Creating the best cycling shoes in the world

Using innovation & information to create cycling shoe comfort 

Most cyclists tend to buy with their eyes, and with their heart. In many respects, so do all consumers; and our job as brands is to try to educate the consumer towards the right product for them. After all, within cycling, you’re going to be sitting on that bike for some time, and both the bike and your cycling shoes need to be the right ones for you – and not chosen simply because they came across the line first in a world tour event. Fundamentally, we all have different bodies, different feet and different cycling requirements. And so, how do we actually know which are the best cycling shoes in the world – or is this simply a question that ought to be opened up more.

For our design team, led by Hutch, we focus on talking to cyclists all over the world: in Asia, the Middle East, in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, and all across Europe. Yes, Lake Cycling shoes are currently being worn by cyclists in all of these global cycling communities, meaning that we get a constant stream of useful information from our bike fitting and shoe fitting partners, which enables us to constantly create new and innovative cycling shoes that match the actual needs of cyclists, rather than simply the aesthetic requirements.  Yes, the key ingredients for creating the best cycling shoes in the world are fit, comfort, performance, and style – in this order

Finding your fit

Too many cyclists are wearing cycling shoes that are too narrow and tight fitting. We’ve written extensively about this and the pain and health-related problems that can arise from ill-fitting cycling shoes – not to mention the performance issues from focusing on the pain, the numbness or the hotspots in your feet taking all of your focus, rather than the ride itself. Choosing a cycling shoe simply because it’s the same shoe as your favourite rider won’t give you the best cycling shoe in the world – not for you. No, your own best cycling shoe option can only be determined by having your feet properly measured and looked at by a shoe fitting expert – like our own specialist trained Lake shoe fitting partners.

Then, they can look at the width, the length, the volume, the shape, your gait, your arches and a whole range of impact factors, before selecting the right options from the world’s most extensive range of cycling shoes. We often talk about the ‘last’ which determines the shape and form of each Lake Cycling shoe model, and how important that this is. Fundamentally, it’s the heart of the shoe, and we currently use 6 different shoe lasts across our range of cycling shoes, to give you the best opportunity to find your own perfect fit. Our aim is simply to find the best cycling shoe in the world for you – and that starts with fitting your feet in the right way!

Creating comfort on every ride

One area of the cycling shoe that is often overlooked is the toe box. Too frequently, we see cyclists with their toes scrunched up tightly in a narrow cycling shoe that doesn’t allow their toe and forefoot area to naturally spread. Conversely, trying to alleviate volume issue by simply giving you a wider shoe isn’t necessarily the answer. You need adequate lateral support, to allow the foot to remain stable, comfortable and ready to perform to the maximum. Many professional cyclists have a narrower foot than the average rider, simply because they are not weight bearing as much in their formative cycling years. Time is spent sitting on the saddle, rather than standing on their feet. Accordingly, the shoes that are likely to fit them more comfortably, may not suit you due to the width issue. And, whilst most cyclists know about the length and size of their cycling shoe, only a few understand the importance of getting the width and volume correct, too.

Lake CX239 – the ultimate in cycling shoe comfort

One of our most popular cycling shoes globally – and a shoe that we believe is one of the best cycling shoes in the world – is our Lake CX239. Designed on our Competition Last, it features a more curved profile than the Sport last, and a larger toe box and a tighter heel cup than the Comfort Plus Last. It also provides you with slightly more overall volume than our Sport Last and is an exceptionally secure cycling shoe, while having a slightly wider ball girth to allow the foot to expand under high pedalling pressures.

As you can see already, having a variety of shoe lasts to choose from, allows us here at Lake to create the most extensive range of cycling shoes in the world – and the most comfortable.

CX302 for climbers and high-performance cycling

For those with a slightly narrower shoe, also looking for a lightweight and high-performance shoe, our CX302 should fit the bill – and your feet. Designed on our CX/TX Racel Last, it features a slightly narrower toe box & tighter heel than the Competition last and less overall volume than the Sport last. It’s a cycling shoe designed for very high-cadence riding and higher pressure, whilst providing a slimmer fit – especially around the toe box area. Like all Lake cycling shoes, it does come in a variety of width fittings, too; with the wide version offering cyclists 15mm of additional volume at the ball of the foot over the standard width last.

Like the CX239, our CX302 has a dual Li2 BOA closure system and offering a precise, micro-adjustable fit in both directions and designed to resist abrasion.

Both shoes provide riders with our legendary Lake comfort, whilst offering a difference in foot shape and Last, to ensure that every ride is as comfortable as possible. Now, that’s definitely a key ingredient in designing the world’s best cycling shoes.

Maximising performance through innovative design

Only once you have the correct fit, and you are benefitting from the ultimate in cycling shoe comfort, can you start to maximise your performance. This is why we recommend a professional bike fitting session; to look at all aspects of your cycling and to ensure that both your bike and your cycling shoes are perfect for you.

However, there are some key elements that we design into our cycling shoes, to give you stability, lateral support and power transfer. Lateral support in cycling shoes is crucial for stabilising the foot, improving knee tracking, and maximizing power transfer by preventing the foot from rolling inwards (pronation) or outwards. A professional bike fitter will look at all of these points, focusing on your own unique physiology and ensuring that your feet have the best possible fit to perform to their maximum. Achieving that power transfer is done through stiff carbon soles, snug heel cups – like our Lake molded heel cups in the CX333 – and with custom insoles with arch support, and proper cleat positioning.

Once you’ve addressed all of these variables, then you can probably say that you are wearing the best cycling shoes in the world… for you! And, at the end of the day – and the start of every ride – that’s the most important aspect in all of this. Finding your own perfect fit, with Lake.

Here at Lake, we’ve been creating comfort for cyclists since 1982. We’ve led the way in many cycling shoe innovations, all working towards one goal – to give you the best cycling shoe as possible. No two people will share the very same physiology and cycling shoe needs, which is why we create the most extensive range of cycling shoes in the world – so that hopefully, your Lake Cycling shoes choice is the best cycling shoe possible, for you!