L’Estate Italiana
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We fell in love with the DMT:R1 last year. It cut the cleanest profile of any shoe in the peloton: two simple boas, no forefoot Velcro, no extra bolted-on parts, no strange shaping or multiple fabrics in the upper. The R1 fit even better than it looked and the outsole was stiff, even wrapping up around the foot with a shallow tub shape. The one knock against them? On long, hot days, with lots of climbing they could get warm. They are vented quite well by a small port in the outsole, but when climbing slowly the vent isn’t as effective.
PELOTON
DMT has solved this for 2017 with the R1 Summer. It’s everything we love about the R1, with a new upper. It’s completely mesh, but covered in a polyurethane film to reinforce it, giving it shape that adapts to your foot, but keeps that shape under heavy pedaling loads. At the shoe’s instep, three large ports have been left uncovered, exposing the mesh and giving the upper exceptional breathability. The tongue is also perforated for more cooling. The outsole retains the toe vent, while the four-hole Speedplay-specific outsole gets two smaller vents. With the new walkable Speedplay cleat and the R1 Summer’s substantial, replaceable heel pad, walking in the shoes is incredibly easy. But don’t worry, you won’t want to do much walking in these shoes.
DMT makes every pair by hand in its factory with a team tracing its roots back to the 1980s. At DMT the mentor and apprentice system is still used, with skilled artisans passing down not just the process, but also the passion behind making great shoes—and it is evident in each pair of R1 Summer shoes. The fit and finish are exceptional, complementing the clean lines and minimalist design to perfection. It also helps make the shoe incredibly comfortable.
DMT’s fit philosophy is similar to that of other Italian shoe manufacturers: relatively low volume. But we’ve found going up one full size from SIDI or Specialized shoes will provide more room in the toe box without compromising comfort or security. 275g (size 41), $340; dmtcycling.com