My boyfriend is a bike messenger; I’m an indoor spinner. But we both agree that one brand of cycling shoes is the best: Giro.
Not long after I met him (and asked a million questions about his job), I shrieked when I spotted a pair of Giros next to the bike in his room. A professional cyclist has the same shoes as me, merely a recreational, if enthusiastic, spinner?
This guy bikes in his Giros around the entire city, sometimes 60 miles in an eight-hour shift, and he says his Code Techlaces are the sturdiest and most long-lasting shoe he’s ever tried. (He’s a nerd about cycling gear and has ripped through waterproof pants and worn out countless pairs of gloves, so he knows when clothing is durable or, in the case of the waterproof pants, not.) He says the Vibram rubber sole is strong without being heavy, and the triple closures (a Boa dial and two Velcro straps) keep his feet from sliding. Most impressively, he’s been wearing his current pair for more than a year, and they’re still in great condition.
My Giros have been similarly reliable, even though I’m just wearing them indoors. I’ve had the Treble II for four years, and while mine are now discontinued, the Techne is a dead ringer. They’re snug without being suffocating, soft around the achilles and ankles, and light enough for me to toss in a tote with my laptop and water bottle. But my favorite part is the sole, which is sturdy in a way that rental shoes just aren’t (especially when you consider that rentals are being worn multiple times a day by multiple people). I’ve had other brands’ soles crack on me, but these are so powerful I feel as though my legs could light the New York City power grid from all the energy I produce during class. They even improved my performance at Swerve Fitness, an indoor cycling studio where points are measured by your speed and strength. The numbers don’t lie.
At first I thought that $100 seemed steep for a product that I’d only use a couple of times a week (my boyfriend’s are even more of an investment, costing three times as much). But renting SoulCycle shoes at $3 a pop really adds up, so I’m actually saving myself cash in the long run.
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