Shimano RO86L SPD SL Road Bike Shoes Reviewed

The most critical element of your gear set up, second only to your helmet, would most likely be the shoes you select. This is where your power and effort meets the road via your shoes. As with anything else, there are so many to choose from. It can certainly be a perplexing challenge considering all the many brands, models, prices, and colors to select.

This review of the Shimano RO86L SPD SL road bike shoes will aim to help aid you in narrowing down your choice to a specific brand or even model to seriously consider. I purchased the Shimano RO86L SPD SL road bike shoes back in 2009 without having tried them on first for fit and finish.

I basically did some research on the brand and model and made my choice. The question is did I make the right purchasing decision and would I buy these road bike shoes again? The answer to those two questions is yes and here is why but first, let’s look at some of the features of the product:

 Product Characterized

Shimano RO86L SPD SL Road Bike Shoes

These lightweight, performance road bike shoes have all the features you need to stay comfortable on your next fitness or distance ride.

• Fiberglass reinforced nylon sole achieves the perfect balance of stiffness and compliance
• Synthetic upper won’t stretch
• Dual layer mesh inserts enhance breathable comfort
• Micro-adjustable buckle and 2 Velcro straps ease pressure points while maintaining a comfortably snug feel

CLEAT COMPATIBILITY:	3-bolt; 2-bolt
WEIGHT:	569g/pair (size 40)
CLOSURE/STRAPS:	1 Ratchet/2 Velcro
MATERIAL (SOLE/UPPER):	Nylon; Synthetic/Nylon/Mesh

~Amazon.com

The Real World

My experience with these road bike shoes have been great and I am completely satisfied with my purchase. I should mention that these are my first pair of road bike shoes I have purchased to date since 2009. Having said that, the same basic process for selecting a pair of ordinary shoes is applied here. I think it is only natural to first consider the following:

1. Brand
2. Quality
3. Style
4. Price

After almost four years of use, the Shimano RO86L SPD SL road bike shoes have held up extremely well. The  black and silver color is an excellent combination as it tends to hide dirt, scratches, and nicks very well. They are very easy to clean and keep up with water and some shoe cleaner.

Negatives

While I have mentioned that this is my first set of road bike shoes, I do actually have one complaint ro observation. On the bottom of the shoe at the heel, there are two grip strips that will wear of as time passes with use. Although it seems to be a very insignificant concern, it is worth mentioning. In the defense of the shoes I do have two confessions:

1. The right foot is the one often dismounted from the pedal when coming to a full stop and for support.
2. I have had to walk 6 miles on two occasions with these shoes due to inner tube failures (this is not the shoe you EVER want to walk in…period!).

Pay close attention to the heel on the right shoe as it is almost completely worn.

The shoes are comfortable, light weight, firm and give excellent feed back in both the down and upstroke of the pedal cycle. I am very pleased with the Shimano RO86 SPD SL shoes considering that I ordered them online without ever having tried them on. [flagallery gid=2 name=Gallery]

Are The Shimano RO86L SPD SL Road Bike Shoes Right For You?

Unfortunately this model from Shimano is discontinued and left over stock is all that remains. What this really means is that it will be extremely difficult to find a dealer that has them in stock and let alone in your particular size. However, there is an option to consider with the Shimano SH-R087 Road Bike Shoe as it basically replaces the shoe in this review. You will notice that it has all the basic layout, features, and design queues of the Shimano RO86L SPD SL shoes.