Shimano S-Phyre RC902 road shoes get new mixed stiffness, wrap-around design

Among high-end road cycling shoes, the new Shimano S-Phyre RC902 shoes check the boxes for light weight and stiffness. It’s the unique new 360º wrap-around upper, optimized heel cup stability, and segmented stiffness that set it apart. Those, and the shiny new red option that’s…(wait for it)…on Phyre!

2021 Shimano S-Phyre road shoe specs

Designed for top level road racing, the new S-Phyre RC902 uses the latest BOA Li2 closures with a snaking wire path. This, along with the Li2’s micro adjustments and a new toe-box shape new Dynalast shape, helps the shoes fit a wider range of foot shapes.

Out back, their Bikefitting.com pedal analysis led them to rework the heel cup to better stabilize the foot. It’s “anti-twist stabilizer heel cup technology”, and it’s designed to resist the intense twisting forces created during all-out sprint efforts.

But it’s not just a massively stiff heel cup. It’s a mix of rigid and flexible sections that better stabilizes the top of the heel cup to reduce overall foot movement, but other parts of the shoe earn a bit more give.

The upper uses different layers of material to add flex and ventilation where it can, but prevent stretch where needed. And it wraps all the way around the bottom, which they say gives it a slipper-like comfort. But also a very secure fit.

Hidden underneath, it carries over the level-12 stiffness sole to maximize power transfer.

2021 Shimano S-Phyre road shoe sizes & pricing

The S-Phyre RC902 bike shoes will retail for $425 USD and have a claimed weight of 235g (likely for a 42 men’s size), available October 2020. They come in red, white, blue and black for men’s sizing 36-48 (half sizes 37-47), and in white in women’s sizing 36-44 (full sizes only).

Bike.Shimano.com