Did RAPHA just reinvent the cycling shoe?

SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2gMWc1t
NEW CYCLING SHOES | Rapha Pro Team Lace Up Shoes 2023
Rapha have released their 2023 Rapha Pro Team Lace up shoes, in update to their very successful Boa shoes.
today we do a full review of the new cycling shoes and ask the question do the speed laces solve the issues around laced cycling shoes.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:27 Design Concept
01:00 Features & Weight
01:24 Size Comparison
01:45 Looks
02:22 Cleaning
02:50 Laces Issues Solved?
03:50 Replaceable?
04:41 Why No Pro Riders?
05:00 Conclusion: Should You Buy Them?
The Nero Show is available on your favourite Podcast platform
Spotify:
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Amazon:
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Apple Podcasts:
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INSTAGRAM: @chrismiller27 @nerocontinental
TWITTER: @chrismiller @nerocontinental
STRAVA: / strava
SERVICE & SUPPORT: Cycling Projects Racing

[@M62auto]

New tech 😅, my $20 Amazon water shoes have the same "speed lace" system. I can guarantee this change saved rapha tons of money over a boa system and so they can take those doctors and dentist for even more of their money

[@YtseHWSW]

try to do 1400W sprints in your water shoes and see if they remain on your feet

[@M62auto]

@@YtseHWSW you must of missed my point, I'm saying that a ratcheting boa is superior to what is basically a rebranded tie-less bungee system and that I'm sure this is just helping the bottom line of Rapha and inferior to their out going model

[@channul4887]

@@YtseHWSW you don't need 500usd shoes to do 1400W sprints.

[@discbrakefan]

Rapha are offering both the speed laces and the Boa as options so you don’t really seem to have a point at all.

[@lisashiela9137]

Straight to the point@!

[@DS-pe7eg]

The same groundbreaking technology as in Decathlon's Rockrider ST500 MTB shoes, literally gamechanger.

[@p504504]

Did DECATHLONjust reinvent CYCLING??? 😂😂

[@channul4887]

BUT IT'S NOT PHAPHA

[@cx123456]

@@p504504 hard to say, but this clown is certainly reinventing click baiting x)

[@jbkltc4469]

no in-ride adjustability is a showstopper for me - i often experience a small amount of give in the upper after a few minutes (maybe materials gets softer when up to bodytemperature). i like my shoes pretty tight, especially for sprints. So what works best for me is the Vaypor S or Shimano shoes with a strap for the Boa instead of just cables alone.

[@ruiloureiro3167]

Exactly!

[@roveism]

massive step backwards

[@CycoWarriorx]

Nike has used this same “speed” lace mechanism more than a dozen years ago… most recently with their ACG boots… I always found the tension in those lacking in comparison to traditional laces or BOA… what I do like is Rapha incorporating a way to tuck that lace out of the way… still a beautiful shoe, but not enough for me to ditch my BOA’s…

[@krbndlls]

Hey Chris! Regular lace shoe does not come loose with the proper knots and lacing.

[@danielburrough9691]

Great review!! Thanks Chris!

[@RobBobPenny]

Great content as ever & nice GS GMT too. 😉👏🏼✌🏼

[@BenjiNaesenTV]

Great review.

[@Baggellyh]

great review! straight to the point and informative. will these be released in black?

[@malthesn]

I have them in black so yeah

[@cyclebicycle]

Thank you for the review. How do you think the lace eyelets will hold up? Any likelihood of the laces wearing through them with use?

[@modemarcoj8026]

Those shoes legit look like they cost 6$ to manufacture. I will continue to enjoy the carbon wire 2 as they are in my opinion the best shoes out there across the board where it counts . Build quality,design details , high end premium materials,comfort, secure fit, durable and supreme protection in event of crash . Just got some Dmt SH1 for the hot days and they are just not comfortable and need to be modified with gel heel pads and ankle pads as well as custom inserts as the carbon arches dig into the foot majorly and I have a high arch . Nice aesthetic shoe but very uncomfortable.

[@sdbowen18]

Congratulations on passing 40K subs man

[@out_spocken]

I don't get these at all. They loosen up. Can't adjust while riding. Have overhang you have to 'tuck in'. Have to get them changed by rapha too. Like..how is this progress?

[@discbrakefan]

It’s not a replacement for the Boa, just another option

[@out_spocken]

@@discbrakefan I just don't see how it offers almost anything of value other than saving people from having to do a reg shoe lace up, with the added benefit of being out of action while they get fixed because you can't fix them yourself. I'd imagine issues with boa are more a fitting issue than an issue with the system. Different shoe same system might solve the prob. But I've no experience with that so grain of salt here.

[@82vitt]

@@out_spocken Lol, I don't think their marketing consultants ride road bikes at all. This Salomon-like system is possibly the worst they could adopt on their shoes. With just a regular lace ups, you tighten each row of laces, bottom to top, separately. That's the whole point as it allows to adjust the pressure differently at 6/8/10 whatever different places, but with this "single pull" system, you always get lots of pressure at the top, but the bottom stays undertightened. Which is why most shoes with BOA dials use 2 no. dials. The ones with a single BOA dial suffer that issue too. Anybody who has owned Salomon running shoes knows this issue.

[@mallorcacyclingnetwork]

Awesome, thanks for this shoe as a contender for another option :)

[@jasonng8143]

Looking forward to receiving them! ;D

[@neilmckenna236]

Absolutely LOVE the time departure schedule 😅 im exactly the same!! Thise shoes ... too slow for me. You need to try Lake shoes 👌

[@HolmsOnBikes]

I hate brands that don't put a slotted bolt system on the bottom of the shoe.

[@Chimy1423]

The fact that an item has a higher price does not always mean that it will be of higher quality. Don't get me wrong, there is a specialized segment of the market for this particular type of expensive product. I think those cycling shoes are a great example. No matter how much you may disagree, they will have fans and followers who will immediately run to buy your product. Only remember...designed in London and made in China. 😳

[@MrSkaffen]

Classic love the catch phrase mate 😂

[@celestialemissary4934]

Lol that berm peak intro

[@Omnis2]

What's the point of a lace system if you're running skinny laces? If BOA came out with a ribbon instead of a wire, there would be truly no reason to ever consider laces.

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

That won't work. Running the wire through a padded tongue.

[@comeridewithmeAE]

Boa has a really nice light weight lace version instead of a wire. It's used on the pearl Izumi pro road shoes and the pearl Izumi expedition shoes. Really light and conforms to your foot better

[@stewartmarler1416]

I quite like the Grio Prolight Techlace system for the best of lace comfort and velcro speed. Unfortunately, there's a bunch of other issue with those shoes, and they've been discontinued, but I'd like to see them persist with that closure system.

[@geckoyap]

You should try Suplest.. they come with OEM Solestar insoles. Possibly the best insole for cycling IMO. Oh.. and they put carbon over the foot to spread out the pressure from the BOA wires.

[@moserroman2083]

hey @chrismillercycling . do you find these to have the same sliding towards the outside tongue issue as the boa version ? thanks

[@logojones96]

Yup first thing I thought of was all my Salomons lol love the idea. Great happy medium between laces and boa in theory anyways

[@livingwithfshd]

What insole do you use?

[@lisashiela9137]

I have bad thoughts of longevity in my head but the style looks cool, I'd love to see a 90 day update before I spout off though@!

[@topher.m]

Nice GS Christopher 👌🏼

[@philipk4475]

If you need wide shoes then your best bet is Lake. Seems making wider models is just a bit too much hassle for every other brand out there. Yes I've tried Bont and their wide models and they just aren't up to snuff - their lasts have a super awkward and anti-anatomic shape.

[@DaveCM]

I was sucked in and tried Bont because so many reviewers raved about them. They made them seem like the greatest shoes ever made.

[@TheCyclingCardio]

Once you go lake, you’ll never go back

[@Adanteh]

I have a pair of Bont (basic model, which is quite wide by default) and Lake (CX403 in Wide). The bont actually fit me almost as well as the lake. They're really not bad shoes at all, but they don't work for everyone. I also like how stiff the lower end Bont models are, where the lower end lake models are quite floppy (And the higher end are very very pricey).

[@mikey.1205]

Bont are good for wide feet. Pricey as hell though

[@discbrakefan]

@@DaveCM Bont are excellent shoes, but like every shoe brand they don’t suit everyone.

[@georgiosgeorgotas773]

What do you use to clean them ?

[@gethinap]

The Shimano MW5 also have a speed lace system although it's a completely different type of shoe.

[@TheWoogeroo]

More cycling brands need to make bigger sizes, In limited to Shimano & Lake pretty much for serious road shoes.

[@alanschlug5418]

I wear a 49 and find SiDis regularly-- and on sale very often. I even have a pair of 50's for winter for thicker socks, 399 USD for 99 USD on close out.

[@MoreBoingPlox]

What bike you riding at the start?

[@umutaymakoglu4418]

If you cannot tighten or loosen during a ride with one hand, it might be a problem. What happens if the strap gets loose and gets stuck in the chain ring?

[@charlesmansplaining]

I am stuck on laces and always will be. I have Rapha laced and GIRO laced shoes and love them. And you can buy the speed lace kit online, I have them on all of my shoes not just cycling shoes.

[@brucefishing]

I love my white Rapha shoes, but can’t keep them clean. I’ll try the nappy scan on them.

[@minchia04]

I have been using the Sworks Sub 6 shoes for some time now. Just bought myself a pair of these in white. I also bought a pair of normal laces to replace these speed laces. Was there a reason Rapha didn't go with conventional laces? Not sure what benefit you really get from speed laces.

[@ff2e]

I have this same system in my fizik artica x5s

[@discreetknight]

Built in house? !? All burton snowboard liners have had that lace up stem for over a decade?

[@cosmonott1]

Great review! 5:23 oh no, your socks didn't line up.

[@andreassakkas7234]

So what insoles do you use?

[@durianriders]

no way can get better than dials or straps/rachets. Laces can't give enough grip. You will perform in SPITE of the laces.

[@dominicbritt]

Ballet slippers Chris!! 😁

[@ruiloureiro3167]

What about adjustability mid-ride? That’s a deal breaker for me.

[@gavinmksmith]

Forget about the shoes what is that titanium frame called

[@CFCMahomet]

Ever since the Chloe Dygert fiasco with Rapha I just can’t with them. Rapha charging top dollar for a $10 triathlon running shoe hack is consistent with their business model.

[@discbrakefan]

Well they are $40 cheaper than the Boa model

[@alainpfammatter8224]

these shoes look amazing

[@Chungleas]

Shimano have been using 'speed laces' on their MTB shoes for a while. Their solution to a trailing end is a big old flap secured by velcro which also helps keep mud/water out and could be seen as a bit aero... I like speed laces but I think I prefer a boa or plain old velcro straps on a road or gravel shoe TBH

[@LexD-89]

We need a #fashionfriday segment/videos again ! 🎉🎉🎉

[@kazuyamishima519]

Do these fit true to size? The rapha website says to 1/2 size up…

[@TenSapphires]

I changed laces two months ago on my Fizik Terra shoes with Salomon speed lace. I works, looks nicer.

[@annukun7318]

how do you tighten these real tight the boas i can adjust the boas

[@domenicoitalico115]

One handed corrections during a race are not so simple!!!😂😂😂

[@jonathanwilson8278]

"Timed--departure--metrics!" 😂😂😂

[@RobertDownedU_Jr]

They wont stay white for long. The white mesh is almost impossible to maintain clean. One wet ride and its over. Maybe its different on the new ones

[@werb24]

What watch are you wearing Chris?

[@eto2352]

looks like Grand Seiko heritage ?

[@laurenz323]

There is nothing better than lock the boa system a bit more before sprinting

[@p504504]

1:40 is that a Grand Seiko? 🥰🥰

[@TurneyUK]

I bought a pair of Salomon Speedcross trail shoes, tried them on, took them off, put them back in the box and sent them back. Absolutely hated the ‘speed laces’ or whatever they are called. Just couldn’t get on with them. Too alien for my liking. Just felt wrong.

[@olekmehera7256]

Proprietary laces, we have reached new heights in over engineering solutions to problems that never existed 😂😂😂 whats wrong with boa dials exactly??

[@Pablo_Coach]

Pressure point and aero drag

[@SLOWVERT]

Is that a Mosaic????? Whoaaa Chris rides metal bikes 😮😮😮😮

[@ChrisMillerCycling]

Which Bike Does Better on Real World Climbs? FACTOR Ostro Vam vs TITANIUM Bike Test Results kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGXGhWl9aqaNaZo

[@zombie93]

All the cycling shoe brands are still failing in one area. NONE of them have a lacing system that locks the heel cup to the heel. Runners figured out a long time ago that locking the heel cup to heel relieves pressure on the top of the foot and allows for even more efficient power output. $500 for that shoe? What a joke. Rapha has lost their minds.

[@florianbusch3082]

So…they don't hold your feet in place when sprinting, you can't tighten them while riding, the laces may interfere with your drivetrain, the material is a dirt magnet and they're only sold in white. One should by it because it says "Rapha" on it? What the hell is this product lmao

[@channul4887]

It's a PHAPHA product.

[@shawnsmith7009]

Enter the elastic lace system 😮

[@acanfield87]

Great review but a questionable product update. Maybe Rapha will go with a zipper on the next iteration. 😂

[@jamesmoros1274]

Shoes are so personal I tried so many and can only wear Fizik as for the speed lace systems.. it’s not for me.

[@1121sonnyblue]

While Salomon is moving to BOA.

[@DanTuber]

So they're laces for people who cant tie knots. 😂

[@ZachGrabill]

I really, really, truly hope this isn't mean to replace the BOA. I've been trying to buy a pair of the white BOAs for about 4 months and they've been out of stock on the US site except for a couple of random sizes.

[@TheGroupRide]

I may be in the minority but I don't want premium insoles in my premium shoes. If you're buying high end shoes, and are looking for elite performance, then you should be going at least somewhat custom for insoles. I don't want the extra cost of a premium insole that might not work.

[@82vitt]

Here, you get the extra cost of a premium insole without the premium insole 😂

[@thisgustin]

Is it really as locked down compared to the Boa?

[@82vitt]

Just try any pair of Salomon running shoes and see for yourself how locked (NOT) it really is, which in the case of running shoes I didn't find to be a problem. Here they have supposedly redesigned the retention system to stay equally tight, but I am sceptical.

[@liam_c27]

TDM™️ (Timed Departure Metric) is a trademark of Chris Miller Inc. ⚠️

[@euniceling5213]

These shoes work with the Peloton bike+ (April 2022), kzbin.infoUgkxGPkov2mNjgZfG33r6Bwvies8jKE4AKZB and are of good enough quality. I have completed 10 rides so far and there are no issues. The first time trying to fit them on the Peloton bike took 10 minutes (even with the help of an experienced cyclist friend who wears the same type of cleats). It took a couple of rides to break in. After the first two rides there were no issues at all.

[@trajtemberg]

They cost 68 usd to produce before packaging, marketing, sales, shipping and taxes (plus import duties, local retail markup, and returns). So that's a solid 400 usd profit, and Rapha manages to make people pay it happily... that's nothing short of genius.

[@discbrakefan]

Where’d you get that number from?

[@trajtemberg]

@@discbrakefan From my job. I work for a brazilian/chinese oem supplier for adidas, rapha, asolo and a myriad of smaller brands.

[@litespeed65]

The cheapest looking footwear I’ve ever seen.

[@xxiipp]

Grand Seiko?

[@Jarek.]

3:58 - I share your (and all of us) frustrations! Standard insoles are useless across all cycling shoes brands 😐

[@hatsofftojj]

I was just sifting through the comments looking for insole recommendations. What are people using in cycling shoes?

[@jakesiney]

Those cleat have seen better days!

[@buffdraven8824]

Hear me out: Boa with elastic laces

[@benharcourt3844]

5.25 No Chris, the socks!!!!!

[@gweedsUK]

So to answer the question you posed in the lede. No. No they haven’t.

[@Carftymk]

if you've ever had salomons you know... the shoes suck but the lacing is awesome

[@shannonparker7404]

SO white. I'm such a grub. I'd have these looking grey and grubby before the garage door finished closing... 🙂

[@Crampion]

Suplest for quality inner soles straight out of the box.

[@Pablo_Coach]

Suplest are very heavy

[@borasumer]

I play with my boas on the ride a lot, with this system it is not possible, it is a no no for me for this alone. It looks very nice though, not gonna lie.

[@zeuszuki6698]

The burning question is though - how much time will they save you around Centennial Park? 😂

[@JonReid]

I might buck the trend here, but I like cycling shoes to look like cycling shoes. I’m not a fan of some recent attempts by brands like adidas to make cycling shoes look like trainers. The boa system looks like a cycling shoe. Laces look like a trainer.

[@elee3273]

My 2017 shimano ME7 MTB shoe has the same speed lace. Dont believe rapha reinvented laces and its not something new.

[@kevstephen9393]

Bet they look good on others, Chris 😉

[@gweflj]

S-Phyre all day.

[@zachs6191]

👋

[@jmahp1]

Insoles are in the most sports not good. The same is in snowboarding- premium boot but also crap insoles

[@alanschlug5418]

First: is any of this sponsored content? Were the shoes free or discounted? More importantly, I have a pair of 3 year old Adidas Terrex shoes with that same toggle and place to tuck the laces near the bottom of the tongue. Nothing new here. I would NOT like that system on my cycling shoes, though. There is always more tension at the top of the shoe than the bottom unless I spend extra attention and pull the bottom laces tight and work my way to the top and *then* pull the toggle tight. TLDR: meh. Edit: I am nowhere NEAR pro enough to pull of white shoes.

[@ChrisMillerCycling]

It’s not sponsored. Rapha was the apparel partner of the team I ran for 7 years, so I am friendly with some people working there, who helped me with the information (design process stuff).

[@alanschlug5418]

@@ChrisMillerCycling Understood. Hopefully you understand the honest nature of my inquiry. So many 'ex' riders/racers become brand ambassadors that their opinions become suspect and often spurious. I don't think any of us mind if a manufacturer heaps loads of goods on you-- as long as you disclose that fact early in the endorsement. Much like the way GCN has become long form adverts for various brands. Been a long time fan of the channel MOSTLY because you were out there turning pedals and had insight the rest of us didn't weren't likely to have and you could relay those experiences with intelligent and humourous commentary. It's when content creators start with the 'let's go tour the factory' and then 'let's check out the place in Girona they bought for me-- but my reviews are honest, really!' that many of us check out.

[@hagakuru]

Dead in the water - no way that you can adjust that with one hand on the bike. The beauty of the BOA is that you could just lean over and click-up or click-down. Why is this necessary? Because as your feet heat up they expand and vice-versa in the cold so you need adjustments on the fly. Doubt you will find these outside of strictly pro riders.

[@RB-xv4si]

Any shoe with the basic carbon plate outsole is junk. Don’t care how fancy the upper is. I’ve done Bonts and Lake shoes with their carbon tub outsoles that 3 dimensionally contour to your feet and will never go back.

[@jeffs5519]

$400? For that low tech lace? One tightness throughout, no thanks.

[@ianstephenson650]

Am I smelling BS? BOUGHT!

[@terrycorkum]

400 dollars? Not a gd chance.

[@HarryTzianakisTheGodOfSpeed]

Shoes look ok. The heel looks too plain. Once that gets dirty it's going to look disgusting. I would rather get Bontrager.

[@dimasmateos4127]

“Time departure metrics” nice 🫡

[@ChrisMillerCycling]

™️😂

[@roveism]

A step backwards while charging ridiculous money

[@franspigel9281]

This video sounds like an ad :) complete with a clickbait title