Cycling shoes reviewed by Mark Smith our resident Masseur

Let your toes twinkle this spring with a new pair of pedal-dancing shoes.

£130+

Specialized S-Works Road Shoes £199.99

Specialized’s latest Body Geometry S-Works road shoes are far and away their finest yet – a feathery 470g package (per pair, size 43.5) that includes all of the company’s fancy ergonomic trickery. Ample airflow is provided by open mesh inserts over the toes and along both sides of the foot, the fully ventilated – and well-padded – tongue, and a functional sole vent just ahead of the cleat. The carbon sole plate has been updated, too, with a stiffer flex pattern and lighter weight thanks to a hollow foam core construction and two longitudinal ribs running just under the arch.

Specialized’s new BG S-Works kicks have proven to be a fantastically light, supportive and efficient pair of shoes that are just as comfortable at hour five as they are at hour zero. They’ve held up well, and they even look good while doing it. Total win.

“Supportive and comfortable fit, wonderfully rigid revised full-carbon sole, trick closure system and ample ventilation”

Mavic Pro Road Shoes £200

Mavic’s designers must have been dreaming of Alpe d’Huez when they designed these shoes, light on the scales but equipped with a wonderfully stiff sole.

Low weight comes at the expense of a flyweight upper, and despite the ratcheting top strap clamping firmly and distributing pressure well, it’s obvious where weight has been saved when heaving on the pedals as the gradient kicks.

Fast-spinning climbers will love the ultra low-profile sole as the 7mm thickness seems almost imperceptible. It’s a fast feeling shoe, but probably only for high cadence or high mountains.

“Lightweight shoes for the mountains, like bucket seats for your feet”

Sidi Ergo 2 Carbon  £225

Sidi’s Ergo 2s are the company’s top end race shoe and while they’re far from cheap, they command a price that a lot of people will pay for their quality and durability. They have an air of quality that no other shoe has and you certainly get the sense you’re slipping into something special. In a nutshell, they make you feel faster. Sidis have a reputation of being made to last and always make a sound investment – you only have to look around to see how many roadies are still wearing Sidi’s from ten years back.

The new adjustable Heel Security System prevents power robbing heel lift. The superb ratchet, Techno II dial and high-security Velcro strap allow you to clamp the Ergo’s down like nothing else and still be comfortable. Also in a nod to comfort, the full carbon sole is designed with a bit of flex in the arch and toe for a bit of long distance forgiveness. Full assortments of spares are also available. One minor point is that sizes tend to be on the narrow side and you may need to size up.

“A shoe that others aspire to beat. Expensive but worth it.”

Nike Cycling Poggio 4UL Shoes £129.99

Originally developed for Lance Armstrong’s demolition of all opposition in the Tour de France’s Alpe d’Huez time trial in 2004, the Poggio shoe has been revamped for 2007 and comes back lighter and more potent than ever.

Claimed as the lightest shoe on the market, the V-spine full-length carbon fibre outsole has been remodeled to improve power transfer and greater comfort through the introduction of a new venting system. The patent black leather upper would certainly look good on the dancefloor, and is guaranteed to turn heads on the bike. The Poggio is three-hole cleat compatible and comes in chrome, black and blue sapphire colour options.

“Claimed as the lightest shoe on the market, now remodelled to improve power transfer and comfort “

Sub £130

DHB R1 Road Shoe  £44.99

When we last tested the R1, the shoe scored very highly for its ‘excellent value for money and performance’. The only thing that has changed for 2009 is that the plastic toe cap has gone, replaced by a better looking leather one.

There’s good meshed venting panels in the synthetic ‘leather’ and Cordura uppers, and also in the fairly stiff ‘I-beam’ profiled nylon sole. The high-profiled heel and toe bumpers will save any cafe stop embarrassment too. The double tongue is a nice feature – one outside the shoe to keep the weather out and spread the force of the three Velcro straps across the top of your foot, and an elasticated one inside with a loop attached to the base for making the shoe very easy to pull on.

The vented resin sole will accept a three-bolt cleat (like Look, Shimano and Time) but also a two-bolt pattern for Shimano SPD and SPD-R cleats. There’s a good degree of stiffness to the sole which is married to a hard-wearing upper. Considering the price, the R1 road shoes have a surprising feel of quality to them and a performance to match. They also come in black and silver – which we’d prefer to the slightly pallid red here.

“Comfort and performance combined at an excellent price”

Mavic Avenir Road Shoes £90

Darth Vader has another choice of shoe for his racing team’s Storm trooper domestiques other than the Shimano R086.Though we have to say, the yellow Mavic tags and logos are a nice touch.

Combining stiff soles with super-soft synthetic uppers reinforced in all the right places, this is a lovely shoe. You’ll be gutted when they get their first scuff – but they are also available in a more dirt-friendly graphite if you can’t bear the constant wiping these need. The fit is comfy and slipper-like, with a high back and tight heel-cup, and the broad top strap is a triumph in distributing forces across the top of your foot no matter how tight you ratchet it. The two-lever buckle is a tidy design and easy to use with just finger and thumb. The vented, glass fibre-reinforced nylon sole also has bolts for all the common cleat systems.

“Wonderfully comfortable and stiff enough to race. Great value too”

Shimano R076 SPD SL Shoes £69.99

For £20 less than its Shimano sibling the R086, the R076 gives you the same stiff fibreglass-reinforced and vented sole, the same foot-hugging cut and exactly the same uppers.

You don’t get such a well-padded tongue and there is no ratcheting lever with quick release on the top strap. In practice though, this means you get an excellent performing, comfortable shoe at a great price and an even lighter weight.

Three Velcro straps might look low rent, but really how much better is a ratchet buckle than a strap if the shoe is a good fit for you anyway? And just think of the whole 48g that you’re saving over the R086.

“Simple, light, fast and comfortable, and brilliant value too “

Gaerne G.Nova Shoes £99.99

The G.Nova’s looks divided opinion – some thought it looked like a football boot, others that it was handsomely understated. Either way, the performance is hard to fault.

Fit is excellent, with good support around the mid-foot and heel, and the nylon sole is stiff, without compromising comfort.

There’s a decent rubber blob on the heel to make sure you can walk on it too, and they’ve had the good sense to not bother with a toe bumper, as any walking grip from the front of the shoe – or lack of it – is going to be decided by the cleat you fit.

The closure system is simple but effective – underneath each Velcro strap is a toothed strip which provides secure, but quick and easy to use, fastening.

“Great fit, stiff and comfy with a simple and clever closure system”