Pearl Izumi Select Road III cycling shoes review
The Pearl Izumi Select Road IIIs may not be the greatest looking pair of shoes, but can they offer a bit more out on the road.
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The Pearl Izumi Select Road IIIs are a great entry level pair of shoes at a competitive price point. The sole could be stiffer, but this does mean that these are very comfortable for longer rides.
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Plenty of adjustability thanks to three Velcro straps
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SPD-compatible sole
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Syntehtic leather upper is easy to clean
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Composite sole could be stiffer
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With ‘1:1 Anatomic closing’ and a ‘Select 1:1 Power plate’, the Pearl Izumi Select Road IIIs are certainly laden with plenty of marketing spiel to raise both eyebrows and expectations. But thankfully my high expectations were met out on the road as these shoes offered both performance and comfort.
>>> Cycling shoes: a buyer's guide
On my first ride, I over-tightened the three Velcro straps and suffered discomfort. Having learned my lesson, I found the Pearl Izumi Select Road IIIs nice and comfortable. Having three straps allows for greater adjustment to accommodate different foot shapes, while also keeping a secure fit for when you really want to open the throttle.
The secure fit is complemented by the decent nylon composite sole. Of course, this doesn’t offer as much stiffness as the carbon soles on the similarly priced dhb R2.0Cs or the Bont Riots, but power transfer is still efficient thanks to the low stack height, and the little bit of flex aids comfort.
These are also extremely practical shoes; the synthetic leather upper is easy to clean, the logos on the heels are reflective for after-dark riding, and the sole is SPD-compatible.
For more details visit the Madison website.
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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
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