Adidas has released its first road cycling shoe in over 15 years. Inspired by “iconic silhouettes of the sport”, the mid-range shoe is aimed at a “young and burgeoning generation of cyclists”.
Simply called 'The Road Shoe’, these new kicks from Adidas are compatible with all common three-bolt road cleats.
The upper is made from Primegreen, a 100 per cent recycled synthetic woven material, according to Adidas. The sole of the shoe is also made from recycled material reinforced with fibreglass.
Closure comes courtesy of good ol’ fashioned laces, which only add to the nostalgic football boot-inspired look of the shoes. Fans of the World Cup boots – an icon of football boot design – will love the pared-back aesthetic and classic Adidas styling of these.
No stiffness (or weight, for that matter) figures were supplied for the shoes. However, given the press release stresses the shoes are designed for riders “that aren’t just driven by the pursuit of elite-level performance”, we don’t expect these to be immovably stiff.
Adidas cycling shoes have been in-and-out of the sport pretty much since the brand was founded and, most famously, were worn by Eddy Merckx to many of his victories. Adidas also has extensive cycling-specific knowledge via its Five Ten sub-brand, which produces some of our favourite mountain bike shoes.
Cycling fashionistas will also recall Adidas and Colnago's collaboration back in 2018. This saw the release of a limited-edition run of Trimm Star and Kamanda shoes, inspired by the heritage of both brands.
Celine Del Genes, Adidas’s vice president of specialist sports, said the shoes are “the first step of our long-term journey towards creating a range of products that enhance the cycling experience."
She added that the brand wants to “cater to the needs of a rapidly developing new cycling culture by creating accessible high-performance products that empower more people to ride."
Though Adidas already produces a modest range of cycling-specific kit, Del Genes’s statement suggests the brand plans to expand on its current offering.
It should come as no surprise to see a household name like Adidas taking an increased interest and investing in the sport – such a huge multinational brand will be keen to capitalise on the enormous growth in popularity of cycling in 2020 and we fully expect others to follow suit.
The Adidas Road Shoe comes with a price tag of £130 / €150 (further international pricing TBC) and will initially be available in black and white colourways. Early samples of the shoe are due to ship from 1 December with further colour options released as part of Adidas’s forthcoming spring-summer range.
We’re due to receive a sample of the shoes very soon and will report back with a full review in the near future.
