When RCUK editor Richard Hallett asked for a volunteer to test Giro’s Factor road shoes, my hand was in the air quicker than he can fit a clincher tyre. They were mine…
When I initially set the shoes up I screwed the long bolts in for the cleats, jumped on the bike and rode home. The shoes were incredibly uncomfortable. Of the three footbeds supplied, I was running the middle, the half-way house in terms of arch support. By the time I had rolled up to my front door after around 10 miles on the bike, I had pain in the balls of my feet and along the top above my metatarsals.
During those 10 miles I had readjusted the top straps numerous times and got to the point where they were too loose to be deemed safe. I was already running a size 10 (UK) when I normally wear a size 9 and was at a loss as to why they were so uncomfortable. Was my foot being squeezed too tightly by the three straps. Was I cutting off the blood supply to my feet just to make them fit? Was the carbon sole too rigid?
Back in the office the next day and ready to retire the shoes, I pulled out the insole and, in doing so ran my hand along the foot bed of the shoe. I felt three pronounced bumps directly in line with the bolt holes on the sole. The bolts were too long and their three ends were causing localised pressure on my feet and causing the pain. The pressure was not enough for me to detect each individual bolt but as a whole they were responsible for squeezing my foot. Cleats are usually supplied with two sets of bolts but I had misplaced the short set. Richard kindly offered to trim the bolts and I re-fitted them the next day.
Problem solved? Almost. I tightened everything up and set-off again. A dramatic improvement but now I was feeling pressure through the arch of my foot. It was causing enough discomfort to become a real issue if I was going to be doing any longer rides. Again I experimented with the top straps but with no improvement.
Out with the medium arch support and in with the lower arch support. Putting the shoes on the change was a subtle one but on the bike the Factors started tomake a lot more sense. Finally.
The centre strap which folds directly over the centre of the foot can still cause a little discomfort if over-tightened [no way! – ed.] and it is something I always have to bear in mind when putting them on. Four months in I can only just begin to call them comfortable and I’m happy doing bigger miles in them.
Giro Factor road shoes £224.99; sizes 39 – 48 inc half sizes 39.5 – 46.5, colours Black, Red/White, Team Edition, White
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