Quick Spins – September 19, 2007 Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Welcome to Quick Spins, an all new section within Cyclingnews' tech coverage were we put some of the smaller items that land on the tech desk to the test. Sidi Genius 6.6 - At last! A full carbon sole from Sidi… The Sidi Genius 6.6 Photo ©: Ben Atkins What the world has been waiting for Photo ©: Ben Atkins A set of nylon teeth Photo ©: Ben Atkins The Genius 6.6 features a replaceable rubber heel Photo ©: Ben Atkins Sidi is probably the last of the major shoemakers to introduce a full-carbon road shoe, believing that the stiffness of a uniformly rigid sole would be uncomfortable on long rides or uneven pavement. Sidi has dabbled with partial-length carbon road soles in the past but finally debuted a full-length, one-piece plate just last season on its latest Genius 6.6 model. According to Sidi, the Genius 6.6 sole is stiff in the directions it needs to be, but compliant in others, much in the same way as modern carbon frames. The sole is equipped with the now-standard Look-style three-hole thread pattern for mounting most of the major pedal cleats out there, and adapters are available for the outliers. It also features a replaceable rubber heel and a small protective piece of plastic under the toe to protect the carbon and add a bit of traction when you stop for your mid-ride cappuccino. The uppers are made from lightweight, breathable, supple, and stretch-resistant Lorica synthetic punctuated by bits of nylon mesh. The rider's foot is secured with Sidi's Ultra SL ratcheting buckle and exceptionally well-padded (and adjustable) instep pad, in addition to two forefoot Velcro straps that are augmented with little toothed inserts to combat inadvertent loosening. These fastenings are further complimented by Sidi's new Heel Cup System - a removable mechanism that tightens the fit around the heel to help prevent lift when climbing and sprinting. We tested the Genius 6.6 shoes on short and long rides alike, including the British Cyclesportif and l'Etape du Tour, and in a wide variety of conditions including heavy rain and extreme Pyrenean heat. Sidi earned its reputation largely on account of the stellar fit of its uppers, and the Genius 6.6 doesn't disappoint. We never had to overtighten any of the straps to yield a solid hold, and the even pressure of its sock-like fit meant that the shoes could be worn all day without the instep discomfort often experienced with overtightening; in fact, they could usually be worn loosely enough around the toes to allow plenty of wiggling, even when the heat was on. The nylon teeth on the Velcro straps also meant that the straps stayed where they were put and didn't have to be constantly readjusted. Overall, the Genius 6.6 is fairly middle-of-the-road in terms of width, and the buttery-soft upper materials are surprisingly accommodating for variations in individual foot anatomy. Still, though, Sidi does not make a 6.6 variant for EE width users, who will have to step down slightly to the Genius 5.5. Likewise, the Heel Security System may prove to be a bit too tight for those with wider heels, but Sidi now offers an adjustable version that should alleviate the issue. Sidi does, however, offer the Genius 6.6 in a women's-specific version. As was its aim, Sidi has created a very stiff sole that still offer enough give to allow a bit of flex where needed, making it a bit less unforgiving than some other super-stiff carbon models. While the shoe allowed feedback from the road to be transferred, there was still a certain amount of damping to prevent that feedback from becoming too harsh. Aesthetically speaking, the Genius 6.6's white-and-chrome colour scheme suited our tastes down to the ground, but Sidi also offers a slightly more sedate CSC-inspired black/white/red combination for the more soberly dressed cyclist out there. On the whole, while Sidi's full-carbon introduction was long overdue, it has proved well worth for the wait. /BA Weight: 622g (1.37lb) per pair (sz43.5) Price: US$419.99 (€222.00) Pros: Comfortable, secure fit; very stiff, but not too stiff; great Sidi styling Cons: Heel cup system no good for wide ankles Cyclingnews rating: More info: www.sidi.it Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com The Sidi Genius 6.6 features a Lorica and mesh upper, and a full carbon sole. What the world has been waiting for - a full carbon sole from Sidi. In the Genius tradition the 6.6 is fastened with a ratcheting buckle and two forefoot straps. Oozing Italian style : the white and chrome colour scheme is not for the shrinking violet cyclist! The Ultra SL buckle ensures a nice secure closure while the well padded instep strap keeps it nice and comfy. A set of nylon teeth on each strap means that they stay where you put 'em. The new Heel Cup System holds on to the ankle to stop the foot from lifting. The Genius 6.6 features a replaceable rubber heel so you don't slip on the way to the podium. Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com The placement of the instep pad can also be adjusted depending on your particular foot shape. The Genius 6.6 is also offered in a more sedate red/white/black color. Sidi MTB Eagle 6 SRS - the Eagle has landed The Sidi Eagle 6 SRS MTB Photo ©: Ben Atkins Sidi's Sole Replacement System Photo ©: Ben Atkins Nylon teeth keep the straps from slipping. Photo ©: Ben Atkins Off-road riders outside of North America can also tap into Sidi's Eagle 6 SRS, which fills the gap in between the Dragon and Dominator models, and the latest incarnation has recently been upgraded with Sidi's Sole Replacement System (SRS) to extend its usable life, especially in regions that require frequent hike-a-bikes. As with the Genius 6.6, the Eagle 6 SRS uppers are made with Lorica and nylon mesh and are equipped with the same Ultra SL buckle, adjustable instep pad, slip-resistant Velcro forefoot straps, and Heel Cup System. In this case, though, the uppers are bonded to a less exciting nylon sole. This year's Great British summer provided plenty of vastly different testing conditions and surfaces, from hardpacked earth to some pretty squelchy muck. Unfortunately, the Eagle's nylon sole was rather soft while on the bike, although that bit of flex was admittedly quite handy when running (walking!) up slopes that were either too steep, or too slippery to ride up. Likewise, the SRS system proved to be pretty grippy, thanks to the softer-than-usual compound that Sidi uses for its replaceable tread. Sloppier conditions would have warranted fitting the optional toe studs, although it was somewhat disappointing that they weren't included with the shoes. While their threading is standard, the surrounding pocket is definitely more appropriately sized for Sidi-branded studs which aren't always so easy to come by. Again, just as we found on the Genius 6.6, the uppers fit exceptionally well and the new Heel Cup System means the shoe fits better all around and also reduces any need to overtighten the straps. As a result, there is no need to crush your insteps to keep them from moving around and fewer circulation-restricting pressure points. Sidi definitely won some points for the our test pair's spangly aluminium/titanium/midnight blue colour scheme (why doesn't the US market get more of this stuff?), but an all-black version is also available for those so inclined. Despite repeatedly getting covered in all sorts of sticky gunk, they also cleaned up nicely, and continued to shine on. /BA Weight: 796g (1.75lbs) for Size 43.5 Price: €222.00 Pros: Comfortable, secure fit; good, grippy soles; great Sidi styling Cons: Toe studs not included and non-Sidi brands are hard - or impossible - to fit; sole stiffness will likely be lacking for more speed-oriented riders Cyclingnews rating: More info: www.sidi.it Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com The Sidi Eagle 6 SRS MTB shares the Sole Replacement System with the top-of-the-line Dragon 2. Sidi's Sole Replacement System proved to be really grippy in all kinds of conditions. The striking aluminum/titanium/midnight blue Eagle 2 SRS MTB is also available in black. There is space for optional toe studs but not enough room to fit non-Sidi ones. As well as being grippy the sole pattern also works well in shedding mud. The Eagle 2 SRS MTB is also equipped with Sidi's excellent Ultra SL buckle. Nylon teeth keep the straps from slipping. The new Heel Cup System is particularly useful when your foot is on the ground. Spiuk ZS1-RC - Spanish kicks hit US soil The ZS1-RC is Spiuk's top-of-the-line road shoe offering. Photo ©: James Huang Spiuk delivers the ZS1-RC with two sets Photo ©: James Huang The broad composite sole Photo ©: James Huang The tongue incorporates a soft and flexible Photo ©: James Huang The well-designed buckle can be adjusted Photo ©: James Huang Spiuk's entry for the high-end road shoe market is the ZS1-RC, built with a 'Livepore' microfiber and nylon mesh upper secured by a ratcheting buckle, two forefoot Velcro straps, and an injection molded heel cup. The buckle itself is a particularly nice bit with its aluminum lever and half-step ratchets that allow for a more fine tunable fit. Inside, Spiuk delivers the ZS1-RC with two sets of foam insoles: a perforated one for summer use, and a solid one to help retain warm air. Spiuk perches the upper atop a one-piece 'white carbon' sole equipped with a reasonably sized forefoot vent and a pair of grippy pads for when a hot latte calls your name. The sole is drilled for three-hole-compatible cleats, and the cleat area itself is texturized to prevent slipping. Like it or lump it (we're of the former mindset), the styling is undoubtedly European with its bold gloss white finish. In contrast, the fit is surprisingly roomy, particularly up around the toes, and the half-step buckle and forefoot straps combine to deliver a secure hold. Out on the road, though, that secure hold unfortunately didn't prove to be super comfortable on longer rides as the poorly aligned D-rings on the forefoot straps and relatively sparsely padded main strap produced some nagging hot spots. Moreover, the Livepore material doesn't help much in providing a glove-like fit. While Spiuk did a good job with the overall shape of the uppers, the stiff material doesn't conform particularly well to your foot and the glossy finish causes the forefoot straps to bind on themselves when tightening. Lastly, although the ZS1-RC is pegged as a top-end shoe, Spiuk only offers it in sizes 40 through 46, and no half sizes are available. Our sz44 testers were close enough, although we did have to crack out the thicker socks. Thankfully, the sole offered more-than-adequate stiffness, excellent support, and we didn't experience any pressure points on the bottoms of our feet even during longer rides. However, we do have to take some issue with the 'white carbon' labeling: carbon fiber is black, folks, and Spiuk almost certainly uses either metallized fiberglass for the ZS1-RC (the most common material used for 'white carbon') or metal-coated carbon fiber (unlikely), as does just about anyone else using that characteristic woven silver stuff. Regardless, the silver sole does look pretty cool, but the not-really-carbon-fiber construction likely contributes to the shoe's somewhat weighty 696g per pair showing at the scales, especially when you consider the relative lack of interior padding. On the whole, the Spiuk ZS1-RC still offers up a reasonable alternative in the crowded sea of footwear, but some details need to be addressed before it can really compete with the more established players. Weight: 696g per pair (size 44, with summer insoles) Price: US$239.99 Pros: Euro styling, stiff sole, secure fit, roomy toebox Cons: relatively heavy; hot spots from poorly aligned D-rings on forefoot straps and inadequate padding on main strap; limited sizes Cyclingnews rating: More info: www.dpmsports.com Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com The ZS1-RC is Spiuk's top-of-the-line road shoe offering. Mmm… Euro style. The broad composite sole offers plenty of stiffness and support. Spiuk uses a 'Livepore' microfiber material and nylon mesh for the uppers. The well-designed buckle can be adjusted in half-steps for a more finely tuned fit. The tongue incorporates a soft and flexible center to reduce tendon irritation. The rear of the ZS1-RC is equipped with an injection-molded heel cup. The cleat area is texturized to prevent cleat slippage. Spiuk delivers the ZS1-RC with two sets of insoles for summer and winter use.