You’ve heard the phrase, “Everything old is new again”? Well, with the advent of custom townie bikes, wool kits, and the proliferation of tweed rides, this trend is holding its own in the world of cycling. The young American prodigy, and quite the fashion plate, Mr. Phinney, asked Giro to design a lace-up cycling shoe specifically for the 2012 London Games. And while we are sure part of it was a fashion statement, you can be sure that the Giro Empire ACC is worthy of a young man of Taylor’s pedigree. Starting at the uppers, they were wrapped with one piece of Evofiber microfiber. This fabric is exceptionally lightweight and highly breathable, featuring perforations for added cooling. This contributes not only to the sleek, wind-cheating profile, but it also reduces weight. And while the shoes might not appear to be very supportive, the opposite is actually true. Because of the flexibility of the microfiber, as well as the classic lace system, the shoes are able to be tied so that they fit your feet like a second skin. Adding to this is the ultralight and ultra-stiff Easton EC90 ACC Carbon Sole. One of the stiffest soles in the industry, it features a low 6. 5mm stack height that mates with the uppers for unrivaled power transfer. The lower the stack height, the closer the cleats, and thereby your feet, are to the pedals. This minimizes power loss that occurs with thicker cleat plates. The footbed provided is an adjustable SuperNatural Fit Kit. It allows you to fine-tune support to where your feet need it the most. Additionally, it was constructed with X-Static Antimicrobial fiber to keep odors and bacteria at bay. The Giro Empire ACC Shoes are available in whole and half sizes from 39. 0 to 46. 5 and in whole sizes 47. 0 to 50. 0. They come in four colors: White/black, Matte Black/highlight yellow, Matte Black/florescent orange, and Matte Black/black.
