Lake’s CX239 road cycling shoes didn’t heal my foot pain, but they helped

Lake is the cycling shoe brand for riders who take fit seriously; the North American marque is fanatical about matching shape with sport, and the CX239 is a road going option for those who want performance, but not at the expense of comfort.

Having worn the competition ready CX403’s during my racing career, I opted to try the CX239 after experiencing foot pain following the birth of my second child. Whilst my feet needed time to recover and become stronger in the long run, the shoes provided a soft enough platform in the interim, without shocking the system by sacrificing the solid hold required for harder efforts.

Design and specification

Lake is a brand that loves to talk about fit, and more importantly, lasts - the ‘last’ effectively being the template used to design the shoe around. The CX239 uses what Lake calls its ‘CX/TX Competition Last’, this centres around a roomier fit than the ‘Race’ last used on the CX403 I’ve tested in the past, giving a greater degree of wiggle room at the toe box, but without going to the level of unconstrained comfort you might find on an all out endurance shoe, where the heel cup and toe box will provide a more relaxed hold.

As mentioned, I was looking to swap my cycling shoes having developed foot pain after my second pregnancy, more specifically, a morton’s neuroma which is the thickening of a nerve between two toes. The condition is exacerbated (and sometimes even caused) by narrow shoes; whilst mine was caused by a combination of pregnancy weight, relaxin hormone and high arches, I was seeking a shoe that would let my toes move to avoid aggravating it. I was measured up for the shoes by bike fitter Paul Drake at Maison du Velo, a Lake dealer based in Reigate, Surrey, visiting a few weeks later to pick up the shoes and have some custom Sidas insoles moulded.

Sliding my foot in, I could feel a greater amount of depth immediately. Lake does also offer wider fit shoes, if required, too, but these weren’t deemed necessary at my fitting. My research into morton’s neuroma cures has led me to explore “foot shaped” and “barefoot” shoes, where the toe box is the widest point of the shoe; the CX239 is absolutely not that, the barefoot revolution is yet to truly take hold within mainstream cycling brands, but the shoes did still provide enough space to avoid flaring up the condition, for me. My new test for shoe fit is to wiggle my toes, if they can’t freely flutter about, they’re no good - and these just about passed. Feet being the very beginning of the power transfer journey, it’s important both for injury avoidance and speed that they’re not compromised, another reason I chose to bolster the fit with custom insoles as an add-on.

The latest version of the longstanding CX239 utilises an integrated tongue, creating a "firmer foot hold” according to Lake, and also reducing possible hotspots or areas for chafing. Lake makes the shoe with a choice of either a Premium leather or a Clarino Microfiber and mesh upper; I had the leather which felt extremely soft and supple.

The heel features a fibreglass reinforcement, thus a strong hold to avoid movement and slipping. In the past, I’ve worn the custom moulded CX403 shoes, which use carbon, and the fibreglass of the CX239 provides a nice middle ground between the very sprint friendly carbon of the CX403 and a standard heel cup.

The outsole is entirely carbon, as you’d expect at this price, with particularly detailed markings to aid cleat fitment. Lake has used Boa’s Li2 dials which offer micro adjustment in both directions. The heel pads are replaceable, with Lake selling these on its website for £12.

In the past, Lake shoes have suffered slightly for being a little ‘dumpy’ looking, for want of a kinder more eloquent term. This aesthetic is probably born of its focus on fit and thus wider lasts - there’s a reason fashion shoes are shaped very differently to natural, human feet. However, the brand has been working hard on this shortcoming. Whilst visuals come down to personal preference, I reckon these pass the aesthetics test, but aren’t quite as slick as competition from the likes of Specialized S-Works Torch’s and Shimano’s S-Phyres. Personally, after months of pain and rehab, I’d opt for greater fit over beauty, any day.

The CX239 shoes dropped onto the scales at 262g each in a size 39. That’s more than the average, and for comparison my S-Works Torch shoes came in at 225g. However, again, fit overcomes weightweenism for me at the moment, and that’s likely the case for many other recreational riders.

Performance

I’ve tested the CX239’s both indoors and out on the road. Having been a competitive road racer in the past, being now mum to a toddler and an 8 month old, I’ve not found the time, energy or motivation to return to this level, and a lot of my miles take place within Zwift’s virtual worlds, but chance outdoor rides have offered the opportunity to test the likes of breathability.

The most standout characteristics of the CX239 have to be the blend of soft upper, roomier toe box and more supple heel cup, when compared with the top end race option. These features might give the picture of a shoe which won’t provide a stable base for high powered efforts, but that’s not the case, with the carbon sole and heel cup providing plenty of opportunity for power transfer during interval sessions and outdoor sprints. Unlike the CX403 race shoes, I found these comfortable off the bike, too, thanks to that little extra slackness around the heel and mid foot.

The shoes come with a standard, flat insole with no added support. However, this is mirrored across the competition, and there’s not much alternative as any added support needs to be suited to the rider’s foot; it’s a bit like handlebar width, pedal and saddle choice always being an upgrade on any bike purchase.

Value

Lake is a performance brand, and its prices reflect that. The CX239 comes in at £300/$359.99. Whilst evidently a considered purchase, this is pretty much in line with similar offerings from other brands on the market. I found seeking an obvious comparison quite difficult, Specliazed’s S-Works Torch costs £350/$499.99, but is a race shoe, and Bont (often a favourite amongs those after a wider fit) jumps its line from £179.95 to £379.95. Most offerings in this realm are the brand’s ‘top end race’ choice, whilst Lake has the custom moulded CX403 for that, at £450/$599.99 As long as you don’t mind the slightly higher weight vs competition, Lake’s price point is fair within the market.

Verdict

The best cycling shoes for you will be dictated by your goals on the bike as well as the shape of your foot, and your budget - but I can see why these are Lake’s bestseller, hitting a middle ground that will appeal to riders who want to win the club run sprint, but aren’t prepared to forgo an easy walk at the coffee stop, either. If you’re after a shoe that feels fast but doesn’t sacrifice comfort at the altar of competition, you could be on to a winner with these.