Early into my first year of road bike racing, I increased my average speed by 2 mph overnight. That’s an enormous gain. Guess what changed?

It was the shoes.

I came into road bike racing after two years of doing sprint distance triathlons. I had a pair of entry-level triathlon shoes. Carpooling to my first road race, one of my more experienced teammates Erin asked, “Who brought the triathlon shoes?” It was me, of course. “You need real road biking shoes,” she said.

I thought she was giving me flak for being a triassolet, but it turns out she had an argument. Erin worked in a cycling shop and was well-versed in all things gear. She told me that triathlon shoes can sacrifice some performance for ease of getting into and out of during transition, as well as comfort (you stick a wet foot in there coming out of the swim, typically sans sock). The fact that they were entry-level, which means a less rigid sole, was even more problematic. “Think about it,” Erin said, “the shoe is the one thing that stands between you and your power transfer to the pedals. Do you really want something sub-optimal?”

That did it. The very next day, I went to my local cycling shop and picked up the best pair of road bike shoes I could find – carbon fiber soles and all. The supple Italian leather was baby blue, to match my kit. I was in love. So in love that I barely balked at the price, which was more than I paid for my hardtail mountain bike. These shoes were going to make me faster, I was certain.

I took them for a spin that afternoon, on a one-hour loop that I do regularly from my house. It was like the difference between running in flip-flops and running in professionally fit Nikes. My normal average on that route was 16.5 mph. With my new shoes, it was 18.5 mph. Maybe it was the adrenaline from having spent a boatload of money, maybe the winds were in my favor, maybe my training was finally starting to pay off, but I remain convinced it was the shoes.

So without further ado, I present the Top Five Reasons Why High-End Cycling Shoes Matter:

1. They are about a third lighter. That’s 300 grams. If you need an explanation why weight matters in cycling, you’re probably way out of your league perusing this website. Downgrade to a less-technical site immediately.
2. They come with a carbon fiber sole. The stiffer the sole, the more direct power transfer between you and your pedals. Cheaper shoes will use plastic, or a combination of plastic, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Not only are those materials heavier, but they are more flexible.
3. They use state-of-the-art technology to fit like a glove. My entry-level triathlon shoes had three Velcro straps. Period. My new road race shoes used a patented buckle system for the top strap. Straps two and three were Velcro with integrated locking polymer teeth that engage onto each other when the strap is closed. This feature makes the closure more secure, as the strap becomes unmovable. In addition, many high-end shoes use an adjustable heel system to prevent the power-robbing heel lift. A heel system works by reinforcing the top of the heel cup, and improves fit by closing the back of the shoe more securely around the rider’s ankle. My new shoes adjusted 6 mm on either side with the turn of a screw.
4. They are durable. One year of racing triathlon and my old shoes looked shot. My new shoes have survived three race seasons and look nearly new. Quality of material makes a huge difference. A shoe made of a breathable, supple, leather upper with cooling mesh inserts, will always outlast one made from synthetic leather or plastic.
5. They fit semi-custom, coming in half sizes, as well as different widths. Fit is very individual, and cheaper shoes accommodate by adding longer straps or wider toe-boxes, which means their shoes end up fitting poorly on a wider range of feet.

I won a silver in the State Criterium Championships last season, and was ranked the #1 Category 4 female racer in Colorado. When people ask, I tell them, “It was the shoes.”