Sidi

Cape Cycling Shoe - Men's

Brand new for 2015, Sidi's Cape Shoes' ability to leap formerly inviolable tech barriers in a single bound indicates that they may well be super hero-worthy. Contrary to the classic article of super-hero accoutrement suggested by the shoes' name, neither the low-profile ratcheting buckle and Tecno-3 wire buckle — combined here for the first time in an act of super-human engineering — will flap in the wind. Sleek, stiff, secure: super.

The Cape shoes incorporate both a traditional ratcheting buckle at the top and the Tecno-3 wire dial for the mid- and forefoot. The Tecno-3 buckle operates like a quick-release hub: flip the lever up to open it, turn to tighten, and flip it down to lock your fit in place. The wire itself is both non-binding and non-stretch, so it adjusts smoothly without loosening over the course of your ride. Of course, one of the joys of owning Sidi shoes is mid-ride fiddling, so rest assured that both buckles are easily adjustable while in the saddle. The shoes also have the same amount of instep padding as Basso's own favorites, the Genius 6.6, so you can ratchet these puppies down with impunity.

The Capes' Competition Soles bring a forgiving blend of functional stiffness and trail-worthy durability to the shoes' outsoles. They include the option of mounting two toe spikes for sloppy 'cross run-ups or sodden hikes back to the trailhead if you have the misfortune of destroying a tire. They're also equipped with debris-clearing lugs for traction on everything from trails to slick flooring. Finally, if you've ever lost a buckle to a crash, then you'll be happy to know that all of the shoes' fastening hardware is replaceable.