I like my ratchets at the ankle. Easy to adjust as needed. Sometimes I like to tighten a click mid-ride, without affecting the rest of the shoe.

Boas r slowa?

♫♩"Give to me your Leather; take from me, my Lace(s)."🎶♬

I worry more about catching laces on the cranks/in the chain.

Every lace-up shoe I've seen or used has a loop on the tongue that the laces get tucked under to keep them in place. I've never had any problems with them getting caught in anything. Don't know anyone who has either.

usually an elastic band that can eventually fray and break right? sending your laces into your cranks and you over the handlebars. An irrational fear for sure but it's definitely kept me from buying lace ups

Thanks for pointing that out! A piece of information I wasn't aware of that might eliminate my bias against laces! :)

Under excessive stress, sure. I wouldn't expect a band that's just sitting there to spontaneously fail though. The shoes I have now are beat to hell all over but the bands are still in perfect condition.

The shoes in the pic aren't mine, they're actually a little older model, but I've had a pair of leather Diadora's since 1991 with the same set up. The laces are covered by a leather flap that's secured with a strap and also velcro underneath on the edge of the flap. I remember they were marketed as aero shoes haha. Best shoes I've ever had, I still wear them when I'm on my vintage bikes. Around '99 I had worn holes on the heels of the sole and plugged them up with shoe goo and they're still good to go.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pR0AA...Rq/s-l1600.jpg

I have one pair- well two if you count my ancestral leather ones,

that has no lace keeper. Tie the knot over toward the outside of the shoe, or triple knot so the loops are short.

One lace is a little frayed from catching on a chainring tooth, but no issues in 5+ years, & rode the old leather ones for years as well.

Totally irrational. These Shimano are rough 12 years old, the lace holding elastic is still working just fine (rode them last night). These shoes have seen some of the toughest conditions, never had an issue with the laces getting caught in the chainring. Moreover, back in my college days I'd ride with running shoes, those laces got into the chainring every now and then. Never caused a problem more then untied shoe and greasy laces.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fc420db8dd.jpg

I have been riding with giro empires for one year and I'm loving it. I did Mammoth Gran Fondo and Tour de Big Bear with it. It feels the same as other Giro road shoes I've had over the years.

This

That's not a laces thing. That's a "last" thing. There is no reason why laces can't work for you wide feet mutants.

I had the same doubts for a long time. The Giro Factors were the only shoes that fitted me really well [I have shoe fit issues], but in spite of friends recommending the Giro lace ups, I did not try them. Bought and sold maybe 6 pairs of other brands [Shimano, Bontrager, Scott, Northwave, Look and others] as I did not like the fit.

Finally, succumbed and got the Empire Knits last month. WOW. Love them. The knot NEVER gets undone. Don't know why. My knots in my hiking boots get undone unless I tie them really well. These just don't. This is what Giro says on their website, I trust me, these knots do not loosen.

""""""These shoe laces are designed to be extremely durable, hold a single knot all day and provide unparalleled comfort."""""

Also, with my other ratchet/boa shoes, I would need mid ride adjustments, and I thought that I would need that with laced shoes too. Somehow, I never need to adjust on a ride. Done upto a 5 hour ride with them.

And, the laces tuck very nicely under a thingie designed for just that. They have never come out of that place too.

Should have listened to my friends a year ago, instead of going thru a string of shoes that I did not like.