When it comes to cycling, Shimano is omnipresent. There aren’t many of us who won’t have owned a Shimano groupset, set of wheels or don’t instantly recognise the blue and white branding of Neutral Service at one of the major classics or tours.
But there’s another side to Shimano that doesn’t get nearly as much coverage. It’s ability to make some of the best cycling shoes on the market.
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(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
Construction
As with all cycling shoes, the SH-RC102 has three key elements: the sole, upper, and footbed.
The sole is the core of the shoe, similar to a frame on a bike, and it supports the rest of the shoe. At the high end of cycling shoes, it’s common for the sole to be made from carbon to keep the shoe light and stiff.
However, Shimano has chosen a honeycomb-patterned glass fibre and nylon sole with a three-bolt cleat system for this model. This combination of materials, along with a low midsole stack height that reduces the distance between your foot and pedal, aims to create a shoe that is stiff and stable for efficient pedaling while remaining comfortable by allowing some flexibility in the sole.
This flexibility also helps with off-bike walking, supported by a rubber heel pad for better grip on hard surfaces. However, these are not full dual-purpose shoes for off-bike use. The only additional feature on the sole is a reinforced toe tap zone for when you unclip at junctions. The three-bolt cleat system provides most of the ground contact, and the choice of system greatly affects your ability to handle off-bike maneuvers safely.
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
The upper is made of synthetic leather with perforation holes and features a three-strap closure system. This design helps keep the shoes lightweight, weighing 242g per shoe or 484g for the pair in size 40. For comparison, the top-tier Shimano S-Phyre RC903 shoes, which cost about three times more, weigh approximately 225g each in size 42.
However, Velcro straps can degrade over time due to dirt and use, and they can also be tricky to use with overshoes, as they often catch or peel when pulling on.
It’s worth noting that I was reviewing the women’s version of the SH-RC102, which Shimano states is designed for lower-volume feet. According to the brand, ‘DYNALAST women’s fit features decreased volume around key areas of the foot, providing a consistent, optimal fit for a slimmer foot shape.’ They also come in smaller sizes down to a 36EU.
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
The ride
Getting your cleats positioned right on shoes can be tricky, and while one can’t assume our feet require them in the same position on both sides, it’s a good starting point in setting them up.
My attention was therefore immediately grabbed when I discovered the detailed crosshairs and measurements on the sole of the Shimano SH-RC102 road shoes. Even the wildly expensive Rapha Pro Team Powerwave shoes don’t have anywhere nearly as many reference points.
The swift set-up meant I was out on the road in no time, and it was only now that I realised that this was my first pair of black road shoes. I’d become accustomed to wearing black gravel shoes, but always shied away from lighter coloured socks for obvious off-road reasons. But as an avid white sock wearer on the road, my gaze was immediately drawn to my feet and the contrasting shoes, which made me feel like I was committing some cycling faux pas.
I tried to ignore it and pretend I was going for a classic retro look, but it was certainly not something I was mentally prepared to anguish over. While black is arguably a more practical colourway than white shoes, and they do include a hint of reflectivity, you may need to rethink your cycling wardrobe as a consequence, especially if you’re on the women’s version, as there’s only black or violet grey on offer.
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
Once over the wardrobe crisis, I began to enjoy my rides in the SH-RC102 road shoes. So much so that I threw caution to the wind and took them on a trip to the southern German Black Forest, where I was gifted another realization that it’s A: incredibly undulating and B: it can get up to 30 degrees/86°F.
Fortunately, under this level of performance pressure, the SH-RC102 road shoes became my diamonds. Over the six-hour 100km ride and 1500 meters of climbing, they were superb.
I can suffer with numbness on rides this long and hilly with very stiff shoes, but with plenty of cushioning and toebox space, I was able to keep wriggling my toes all day. The mix of climbing, descending, and heat also meant my foot size changed throughout the day, so having the ability to dial the size by a swift tug on the velcro at either the top, middle, or toe area of the shoe was a real blessing.
The central strip is a little short, exposing a centimeter or so of the hook element of the Velcro when on. This won’t impact the shoe performance, but will attract any rogue detritus, making them look a little scruffy quicker than they would without it on display.
A lot of people note that Shimano shoes come up small size-wise, but for me, these were spot on, so it’s worth checking the size guide before ordering.
There were times when I felt a little overheated in them; they were the first things to be removed at café stops to help cool my feet down, but I suspect a better choice of ventilating socks would help no end here.
When I left my shoes on to walk from the bike to the café and around, I felt safe and supported. I do use the Keo cleats rather than Shimano, though. The downside is that the rubber shoe heel will wear out in time, and unfortunately, it’s not replaceable.
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
Value and conclusion
The Shimano SH-RC102 road cycling shoes are a great option for anyone starting their road cycling journey or riders seeking a more relaxed pace and valuing comfort over pedal performance.
That’s not to say they feel like slippers, but if you have a strong kick in a sprint or generate a lot of power, you might find them a little too flexible.
The velcro will degrade and isn’t replaceable like a Boa dial, but for the price, I thought they offered excellent value. The only downside is that the women’s fit is limited to just black or violet (which is more like a grey).