As the world’s biggest cycling show, Eurobike is a great place to spot trends – or at least what brands hope will become trends. For road footwear, dials and laces are de rigueur. We're also seeing knits catching on and reflective materials are popping up from an increasing number of brands.
For closures, ratchets have effectively disappeared, replaced by primarily by BOA dials. The laces fad seems to have slowed on top-end models. However, new mid-range shoes are showing up with laces for the first time.
While Eurobike hosts more than 1,200 brands, many of the big players no longer attend, including Specialized, Trek, Cannondale and Giant. Those brands now host their own shows for retailers and the media.
Knits from DMT, Fizik and Giro
Giro and Fizik rolled out their first shoes with knit uppers at Eurobike last year, and have expanded their offerings for this fall.
The Giro Empire E70 Knit is a step down from the top-end Empire in terms of sole stiffness and price. For riders who find the original Empire a little tight, the Empire E70 Knit feels a bit looser. It comes in four styles.
The Giro Republic R Knit is a walkable road shoe, with ample rubber tread and an SPD cleat. It comes in two styles.
The new DMT KR1 has a knit upper with a short sock cuff instead of the traditional lip. It comes in two styles.
For Fizik, the Infinito R1 Knit comes in four styles, some with BOA laces that match the shoe's highlight color.
Reflectives from Bont and Giro
New mid-range lace-ups from Pearl Izumi
Refined S-Phyre RC-9 from Shimano
And some flashy uppers from a variety of brands
While all cycling shoe brands will gladly tell you about all their technical features, shoes are also a fashion item for many. For a glance at some of the latest looks, click or scroll through the gallery above.
