Shimano Updates its Flagship S-PHYRE RC902 Road Shoe

What do you do when you want to update your top of the line shoe, one that has been well received by riders and reviewers? That’s the question Shimano faced with the S-PHYRE RC902 road shoe. The answer? Take a deep dive into pedaling dynamics to make a shoe that better transfers power while maintaining a comfortable and lightweight design.

PELOTON

By examining how pressure is applied around the foot at different points in the pedal stroke, Shimano engineers were able to discover distinct zones where pressure is distributed differently. Using this knowledge, they redesigned the upper with new materials and introduced a new Dynalast shape that offers more room in the toe box. In fact, for 2021, Shimano has updated just about every part of this shoe but the already super-stiff sole.

Made of a mix of reinforced mesh and microfiber leather, the RC902’s upper is more rigid in the rear, offering a secure fit for maximum power transfer, but becomes more flexible and elastic in the front for added comfort. The shoe also uses a new “360-Degree Surround Upper” design which completely wraps the shoe upper, including the base of the shoe, further leading to a comfortable, secure fit. Two of the latest generation Boa Li2 dials secure the upper.

Studying pedal dynamics also led to a redesigned heel cup that features “anti-twist stabilizer heel cup technology,” which holds the foot more securely in place. That essentially means the heel cup is made of a blend of rigid and flexible material to stabilize the top section of the heel cup to keep the foot firmly in place even during the most powerful sprints.

Look for the shoes in October 2020. Learn more at bike.shimano.com 

$425; 235 grams per shoe; 4 colors (white, blue, red, black); men’s sizes 36-48 (half sizes for 37-47); women’s seizes: 36-44 in full sizes (white only)