What Gianni humbly omitted from his last article is that once he finishes ranting about sock color (actually, the lack of need for any color other than than white), he recovers quickly and we wrap up the Keepers executive board meeting with him tearing our legs off on the ride home from the bar with his magnificent stroke. Because after all, he is Rule #72.
But I digress. All the chit-chat Gianni’s article generated, and the timing of it with a new shoe purchase on my end, has me ruminating on Rule #8. Matching saddle, handlebar tape, and tires is, for the Velominatus at least, quite the no-brainer as it were. The only really poignant question I recall ever being raised is whether Vittoria Open Pave’s have an exemption because they are awesome and scream hardman tire (I think they are acceptable).
But what of shoes? They are the one piece of kit that most often throws a rider’s coordination out of sync. Of course this has traditionally been fine as shoes are such a personal matter that expecting one to match one’s shoes with the rest of one’s kit is hopeful at best. That being said, I wonder if shoes are less kit and more equipment. They transfer power directly from rider to bike and thus they are mechanical, they are engineered by smart people using fancy computers, and they render the machine virtually unrideable without them. In fact, I’ve often wondered why retailers list them under “clothing” and why online review forums don’t put them under “drivetrain” instead of “clothing and accessories”.
So if you don’t accept my premise, at least humor me here. If shoes are equipment and not kit, why would anyone buy a pair that didn’t match the rest of their bike? Surely, with the abundance of shoe choices on the market these days I would think one could make every effort to find a pair that fits, has the features and performance characteristics sought, falls within price range, and matches the rest of the bike.
I happened upon this concept casually deliberately this week. You see, I’ve been sporting considerable carbone over Fi’zi:k’s new shoe line ever since they were introduced (you might say I have a thing for shoes). So when a new pair of R3’s fell into my lap for number 1 I was forced to shift the Yellow Princesses over to number 3. The yellow decals and accents on the Serotta look awesome with the YP’s and the new R3’s are oh so sublime with the BMC. Splendid, indeed.
So I’ll put it to you, the Velominati. Does Rule #8 need amending? Are shoes equipment and not clothing? Do we, perhaps, need a new rule pertaining to shoe/bike matching (I think not but a suggestion might be in order). These are the things that keep the Keepers up at night.
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View Comments
@Chipomarc
In which case the CAAD10 would want to only be used in ITT's...
@Godsight
@Chipomarc
See Rule 23. And Rule 3.
Rule 2. Nipple lube
@scaler911
I loves me my Sidi's too. It's hard to get thrilled about another shoe - even shoes as hot as the Fizik shoes - when you're so happy with the ones you've got. At the Time Equipe's! Be still, my beating heart!
@sgt
+1
@frank
Frank! I think I agree with you!
I think shoe colour is, and should remain, totally independent of bike or kit colour, in the same way that sneakers are. In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that the louder the shoe and the bigger the clash the better. It shows you have some personal identity, and aren't just a sheep or a slave to conformity. Right on.
@Marko
@Marko
You smooth talking debbil. I am so not Rule #72, I officially suck. But on to cycling shoes, yes I agree they are equipment, matching them to bikes, crazy talk. But if that was a rewritten Rule I'd be compliant as I have one grey bike and one pair of tatty gray and black shoes.
Call me a metrosexual, Oli, if you must but Marko, the white Fizik shoes are the best, I have wanted them also, well done on the new shoes to go with the bitchin BMC bike and Zipp wheels. You must completely psyche out any other riders whose path you cross. 'core. respect.
I want new shoes and I want white, even though I'm not Cat 1. Can't a person pretend? I had those White Ladies but they went to a new worthy owner. If I wasn't such a fanatic about shoe fit I'd try to buy the white Fiziks on-line but I'd have to buy four different sizes and send three back. Next time I'm in civilization I should hunt them down. And who called them golf shoes? I don't see any damn spikes on them or that goofy tongue flappy bit. grrrrrr.
@CanuckChuck
Just FYI, it's "shiny" not "shinny"...
Dammit, DerHoggz cut my lunch!
@Gianni
Metrosexual!
@sgt
Interesting, I had a 10 year affair with Carnacs until I couldn't even find them anymore. I thought they had gone out of business. It will be interesting to hear if they rule. You better wear white socks with those, nothing else would remotely work.
Clothing or Equipment?
From page 6 of the Special Supplement - Summer Clothing, Winning No58. May 1988
I hated when the toe clips tarnished the 'leather'!