Gallery: Pearl Izumi facility tour

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-329016 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836.jpg?quality=90&resize=461%2C600" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Kristin Armstrong's Olympic kicks" title="1343347175235-73go8og7w53-7d69836" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Kristin Armstrong’s Olympic kicks Courtesy

Pearl Izumi has made cycling clothing for the top professionals dating back to the early US Postal Service squad. For the 2012 London Olympics, Americans Tejay van Garderen and Kristin Armstrong will be racing in Pearl’s Octane SL III shoes , each with their own graphics.

The superlight shoes (195g for a single size 42) forgo any type of mechanical closure, and the mesh portions of the upper add noticeable ventilation.

BikeRadar recently toured Pearl Izumi’s facility in Louisville, Colorado, where designing and refining shoes and clothing for top athletes and everyday riders is a daily process. Click through the gallery at right for your own tour.