Not ultra stiff, which some like and some don't.
They only make half sizes 42.5, 43.5, etc not 42.0, 43.0,...

[sw3759]

like some of the others the first set of real road cycling shoes I purchased had laces,i guess they all had laces then,probably 1988,Specialized.i was a bit curious when they brought them back cause I was glad when they went to Velcro and buckles or anything that had more upper support and stiffness.laces never had near enough for me.

[Ronsonic]

I've got the Giro Empires and like them.

Didn't see anyone mention this, they have a small elastic loop on the tongue to tuck the loose laces into to prevent catastrophe.

[robertbb]

Giro factor techlace.... the techlace really is excellent and just like laces.

The implementation of Boa up towards the top of the shoe is excellent and allows easy adjustment in-ride.

[TomP]

These are the bomb

https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697988646&stc=1&d=1574106456

I also picked up a pair of these on eBay for cheap. I've just not found a shoe that fits comfortably. I am hoping I can adjust the lace pattern to accommodate my very wide fore foot and narrow mid foot and back. I got the Lake with standard sole for like $95 new from Lake, and the Adidas for $38.00. I'll report on fit and performance once I use them. Thanks all!

[ridethecliche]

Going to bump this thread so as to not start a new one.

I'm going to grab some new shoes and found a good deal on the specialized Sub6. I know my sizing for them, but I'm not totally soled (hehe) on the laces. I'm coming from old school nike poggios which had 3 velcro straps. I always found myself setting them up a bit loose during the warmup and then cinching them down when I *actually* started riding. I feel like my feet expand a bit when riding and it's nice to be able to tighten/loosen things.

At the same time, I went to laces for snowboarding shoes after having all sorts of instep issues on the boa and speedlace variants I tried. Once the shoes broke in, I can basically set them up so I tie them for the walk to the lodge then retie them before riding and I'm good for the day.

I wonder if I could get to that point with lace up shoes. Otherwise... I was thinking of getting a set of shoes with double boas. LBS sells specialized and can get the SWork 7's.

Anyone make the switch recently and love it or hate it? Open ears here

Edit:

I saw this too: https://tempo.sg/2017/09/04/long-term-review-specialized-s-works-sub6-shoes/
-A bit out there, but it would allow for some adjustability on the bike. Could also lock lace into a couple of zones to adjust things.

[smead]

I picked up the Giro Empire SLX from the classifieds here a while back and at first I was after a weight weenie shoe. And while crazy light, I was blown away at how comfortable they are. So much better than my old Sidis.

[dbnm]

Don't do it! Next you'll be buying a bike with rim brakes.

:)

[reuben]

Don't do it! Next you'll be buying a bike with rim brakes.

:)

Oh, the horror!! :eek:

[sparky33]

Tried lace up shoes, they were comfy (see Quoc post a few above), but it turns out that I hate tying shoes. I am thinking of getting Boa closure on ALL of my footwear.

Tying shoes is over rated.