PepeM

They are.

Why not? Afraid you would be attracting too much attention from the opposite sex?

BillyD

Doug who?

f4rrest

They're pretty... going on my list.

Trsnrtr

Probably. I tried on a pair in a Performance shop and they fit well.

rpenmanparker 

I like the look of the Specialized ones both, black and red.

Trsnrtr

The problem I would have with shoes like these is they would be scuffed up most of the time. I'm pretty hard on my cycling shoes.

Dan333SP

Casual chatting with my mechanic after the beer schtupping, he thinks it's time for me to get new wheels (brake tracks are worn), new chainrings (nearly 20,000 miles on these without replacement), new chain (around 3,000 miles but worn), a new cassette, new jockey wheels, and new pedals (sticky bearings that can't be serviced). I also need new shoes as these are pretty beat up and squeak constantly, and a new team kit.

This year is going to be expensive for my biking habits

WhyFi

I wish that Giros fit my feet - the Empires are pretty pretty.

PepeM

I really like those too. The problem I have with them is that they are way too expensive for me.

rpenmanparker 

Wait, the Giros are cheaper?

PepeM

Those (Republics) are. I think I paid like $60 for them. They are SPDs though (hence not real shoes I guess.)

Dan333SP

Wasn't that "We're going to yell at you" thread about people showing up for road rides with MTB cleats?

rjones28 

I don't wear real shoes either.

PepeM

Maybe I should bump the thread with my recent experience.

rjones28 

Another lace up shoe is the Specialized Recon. They call it an adventure shoe or something like that. Kind of a slimmed down MTB shoe. Shouldn't show scuffs much.

WalksOn2Wheels

Exactly. I have those as well for my CX bike, but wore them as commuter shoes for a while. The irony being that if they were Empires the guy would have said "Hey, awesome shoes, man," with the only difference being a plastic sole and MTB vs. road cleats. For road I have the SLX shoes which are awesome.

BillyD

Is that real leather? Leather is heavy. How much do they weigh? That's rotational mass, you know.

PepeM

Not real leather, although there is a leather version (but it's expensive.) As for weight, I ride without socks to compensate.

Dan333SP

Guess which feet are mine. Team photo last evening, pretty varied sock game.

PepeM

I'm guessing all the way to the left. I like those blue shoes.

Dan333SP

I think they're Rapha. I'm the beat up Giros with hairy legs and invisible socks, pro af.

Trsnrtr

Me, either. My wife and I do way too much touring to use Look style shoes even though I do own a pair of Sidi road shoes.

Dan333SP

True story from that ride. We are all at a light, chatting. A car pulls up with a good looking lady. She rolls down her window and says something friendly to us about checking out our bikes, and then gets excited and says to one of us, "Hey, I recognize you!" He said she looked familiar but couldn't place her, so he asked her where, and she said, "I gave you and your wife a lap dance at (creepy local strip club) a few years ago! How is your kid?"

We will never let him live that one down.

LAJ

I consider bike shoes on the same level as work shoes. Comfortable, utilitarian, and who gives a **** if they show some work. A little or a lot of scuffing should be normal.

WalksOn2Wheels

Reminds me of a hilarious bit I saw in a show/movie, but I forget where. An older man and his wife are at a high society type party and talking about their long marriage, but he keeps saying "Haven't I met you somewhere before? I never forget a face!" to the waiter. Finally the waiter says he's done a lot of HCGP. (typing an acronym because I'm pretty sure that's not work friendly) I would look it up, but I can't possible think of a safe way to search for that clip.