I don't have any stake in Giro or anything cycling-related. (I could probably make some money by promising NOT to associated myself with specific cycling products.) But I want to share a good experience with this product.

I bought a pair of Giro Empire ACC on closeout (the limited edition gray and red), because a guy I respect and trust said that since he started riding Giro Empire, he doesn't wear anything else. These are shoes with shoelaces–that's their main thing, I guess–but they also have a nice stiff sole. Anyway, I took my first ride today, and they were glorious. Made more of a difference than a new bike.

I know that shoes are very idiosyncratic. So maybe the message of my post is to look around for some good shoes. I would say that when I tried them on, though, they were nothing special and I even wondered if they were too small. (They aren't. I do a 45 on other shoes and did it for these too. Maybe fit on other shoes is slightly too big, but not sure.)

Anyway, I love these shoes.