Suplest are a relatively young company concentrating on the top end of the cycle shoe market. Streetracing is the Swiss cycle-cobbler’s top performance road shoe, and it’s available in the lightweight Velcro version we tested or with a ratcheted buckle for 50 quid more.
At just under 300g per shoe – 297g for a size 44 – it’s not heavy, but it doesn’t feel skimpy when you’re wearing it. Its carbon fibre sole is stiff, offering broad support across the forefoot and heel to keep hot spots at bay, and there’s loads of toe room too.
The sole has a neutral shape, rather than the increasingly popular pre-installed orthotic shaping. Testers who don’t get on with more prescriptive shoes welcomed that, and if you do want more arch support you can buy aftermarket insoles.
We found the replaceable heel grip was placed too far inboard, which means the bright green paint starts to flake off quickly unless you’re ultra-careful off the bike. Mesh vents under the toes and instep line up with vents in the insole for extra breeziness, the forefoot upper is ventilated and there are more holes in the ‘Air Vent’ tongue.
What really sets the Streetracing apart is its unique construction. Its ‘organic grid’ upper is made in just two pieces, joining diagonally in line with the main strap. The synthetic microfibre material uses different moulded thicknesses to create a very supportive honeycomb grid.
But despite the Suplest name, the result is actually a lot less flexible than the normal mesh and exoskeleton shoe construction. Add the fact that the three Velcro straps give a relatively fixed range of closure, and it’s a shoe that’ll either fit you superbly with a very supportive all-round grip – or you’ll struggle to get snug without it creasing and creating pressure points.
This fit and the limited breathability of the material mean it definitely suits thicker sock users more than barefoot riders, and trying before you buy is even more essential with these shoes than usual. But with a bit of gaffer tape under the vents on the inside it’s very weatherproof, and the present 50 percent price reduction at Evans makes it a good buy.
This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.