I got a very very nice new road bike last year. Full carbon frame and cranks so very stiff and very efficient with whatever power I can put into it.
I figured maybe using a mid-range shoe (non-carbon) sole may not be doing justice to such a stiff frame and invested in a pair of carbon-soled shoes.
And blimey! Quick hack up the road and the difference was amazing. It just shoots off. question is, am I just getting excited and trying to justify the not-insignificant amount of cash I just spanked or does a carbon sole really make that much difference?
They are bloody stiff and great for geting the power down in TTs. I paid 140 quid for my Carnacs in 1994 and being tight still wear them to race
TBH the only differnce i noticed between my Spesh BG Sport (plastic sole) and my BG Expert shoes (CF sole) was the weight. CF ones obviously the lighter. Couldnt feel much difference in terms of stiffness. These are MTB shoes admittedly, but i guess road ones would be the same.
In your head.
It's a shoe.
They used to make them out of wood, and I'm sure those guys were faster than us...
