Just ahead of this year's Tour de France Grand Départ, Fizik has announced a special edition version of its Tempo Overcurve R5 shoe.
Fizik is pitching the kicks as a “stylish and versatile road cycling shoe that evokes a golden age of bike racing while still delivering the comfort and performance demanded by today’s rider.”
With oodles of retro styling, the majority of the upper is made of black Microtex suede, with widely spread large perforations. The top third of the shoe is finished in leather-look-alike Microtex, which is cut with a zig-zag pattern along the edge and finished with gold logos.
Despite the retro appearance, the chassis is still the Tempo Overcurve R5, a mid-range road shoe released earlier this year that features a single Boa IP1 dial and carbon reinforced sole.
The ‘Overcurve’ refers to the asymmetrical construction of the shoe, claimed to follow the natural misalignment of the two bony protrusions from either side of the ankle for superior comfort.
According to Fizik: "The era between the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s was an incredible opportunity for cycling races, with helmetless riders performing in heroic feats on wonderfully simple bicycles with a frame in steel. Our new Tempo Overcurve R5 Paris 1969 shoe is a tribute to those extraordinary races and extraordinary cyclists, to their determination, strength and courage, but also to their unique style."
Claimed to weigh 506g for the pair, they cost £159.99 / €179 / $199 and can be purchased now via Fizik's website.