dhb R1.0 Road Cycling Shoe

Review from road.cc

Light and comfortable road shoes, perfect for training, sportives and entry-level racing. Excellent value too.

In conclusion...

The dhb range of cycle clothing has a reputation for good value and these new R1.0 road shoes are no exception. They're light, stiff and comfortable, making them ideal for training, sportives and entry-level racing.

The R1.0 moniker indicates that these shoes are the new version of dhb's R1 model. They don't have a recessed cleat housing, so they're not suitable for touring or commuting if you're going to walk any distance after parking your bike, but for most other forms of road cycling they do the job very nicely indeed.

The upper consists of leather-look synthetic fabric around the base, ankle, tongue and toe box, with some mesh panels along each side for ventilation. The toe box also has some rather retro looking breather holes to further help air in, or moisture out, depending on conditions. Compared to some other shoes, there's not a huge amount of ventilation, but this was no problem on the slight chilly spring days of my test rides, and for all but the hottest days they should be fine.

The area round the heel is rigid - dhb say this is deliberate to help you unclip from your pedals more easily. It seems to work, with no negative pay-off, although I have to say that unclipping has never been in problem in any of my other cycling shoes.

The shoes are fastened with three Velcro straps, and the lining is made from something called 'quad-core mesh' which provides a good degree of padding without your foot feeling sloppy inside. The insole is also slightly spongy, thanks to ribbing on the underside. This provides extra comfort, but you may want to swap it out for something which provides a bit more arch support, depending on the shape and structure of your own feet.

The sole is made from 'premium grade Nylon polymer' and is plenty stiff enough to spread the load and to transfer thrust from your legs into the pedals. As mentioned, there's no recess for a cleat, and the sole's only other features are a small horseshoe-shaped heel stud and a few similar studs under the toe area to aid walking when you really can't be on your bike.

The shoes appear to have fittings for three-hole cleats (Look and SPD-SL) and two-hole cleats (original SPD) but the advice on the Wiggle website (dhb is Wiggle's own brand) is that these shoes take three-hole cleats only. I bolted my Look Keo cleats straight in with no bother.

The R1.0 shoes are available in black or white, with a few bits of red and silver trim. The silver is reflective - a handy touch for all you night-riders out there.

I've done a few hundred miles in these shoes so far. They are definitely comfortable, and I'm not aware of flex in the sole or any other problems.

Sizing seems accurate: I take size 43 in Shimano and Specialized shoes; these dhb R1.0s are also 43 and I don't notice any size discrepancy. I have wide feet and find some shoe brands a bit on the narrow side, but these R1.0s were fine.

Retailing at a penny less than £50, these shoes are very good value for the levels of comfort and performance provided.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review from Cykla

Dhb is the own brand of English mail-order company Wiggle. The shoes we have tested are available in a country road version, as well as a version for the forest. We tested the country road shoe. These are their cheapest shoes, and with the price of around 590 SEK it is pretty much the cheapest out there.

After looking more closely at the shoes one gets suspicious. Why are they so cheap? They look like they would be at least twice as much. Furthermore, the shoes were delivered in white and red, which are my favorite colors.

It is a simple construction, three Velcro straps and a plastic sole, all to keep the price down. Despite that, the shoes fit well. The weight in size 46 is around 390 grams. After a couple of long rides, I can happily say that they fit well without pinching in any way, or making my feet go numb. The soles are not as stiff as they are in a more expensive pair made of carbon fibre, but still do not flex in ways that affect the cycling negatively. The only negative thing about the shoes is that they are a bit too airtight when it's hot. On a really hot summer's day it gets sweaty, and it gets a bit too stuffy.

When you are used to more advanced mechanisms to adjust the fit of the shoe, the Velcro straps sometimes feel a bit too simple. After a while you nevertheless realize that it somehow feels good not to be able to adjust the fit with precision. You learn to be happy with what you have got.

In conclusion...

If you want a pair of simple and cheap shows that still are good enough for relatively high-level cycling, this is a good choice. Dhb D 1.0 cannot compare with the most expensive shoes from the established manufacturers, but they are still on a high standard, especially when you consider the price.

Rating: N/A