Photography by CyclingTips

The New Rapha Grand Tour Shoes Competition

As you may have seen already Rapha has released their much anticipated Grand Tour Shoe. Footwear is highly dependant on individual preference and fit, but it's hard to argue with the sheer elegance and workmanship of Rapha's new shoe.

What Rapha Says

“

Rapha’s Grand Tour Shoes are the first to use Yak leather, a soft but highly durable upper specifically developed by specialist ecco®. Due to the Yak’s ability to survive in severe conditions, Yak leather delivers unique benefits including lightness, water resistance, breathability and superb tensile strength. It is as soft and supple as kangaroo leather but far more robust. In addition to its natural properties, ecco® have developed the leather to further improve its weatherproof qualities.The nature of the uppers mean they will wear in beautifully to become even more comfortable over time. The upper also has a water and stain repellency treatment and is perforated for added moisture movement and texture.

The upper is paired with a special edition Easton® EC90 carbon sole. At only 6.5mm thick, the EC90 has been proven over many thousands of miles on the Giro ProLight SLX and Factor models. It offers supreme stiffness and an excellent connection to the pedal.

Other details include a machined aluminium buckle (with laser-etched Rapha logo) with padded leather straps and titanium D rings. The shoes are available in white or black with a contrast lower strap, echoing the toe straps of cycling’s golden era. There is also a reflective Rapha logo on the heel.

Rapha’s Grand Tour Shoes website

: The packaging is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a cycling product before.

: Compatible with most 3-bolt cleat systems including Look, Shimano, Time and Speedplay.

: As with every product Rapha makes, you’ll find a hidden story on the insoles. I won’t spoil the surprise and tell you what it is.

: Made from Yak leather. To preempt anyone’s complaints - no, these aren’t pillaged from the endangered wild Yak species from Tibet.

: The ratchet buckle is made from precision-machined, anodized aluminium and titanium.

CT’s Take

“

I’ve been waiting months to tell everybody about these shoes. When DHL came knocking on my door with a rather large package I rushed to open it. I see a lot of Rapha product come through my door and usually know what to expect when I open the box, but this was something else. The packaging, the presentation, the smell of new leather; I’ve never owned something where I can genuinely say it was an “experience” to open the box and see what’s inside. For the first time ever with this kind of thing, I was blown away.

The Fit

Everyone’s foot is unique and different shoes have their own style of fit. If I were to characterise these I’d say they are a relatively generous fit when compared to other shoes I’ve tried. I’m a size 44 in Shimano, Bont, and SIDI and the Grand Tour shoes fit similarly, but slightly more volume.

I’m obviously not a footwear expert, but one thing I’ve picked up after speaking with Rapha’s product designers is that Giro makes a very impressive shoe. From what I understand they construct each shoe last from scratch instead of making one last and approximating all the other sizes based on increments. Apparently the result is a precision fitting shoe across all sizes.

Comfort and Performance

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that having a good shoe is one of the most important pieces of cycling equipment you can own. More than anything it needs to fit well and be comfortable. That will keep you riding longer. If you don’t notice it, it’s a good thing. I’m happy to say that the Grand Tour shoes are unnoticeable when riding.

Proper cleat adjustment and a comfortable and supportive footbed is a large part of the equation. A small distance between the footbed and the pedal is also important (called “stack height”). The Easton EC90 (100% Unidirectional Carbon) carbon sole is 6.5mm thick and feels very stiff. SIDI has a stack height of 6.7mm on many of their models, and Bont has a very thin 3.6 mm. Will 3mm, 6mm or 10mm make me win Milan San Remo? Definitely not, but people love to obsess over this stuff.

The Price

$450 RRP. Who would pay this for a set of shoes? If you’re asking this, I probably can’t convince you anyway. But there’s another way. Read on…

The Competition

Do you want to win a set of the new Rapha Grand Tour Shoes? All you have to do to enter is:

- Take a photo of your old shoes and post the picture in the comments section (look for “+ image” button at the bottom left of the comment box when you begin writing your comment)

and/or

- Simply leave a comment telling me about the most extraordinary place your old shoes have pedalled you to.

Please leave your email address in the comment login (not in your comment itself) so I can contact you if you win. I’ll announce the winner on April 10th - the day the shoes are released (I will draw randomly from all the entrants).

Australia and New Zealand residence are eligible. Please see terms and conditions here.

Full Disclosure: In my day job I am employed by Rapha and will admit to any bias you may interpret. Shimano is also advertising a new custom fit shoe/pedal promotion which I encourage you to take a look at.

Tags: Grand Tour Shoes, rapha, shoes

Anonymous

These Sidi’s are now two years old and looking extremely haggard!
Anonymous

My old Shimano shoes have taken me up some very famous climbs in Australia and overseas over the years. My fondest epic was from Merimbula to Charlottes Pass , approx 230kms with 4500m of climbing in one day, raising money for the Redkite foundation last Nov. At the end , in the bathroom, I vomited all over myself and my shoes, the smell has never left them !!
Justin

Ok back to the shoe design. The contrasting black strap is naff. It looks like the toe strap that trackies use. The perforations imo should have stopped at the buckle so that only 2/3 of the shoes has them. In design the mantra is always less is more. Using Yak leather is just a marketing ploy and a little offensive to me. Another example of OTP western consumerism. But there’ll be a market for this stuff as it’s no longer recreation or a sport but a “look at me” pastime.
Grahame_decarvalho

These shoes made it up the Tourmalet. I had only been cycling for a week, and it was my first ride over 50km, so decided to jump in the deep end.
Benji Edge

I don’t even have shoes! Thats how bad I need em. I’m too poor to afford riding shoes, need to save up more. All I could afford was a bike, which came with toeclips. So my riding shoes are my wornout pair of Vans that I wear everywhere. Still get me the 20-odd km to work though. These Rapha shoes might mean other people are willing to ride with me, instead of just trying to get away from the guy with the normal shoes.
Greg

My Sidis are like a good like a well worn pair of Italian loafers unfortunately the sole is about as stiff as a pair of as well these days. They have journeyed far and wide from racing in New York City, to pedalling around Cuba. They have even survived a trip over a car bonnet and the hospital staff who could not figure out the buckles and threaten to cut them off me. If you look closely you can see the shaved down ratchet! Finally I think silver shoes are so 1990s and a new pair of white Rapha shoes should see me well into my next round of pedalling adventures.
Greg

My Sidis are like a well worn pair of Italian loafers unfortunately the sole is about as stiff as a pair as well these days. They have journeyed far and wide from racing in New York City to pedalling around Cuba. They have even survived a trip over a car bonnet on Bondi Beach and the hospital staff who could not figure out the buckles and threaten to cut them off me. If you look closely you can see the shaved down ratchet! Finally I think silver shoes are so 1990s and a new pair of white Rapha shoes should see me well into my next round of pedalling adventures looking very stylish indeed.
206nick

Daddy needs a new pair of shoes!
Gavin winchester

These are now taking me to and from work. Been off the bike seriously for around 10 years with significant knee issues. back to being used now that I’m finally all cleared up! Hoping my next set can accompany my family and I down to Coff’s Harbour. If I win the Rapha’s I’d definitely break them in with some coastal commuting and film for the trip to our sea change.
Arden

There is so much Rapha going on in this blog. It’s a nice brand from Britain but why not support Aussie brands? This is Australia and you guys are Australian after all.
- Gwinchester
  
  You might want to read the entire article then. He makes it quite clear as to why
Dave Smith

I have only been riding for 12 months, and the first place was just 6klms from home! It was an effort and I didn’t think I could ever work up to 20 or even 30 kilometres!
Now, twelve months in, and these shoes have taken me to the Gold Coast, Redcliffe, and various points in between that aren’t much of a journey for most, but a liberating example of real freedom for me. I thought that I was going to be in the ranks of the the three f’ - fat, fifty, f&$#ed!
Not now, not anymore.
Give me a cycle and I really can go anywhere!
Mel

Here are my trusty Specialized, they have taken me from Melbourne to Coffs - not in one trip though. Maybe I’ll try that with the Yaks on my feet.
Anonymous

Back in OZ now, but this is a pair my old man got me many moons ago. Vancouver to Whistler (with a light dusting of snow waiting for us) was a crazy pedal session I did with a buddy of mine some time back.
BBB

My old shoes recently cracked, leaving me shod in an even older pair again. The DMTs pedalled numerous kilometers and took me to many and varied a place, anywhere from Hotham to Hospital. A replacement pair of shoes would be much appreciated.
Ross Dobson

I covet thee
http://twitter.com/a_bikerider a_bikerider

Here are my shoes. Last year I got some white SIDIs but still love these more, purchased in 2009. I am not sure that any shoes could top my red Specialized S-Works shoes but willing to try. I like the toe straps on the Rapha shoes. Do they come with a patent leather red strap for women? That would be gorgeous.
The most extraordinary place my shoes have taken me to? That is a tough choice. Most rides are extraordinary in their own way but its hard to top my solo Mt Donna Buang climb on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in 2010. It was snowing and it was beautiful.
http://twitter.com/a_bikerider a_bikerider

The shoes!
Adam Fuller

These shoes are nearly 20 years old! Used for triathlons, commuting and road rides. Time for a new pair! A pair of Raphas would be sweet.
Terence

These pair have been my companion all over the world. From the country roads of Portugal riding to Cabo Da Rocas, to a round island trip around Taiwan! To the local Sunday rides!

They’ve obviously seen better days but nothing like a fresh pair of newly minted not to mention elegant shoes from the purveyors of style at Rapha to provide a kick in my step for every ride to come!

-terence-
Jeremy Smith

I rode up to Col de Madone in the hills behind Nice where Lance used to train before the TdF, hence the naming of the Trek Madone. Fantastic place to ride
Jdperlmutter

Would post a pic of my old shoes, but I’ve since lost them. In any case, the shoes have travelled across the US, on a multitude of mountain rides and a total of probably 20,000km. They were retired a year ago and then subsequently lost.
Chewsta

my trusty kicks have taken me to many places in Perth and Melbourne..
Billy Belts

My tied old Shimanos have taken me up and down many a road. Wore them in on Beach Road in Melbourne. Wore them out in the Adelaide Hills. I don’t think that they’ll last the distance over the Pyrenees in June…
Jez

My shoes have taken me into the world of road racing and let me get out and enjoy the beautiful roads and scenery of Sydney…
Mark E

They’ve served well - but their time has come. And they’re yellow. What was I thinking??
- Mark E
  
  …. they’ve happily taken me around Sydney for years, plus three years riding in Dubai. But probably long overdue for retirement!
Ben

My first pair of shoes - have seen a spill or two but have been great for nearly 10,000 kms
Andrew C

These shoes aren’t flash. In reality, they never were. But over the last 8 years, they’ve taken me through the most beautiful places Australia and New Zealand have had to offer. I haven’t quite been everywhere with these shoes, but we’ve certainly been places. Over the last few years of illness, they’ve sat patiently by the door, waiting for the next great adventure, and have helped me get back into riding all over again.

Their greatest adventure has to have been a climb of Mt Hotham a few years back. It was the middle of summer, yet the shoes and I woke to six inches of snow, with more falling every second. Hours later, the roads had been cleared, and it seemed like it was now or never. A small group of us risked the descent, with small groups turning back intermittently along the descent, as the weather closed in. The moment the gradient slacked off, the clouds enveloping the mountain turned dark, the heavens opened, and the rains began to fall.

The climb was miserable. As the air thinned, rain turned to sleet, and to hail, and then to snow. My glasses were perpetually covered, no matter how many times I cleared them, I just couldn’t see. Riding with eyes unprotected was even worse, I think I spent more time with them closed than open in the push from the tollbooth to the summit. My limbs were freezing, and my fingers were well past numb, yet somehow my shoes, with no covers, had left my toes completely dry. I ended up discovering icicles hanging from my peddles, but my toes were fine. The shoes helped me make it to the top of the mountain, helped me summit Hotham for the first time of many. Without them, I wouldn’t have experienced a ride of such majesty, I would not have been able to see the views from the top as the clouds finally broke. My shoes helped me ride on, when others holed up in the trees on the side of the road.

But after many years together, perhaps it’s time for my shoes to get a bit of a break. I think by now they deserve a gentle retirement. And, if that photo is anything to go by - a good clean.
FWC

These shoes have been every where not just on my bike!! Hope to get my first pair of cycling shoes soon!
FWC

These shoes have been every where not just on my bike!! Hope to get my first pair of cycling shoes soon!
Mark atx

Wish I could take part in this one….from austin TX

The story of my shoes begins on the slopes of Alpe D’hues. My father and I travelled to the mythic mountain in summer of 2010. We packed up the rental car and made the hour and half drive to the town there at the base of the alpe. Wearing our finest kits, given the grandeur of the situation, we set up our bikes. Finally we reached for our shoes. My dad went silent. He had left his shoes in the hotel.

In broken french we desperately began to ask locals if there were any bike shops in town we could buy some shoes. Finally we found one filled with vintages of jerseys that could recount every major cycling event for the last 50 years…and a pair of sidi shoes. My dad turned to me and said you let me wear your shoes…i will buy you a new pair right now…

And from that shop we set out to conquer the alpe
Rgb

Peddalled the Simpson Desert Classic 25yrs ago and did the original Tri series when Captain Triatherlon was the image.
Gnasher

These are my beloved Bonts that are totally shafted. I have pedalled up and down thousands of hills and loved every moment of it but now the white microfiber uppers are disintegrating and the top straps have all but been ripped off after a fall coming down North Brother in Laurieton. The velcro pads are from Bunnings after managing to burn off the originals (don’t ever use a heat gun to dry wet shoes before a ride!), the rubber toe protectors are regularly stuck back on with super glue and the and the heel and toe protectors are made from an old rubber mat. I love ‘em but they are cooked. My mates laugh at me when I turn up for a ride - the last laugh will be mine if I turn up for the next group ride in a nice snazzy pair of Rapha’s finest Grand Tour shoes. YAK ME UP BABY!
Timmo Clayton

In case the comp’s still open - my circa 1992 Marresis… my first of many (!) pairs of bike shoes… :-)