I'm a big fan of Fizik's Tempo R5 Powerstrap road shoes – the balance of performance and price is really a pretty stellar mix.
Rather than a full carbon sole, Fizik has opted instead for a carbon reinforced nylon. Naturally it's not as stiff as the Specialized Ares sprint shoe, or the Sidi Shot 2 – but the Tempo 5 still offers a firm enough platform for putting in a hard effort.
I'd even argue it's a more optimal balance – super stiff soles can leave your feet feeling battered on a long distance ride. If you're looking for one set of shoes to do it all (what a lucky position to be in if you can have shoes for every particular type of ride), then I would recommend going for something with just a little bit of give.
Another feature that tends to bump up the price of cycling shoes is the inclusion of a Boa dial – particularly those that can be both tightened and loosened in millimetre increments. Going for Velcro is a much cheaper solution – and one that typically faster and more reliable too.
Personally, I do really like the micro adjustments you can easily make with a Boa dial – if money were no object, I'd go for them every time. But if the question was: "would I rather have Boa dials and a Garmin Edge 130 Plus head unit, or Velcro and a Garmin Edge 530?" I'd go for the latter and get the better head unit.
So, in all, the Fizik Tempo R5 Powerstrap shoes are on a great discount right now – and even at full price, their carbon reinforced nylon sole and Velcro closure makes them a great value option.
For the best bike deals of Black Friday 2023, check out our main hub over here.
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
