If I have broken one unwritten rule of the cycling world in recent years, it is wearing white shoes. My gold pair of Italian-made black sneakers have been doing very well for a while now, but they are also getting a bit worn out. For CyclingDestination, I was allowed to test the Ekoï C4 race shoes. They are white, but fortunately with some black accents. And this is not just any shoe; under the race shoes, this is the flagship model.
Text and photos: Ella van der Veer
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Lightweight socks
When you take the shoe out of the bag, you immediately notice how light they are: around 230 grams each. You can immediately see that this shoe is focused on performance. The sole is made of carbon and is anything but flexible. The shoes are closed with the Atop system, which always works very well and doesn’t give any annoying pressure points. What also immediately stands out is the sleek look; I can see why white shoes are the standard. They complement any refined outfit excellently!
Strikingly wide front
Time for the first fitting! As I mentioned, I actually only wear Italian shoes with corresponding narrow heels. I have very narrow feet and many shoes are too wide for me. When fitting the Ekoï’s I immediately noticed that the heel is very narrow, and with the anti-slip fabric on the inside you can’t move at all. The front is on the wide side for me, but I’ll try it anyway.
Adjusting and going
My first ride is mostly about getting used to it, adjusting the shoe plates and getting them to fit my new posture. The sole is incredibly stiff, something I find very comfortable as I’m a performance-oriented cyclist. The power transfer is perfect, but next to the bike you notice that these shoes aren’t made for walking. Because the front is slightly too wide, I notice a slight slip when sprinting at full throttle. The upper is made of light mesh with plenty of ventilation, in addition to the three ventilation holes in the sole. Very nice during the warm summer, but in the winter you need a good pair of socks.
Tougher sole
Are there any downsides to these shoes? The included insole is very thin; I have custom insoles so I don’t have any problems with that, but you don’t get any support from the included insole. I also missed some guide lines when assembling the shoe plates; they were quite well in place after one ride.
Ekoï C4 Race Cycling Shoes for Everyone
By now I have ridden about 500 km in these shoes, and they still feel great to me. Especially in short sprint-like training sessions, I prefer a slightly tighter shoe, but on longer rides I actually find the wider front quite comfortable. You should always try on shoes for yourself; every foot is unique, but these Ekoï The C4 offers a lot of performance for a reasonable price. In my opinion, they are a great addition to my shoe collection! If you are a KOM-hunter, a criterium-killer, or just a passionate cyclist, then these shoes are definitely the right choice for you.
Questions & tips
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