Cycling shoes for long and short distance triathlon

Cadomotus has been making carbon shell sole shoes since the mid-1990s. At the time, clap skates caused a major revolution in the speed skating world, allowing skaters to break the 60km/h mark. However, to be able to take turns at such high speeds, skaters needed harder and stiffer boots for more stability and control. Skates are an extension of the body: athletes deliver a power of 2200 Watt, which is transferred to the ice through a 1.1-mm skate blade. The very same know-how and technology allowing such power transfers were applied for the creation of our triathlon cycling shoes, which are unmatchable on the market today.

Moreover, skating is known for its aerodynamic innovations. In fact, air resistance is the biggest opponent that skaters have to overcome. Thus, skaters were already wearing lycra suits when cyclists were still riding in wool jerseys.

For further improvements, it is all about knowing the characteristics of the different materials used to produce the newest and fastest speedskating suits, let’s say lycra rubber for example. Different materials are used on different body parts in order to reduce drag. Following the same logic, speedskate boots themselves have a smooth aerodynamic finish.

With this knowledge, Cadomotus designed the Chronos Aeroshoe, a shoe with a shape as smooth as can be, creating a laminar airflow around it in order to enhance your wind-resistance performance.

These types of shoes are very widely used in track cycling for a good reason: they are the link enabling your bike to become the extension of your body. You feel everything under your feet, and your power transfer becomes as efficient as can be. Track races are relatively short and explosive compared to road cycling. The track is one of cycling’s most demanding disciplines; this is where the strongest riders in the world put out the highest watts. The floor is fast and smooth, and all the conditions are controlled because it takes place indoors.

If you spend 4-8 hours every day outside on the bike, you need a certain level of comfort to keep up with your training. Some days are hot, others are cold; Some roads are smooth, and others are rough. This is why many road cyclists prefer shoes with a more flexible counter.

In triathlon, on the other hand, we are talking about 4-5 hours for an Ironman or less than an hour for a Worldcup sprint race. If you want to be as fast and efficient as you can be on those races, then carbon shell sole shoes are your best choice.

These shoes are designed for speed. The carbon sole is extremely stiff, which provides very efficient power transfer to your pedal. It feels as if you were one with the bike, as if your shoes were firmly attached to your pedals. Once you get used to this feeling, you probably won’t want to ride with anything else.

With prolonged effort, or due to high temperatures, your feet can swell. Your shoes will fit even more snugly since the carbon shell sole is not as flexible as the counter of a regular cycling shoe. If you get pressure points, we recommend widening your shoes a little, by heating them and then wearing them with socks on during the cooling down process. See heat molding instructions.

For more comfort during longer endurance rides, you could opt for regular bike shoes. However, a good number of athletes find the carbon shell sole shoes so comfortable that this is the only type of shoe they own. In short, it's personal. There is no counter indication to cycling with them every day.

In order to heat mold your shoes, you can use an oven or a heat gun, according on whether you want to reshape them fully or only in specific areas. The oven option is recommended if you need to remold several areas of the shoe at the same time, such as the toe box, the heel pocket, or the general width, while the heat gun will be preferred for local heating on the desired spot only.

Once your shoes are heated, put them on and let them cool down while wearing them. Sit down during this process to prevent putting too much load on the sole while the material is too malleable. The shell sole hardens again, keeping the shape of your foot. With this method, the shoe can be widened or narrowed by 2-3 mm – which equals one width size. If you are using a heat gun, you may also mold the heated part with the backside of a screwdriver or pliers.

Read the full heat molding instructions and the pros and cons of each method here.

The carbon shell sole of the shoe is heat moldable. This can be achieved by placing your shoes in a hot air oven or heating them with a heat gun. Instructions can be found here. After heating, put the shoes on and let them cool down while wearing them. The shell sole hardens again, keeping the shape of your foot. With this method, the shoe can be made 2-3 mm wider or narrower – which equals one width size. If you need the shoes to be even wider, select one size bigger. Read more about selecting the right shoe size here.