From time to time, we at CyclingDestination get some products sent to us to evaluate. Such was the case from Ekoï, the Fréjus-based manufacturer of cycling clothing, shoes and accessories. We were sent a pair of beautiful white mules, the Ekoï Road R4. Why these shoes? According to Ekoï, even with wider feet (as I have), you can get around well in these shoes. That calls for a thorough test and so it was. Below, you can read why you should (or maybe not) buy the Ekoï Road R4 shoes!
Before cycling
As I wrote: I have big feet. Size 47 to be precise. Foot-long canoe. But also wide feet. A bit of a model duck. As a result, many shoes quickly fall off. Especially the Italian beautiful 'mules' are not for me. Although I cycled for years on a wide variant of an Italian brand, I noticed it wasn't quite right. So now, therefore, these Ekoï Road R4 shoes. With my foot length of almost 30cm, I need the largest size. That one measures 29.9cm and on paper that fits well. We will see!
Installation cleats on the Ekoï Road R4
When I get my hands on the shoes, they look nice and sleek. Basically what you would expect from shoes in this price range, €280 for a pair. In terms of prices: always pay attention because Ekoï uses dynamic pricing, so there are (big) differences in product prices from one moment to the next. Back to the shoes. When I go to attach the cleats, I am a little disappointed. The auxiliary lines at the bottom of the shoes are missing. While you can't always rely on the manufacturer to make sure they are also dead straight, it's still a fine benchmark. This makes it difficult to find some kind of benchmark. There are tools for that, such as the ERGON TP1 adjustment jig. I didn't have those handy for a while, so it became guesswork.
More on cleats: Cleats and pedals - what should I choose now?
Stiff for speed
When I put the shoes on for the first time, I immediately notice that these Ekoï R4 Road shoes are very stiff. Not only is the sole rock hard, but the lip is also very stiff. Some enquiries provide the answer: the shoes are made for performance, the pros want them nice and stiff, so this is one of them. It takes some getting used to. Fortunately, the shoe has two BOA dials, which allow you to shape the shoe well around the foot. The stiffness of the outer layer means you do have to turn it two or three times to get it right. In terms of width, it fits perfectly.
Need for speed
Fair is fair. My first ride with these new hooves was really laborious. The stiffness of the lip in particular makes me spend all the time trying to get the shoe right again. Then too tight, then too loose, then it just doesn't sit right. Now I cycle every day, so I have enough time to find the right adjustment. My second ride already goes a lot better. Then I also notice that these shoes are made for accelerating. The stiff sole ensures that every pedal stroke is a hit. Plus, the looks are sleek too. I like that, although I'm not necessarily a purist in that area.
Longer use
By now, at the time of writing, I have owned the shoes for over two months. After the first few rides feeling a bit uncomfortable, the shoes have now completely moulded to me. I wear them almost every ride and it is now a pleasure to ride with them. I couldn't find if you can also heat the shoes in the oven for a while and then have them adjusted to your foot. That would be another option to shape them a bit right away. You see that with other brands, but with Ekoï it's still a mystery. What I did notice: I run like a train with these shoes. One PR after another goes down. That while I didn't necessarily have bad shoes before that. But maybe morale does something too?
Final verdict Ekoï Road R4
These shoes are made for cycling hard. You can feel that when you put them on, you can see that on your GPS, and you can basically see that in the price. The list price of €282 can be called hefty. But Ekoï's variable pricing strategy ensures that you can buy it more often for a more attractive price. But should you? That is, of course, very personal. As I wrote: the first encounter was not a love at first try. But as with many things: not everything is pleasant the first time. Your first ride on the bike, that was probably also a challenge. But as also written: after that, it only begins. The shoes are now moulded to my feet and they feel more natural. I ride them comfortably, I feel I can really release my power as well and I can get on well. For a current price of under €200, I even think it's a bargain. So do it? Yes definitely. but take note: if you have really MEGA wide feet, opt for another brand. Because although these are wide slippers, if you have really wide feet, you need special shoes.
