Despite its relatively little-known status in cycling these days, Adidas has a rich history in the sport that reaches all the way back to 1956. The brand donned the feet of legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx through much of his career and was a mainstay for many years in professional cycling. In 2005, the brand released the Adistar Road SL shoes, but then went quiet until 2020.
Tech Specs: Adidas The Road Cycling Shoe
Price: $180 / €150
Sizes: UK2 to UK14 / EU35 to EU50
Weight: 294g per side, Size 44 ⅔
Colours: US – Core Black / Cloud White / Lucid Lemon, UK – Core Black / Cloud White
After 15-years Adidas released a shoe called The Road Cycling Shoe and buyers went crazy for it. The shoe looked a lot like the 1978 Eddy Merckx Competition, but with a focus on a new kind of buyer. Instead of shooting for the high-end, Adidas was trading on nostalgia and looking to capture fitness riders who valued style and cared about sustainability.
Now in 2023, it’s time for a second act. There’s a new version of The Road Cycling Shoe that keeps much of what riders liked in the first version, but also updates a few things. Sometimes you’ll find this version referred to as the Adidas The Road Cycling Shoe 2.0, but it’s also known by the same name as the first generation. Either way, I’ve spent plenty of time with a pair of the new version, and already added them to the list of the best cycling shoes. If you’re looking for more details, keep reading to see if it’s worth riding in the iconic three-stripe design.
Design and aesthetics
Using the same name for an updated model always makes research difficult for buyers. The easiest way to check what version of the Adidas The Road Cycling Shoe you are looking at is to check the laces. The second generation routes the laces directly through the fabric upper with five round holes on either side of the tongue. In contrast, the earlier shoe used loops of fabric underneath, with just one round hole on either side near the top.
Although it would seem that the new design helps grab more of the upper for a better fit, it also changes the look of the shoe. In the US you can choose between a white, black, or greenish colourway for the shoe but particularly in black, the resemblance to the 1978 Adidas cycling shoe is striking. The stripes have changed over the years but the shape and even…
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