Bont Riot Road+ cycling shoes

Bont's Riot Road+ shoes bring custom fitting down to a (reasonably) sensible price point, offering a comfortable fit with not many compromises when you compare them to its top end Vaypor S shoes.

The Riot Road+ is described as an 'entry level' shoe by Bont, which may seem a little disconcerting given that they're £150 a pair – so it's a good job that they're also described as the most 'technically advanced' entry level shoe money can buy. So, what are you getting for your cash?

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As with all Bont's higher end shoes, the Riot Road+ are heat-mouldable, which means you literally warm them up in the oven to customise them for your own foot arch and shape. To do this you heat them at 70°C for about 20 minutes, then slip them on and tighten the straps.

You can reheat them as many times as you need to. In my experience they can feel a little off when heading out for your first ride, when the shoes are exposed to forces beyond simply slipping your foot in, so while it's patience-testing, it's worth repeating the process to get the best possible fit. I was fairly happy after two rounds in the oven.

Be aware, though, the fit is quite wide from the outset and it's impossible to really slim them down even with the heat moulding, so they aren't really for those with narrow feet.

The sole has carbon sandwiched in between layers of fibreglass to add strength, and while this does feel a little harsher than a full-carbon sole underfoot, I found it perfectly manageable. You can, of course, customise with insoles if you're putting in monster days in the saddle.

Personally, I prefer a Boa dial to straps, and the Riot Road+ offer an in-between solution, with one dial and a Velcro strap combined. The dial has quite a lengthy bit of wire exposed when the shoe is opened up and it takes a fair bit of adjustment to get it fully closed, but once it's there the shoes cradle your feet well.

Price-wise, as Bont says – and I have to agree – these are probably the best value shoes you can get that offer some degree of custom fitting; I've certainly not found anything comparable. Shimano's highly-rated RC7s are £20 more, but aren't heat-mouldable, instead they offer regular or wide-fit sizing and come in half sizes. Personally, I find Shimano's regular shoes are a better fit for me – the Riot Road+ are a bit boxy – but if you have wide feet then the Bonts are well worth a look.

> Buyer's Guide: 15 of the best performance cycling shoes

In summary, I'd definitely recommend the Riot Road+ shoes for anyone who struggles getting a perfect fit in off-the-shelf shoes. The actual shape of the carbon/fibreglass outsole is on the wide side and they are quite boxy, so if your feet are on the wider side too these may well be just what you're looking for, and at a decent price.

They're also available in five different colours, ranging from all-black to a very loud 'mega crimson', so you're bound to find something to match your bike if you like to be colour-coordinated.

Verdict

Well-executed shoes that offer heat-mouldable custom fitting for a very good price