SAVE 25% £59.98
£35.99
SAVE 20% £48.15
£29.99
Buy options
RCUK said of the 2008 dhb R1RCUK is continually impressed with online retailer wiggle's dhb products, and it's not just the low prices that are attractive, but also the high quality and equally high performance that are hard to avoid . The R1 road shoe, released earlier this year, aims to expand dhb's presence into footwear, and while it's undoubtedly an entry-level product, there's a lot to recommend. A stiffened nylon midsole is stiff for good power transfer, and an anatomical designed heel cup ensures a comfortable fit. Three velcro straps keep the shoes in place and the cordura and synthetic leather upper works well in a range of temperature conditions, offering good ventilation in warmer weather. The reinforced toe-cup ensures durability. Underneath it's pleasing to see that the R1 shoes have drillings for most common cleats, including Look, SPD and SPD-R. Available in eight sizes (40-47) and two colour options.
They may not sing and dance like the top-end carbon ratchet shoes, but they provide a surprisingly good platform for pedalling, are comfortable and the Velcro straps keep the weight down and are easy to adjust. And all at less than £50, they are a steal.
When we last tested the R1, the shoe scored very highly for its 'excellent value for money and performance'. The only thing that has changed for 2009 is that the plastic toe cap has gone, replaced by a better looking leather one.There's good meshed venting panels in the synthetic 'leather' and Cordura uppers, and also in the fairly stiff 'I-beam' profiled nylon sole. The high-profiled heel and toe bumpers will save any cafe stop embarrassment too.The double tongue is a nice feature - one outside the shoe to keep the weather out and spread the force of the three Velcro straps across the top of your foot, and an elasticated one inside with a loop attached to the base for making the shoe very easy to pull on.The vented resin sole will accept a three-bolt cleat (like Look, Shimano and Time) but also a two-bolt pattern for Shimano SPD And SPD-R cleats. There's a good degree of stiffness to the sole which is married to a hard-wearing upper.Considering the price, the R1 road shoes have a surprising feel of quality to them and a performance to match. They also come in black and silver - which we'd prefer to the slightly pallid red here.
Comfort and performance combined at an excellent price
Said of the 2008 dhb R1, all that's changed for 09 is that dhb have added a leather toe cap to improve the looks!Considering the price the R1 road shoes have a surprising feel of quality to them and a performance to match. The vented resin sole will accept a three-bolt cleat (like Look, Shimano and Time) but also a two-bolt pattern for Shimano SPD And SPD-R cleats. There's a good degree of stiffness to the sole which is married to a hard-wearing upper. The high toe box comes with extra protection and there's a double tongue to pad the food from the three Velcro straps. They are also available in black.
Excellent value for money and performance for the sports rider