Now that Valentin Madouas has won Olympic silver in Paris, it is a great time to publish our review of the Ekoï Racing C12 Pro Team road bike shoes to post. Why this review? It's the special Valentin Madouas edition! One that obviously has some French touches, but above all are very sleek. not only to look at, but also to cycle with. We put them in the spotlight for a moment, also with a little bow to Valentin Madouas, who of course only had to beat Evenepoel. No punishment.
Chic shoes in a chic bag
When we are sent the Ekoï Racing C12 Pro Team Valentin Madouas edition, we are instantly happy. The shoes come in a nice red bag and they look super sleek! The specific details added with Valentin Madouas stand out right away. BOA's red and blue dials, the French flag on the back and under the shoe. The insole also looks super cool. Enthusiasm is important! We do have a quick note and comment right away. Because although the shoes look super sleek, they are meant for men (or women) with narrow feet. We took a quick measurement and they are a full centimetre narrower than, say, the Lake CX 241. So if you have wide or 'difficult' feet, here's some advice: look for other shoes rather than these, despite the nice looks and high-quality carbon sole.
In use, they are even cooler
Honestly: beautiful material does something to your morale! Yes but really! When you walk in a fashionable way, you walk just a bit more upright. At least: that's my opinion. Now I am lucky to be supported by many brands, which probably makes this even easier, but still. These shoes bring out my inner French cockerel. So hop to it. So the shoes are advertised as for any foot, with a width of 30.2cm in size 47. The sole is on the narrow side, but there is some room in the foot. This is because of the roomy leather upper. BOA's dials turn tight well and you can adjust a lot with the leather outer, which changes smoothly with you.
Lovely footwear but not for everyone
After a few uses, these shoes are sure to complement many shoe collections. At first, the shoes fit wonderfully. They seem to fit well although with wider feet you will feel the tight sizing that has been chosen. The carbon soles do give you the ability to display every kick. The soles have bits of rubber from Micheling (why go different if you're French) and ventilation holes under the foot. You can really accelerate with these fancy shoes. On the ride, the dials sit well and provide good support.
Points of interest
I myself get a bit bothered by the narrower last after a few rides. It pinches a bit at the ball of my foot. It's the sleek finish, the race finish, which also Thymen Arensman uses. So it has to suit you a bit. For the amateur looking for a bit more forgiveness, it's nice to have a bit more forgiveness. So it is personal. You can feel the quality in everything and that is what I also want to emphasise.
Should you buy the Ekoï Racing C12 Pro Team?
In short, you can't fault much about the quality of these shoes. The leather is supple, you feel the support of the sole. You can hit every kick hard and you can also completely adjust the shoe to your foot. The Ekoï Racing C12 Pro Team are not cheap, close to €400, but that is right at a price point where similar shoes are also sold. For example, shoes from Sidi go for more than €400 over the counter and the top model from Shimano S-phyre and Lake Cycling also changes hands for more than €400. So in terms of pricing, fine. With these shoes, make sure you fit them extensively. And so if you have narrower feet, then it really is a top shoe. So for really wide feet, you have to decide for yourself how the shoes fit. So the advice is twofold and is very personal, especially with shoes.
More on road bike shoes: All about road bike shoes
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