GiroRincon Cycling Shoe - Men's

Its been many years since I purchased a new pair of mountain bike shoes. I was skeptical of the ratchet retention system on these, but must admit it is really nice. Fast and comfortable.

I don't cartwheel over products. The more expensive the item is, the more I expect from it, so the less I fetishize it. I might lose my mind over a $20 flashlight that turns tents bright as daylight, but $150 cycling shoes better hold up, be comfortable, and go the distance. These definitely do. The BOA is sturdy and so much nicer than the ratchet ties on my old Specialized. The velcro across the bridge is a little short for my average feet, and I feel that they should have left it long so that it can be trimmed.The backs of these are fragile. I can tell. Don't be a dummy and kick them off or do that thing where you put one of your feet on the back of the other to pry them off. You'll ruin them in no time. Also ensure they're adequately loose when putting them on. That should keep them going for quite a while.For the folks saying that they're not stiff enough, that's ridiculous. They're plenty stiff. If you want stiffer in a mountain biking shoe, you'll be hard pressed. Cleats stay in place, shoes aren't too hot, width is OK, and the BOA performs. Good shoe, worth the price so far.As with all cycling shoes, I ended up with a half-size larger than my usual shoe size. I wear a 9 in Clarks, Sanuk, Ariat, Saucony, and Thursday Boots, and the 9.5 (43 in UK) fits perfect.