You may not have wide feet. It could be that your foot is collapsing, and therefore splaying. A lot of people think they have wide feet, but given an off-the-shelf corrective insole, the problem goes away because they have the support their foot needs.”

Much of my testing was while commuting. The RC7 was ideal for a blend of traffic-filled urban streets and longer stretches on open roads. The main thing that you are looking for with the soles of your cycling shoes is for them to be stiff. This means that when you press down the sole won't bend, meaning that all of the power that you generate is transferred through the sole and into the pedal. The second consideration is weight, with more expensive shoes coming with lighter soles. Beyond the obvious shoe size, there's a lot to think about when choosing cycling shoes. Even sizing isn't straightforward, as you want a cycling shoe to hold you foot steady to pedal efficiently, so you might need a show that's a half size down from your normal. Although they come at a very premium price, they are readily available online at a discount which makes them very good value.

Shimano RC3 bottom line

Just whether the extreme breathability of these shoes counts as a good or a bad thing will, of course, depend on when and where you are riding. Traditional laces have also had a bit of a renaissance in the last few years, so if you like a classic look you’ll have a few more options now. Just remember you won’t be able to adjust your shoes on the bike. Other features I certainly felt experienced zero ‘hot spots’ in testing, after rides of around two hours. Add in the fact that they weigh in at a respectable 248g per shoe (in a Euro size 42), and this all combines to make the Shimano RC5 shoes an admirable attempt at combining comfort with performance.

The lace model of the S-Works line is the most affordable in the range - and also notably comfortable. To reduce the price, one of the BOA dials has been swapped out for a Velcro strap and the dials are the L6 model which only ratchets tighter, unlike the IP1 dials on the S-Phyre which allow you to loosen the tension in 1mm increments. There are a number of different shoes on the market such as the Bont Riot and the Lake CX402 that can be customized through heat moulding to fit the shape of your feet. This means that the shoes should perfectly support the arch of your foot, ensuring that you should be very comfortable and power transfer should be improved too as your foot won't move around at all. If you have flat feet or arch-related problems, heat mouldable shoes could be the solution. How do triathlon cycling shoes differ from road cycling shoes?

The design of the shoes makes use of Shimano’s S-Phyre philosophy and features, as first seen on their premium race shoes. It starts with the foot-wrapping upper, offering a snug fit that provides a supportive pedalling platform and removes hot spots. Made with a combination of mesh, TPU and synthetic leather, this supple upper is incredibly light and highly breathable too, perfect for warmer weather and hill climbs. The upper construction is also integrated with the sole unit, offering extra support and stability during hard efforts. From smashing through tough intervals in training to smashing your rivals in races, the RC5 Road Shoes deliver superb performance but at a keen price point for those riders on a tighter budget. The impressive price to performance ratio is thanks to renowned Shimano technology and features, first found on their premium race shoes…

The design of the shoes makes use of Shimano’s S-Phyre philosophy and features, as first seen on their premium race shoes. It starts with the foot-wrapping upper, offering a snug fit that provides a supportive pedalling platform and removes hot spots. Made with a combination of mesh, TPU and synthetic leather, this supple upper is incredibly light and highly breathable too, perfect for warmer weather and hill climbs. The upper construction is also integrated with the sole unit, offering extra support and stability during hard efforts. Instead of a traditional tongue, the outside of the RC3’s upper wraps around your foot. The Boa dial is designed to spread the pressure evenly, and while it does so, I’m not convinced it’s better than the top-mounted Atop dial and twin Velcro combination of the dhb Aeron Carbon Road Dial shoes I also had on test. The other benefit of Velcro straps is that they are light. This means that they can also be found on very expensive lightweight shoes designed specifically for climbers. Over time, the Velcro can lose its effectiveness though, so that the hold on your foot can diminish. The relatively mild conditions will have contributed to that, but most of the water that entered the shoe also flowed out through the vents in the bottom and didn’t slosh about inside for too long.

There are basically four different systems used to tighten cycling shoes: Velcro, ratchets, laces, and dials. The upper is the same non-stretch Dyneema but with mesh panels that not only deliver on better ventilation but also provide additional give in the upper for increased comfort around areas prone to hotspots.