fizik shoes Italian brand Fizik (of saddle and bar-tape fame) introduce a tight line of two high-end road shoes: the R1 and the R3. They’re all made in Italy, and share the same carbon outsole, sailcloth straps, adjustable-length upper strap. Perhaps the most stylish road shoes we have come across, whilst still providing the best in performance terms and the added benefit of moldable insoles with the R1. The outsoles are made of carbon for stiffness and low weight using Toray’s T700 carbon, often found in bicycle frames. In the heel cup, a more forgiving composite, from Tepex, is used to provide support but reduce the chance for hot spots. Wrapping the outside edge of the outsole is a “Mobious Rail,” to help wrap the shoe around the heel and foot for a more complete fit. Upper straps on both are secured by a mechanical buckle the R1’s being molded and machined carbon, with an aluminum release and stainless base whilst the R3’s lever is aluminium with a plastic release and stainless base. Sailcloth is used for the straps because it is light, weather resistant, does not stretch but is supple enough to conform to the foot. The two lower straps have zinc end-tabs. |
