Fizik Lyra shoes

The Fizik Lyra road shoes have excellent ventilation, premium dual Li2 Boa dials and in this colour, they look great. The fit is wide across the whole foot, which I have appreciated in hot weather, although it may not suit all riders.

The Lyras are billed as all-round road shoes, seeking to balance performance with comfort for all-day rides. This means a carbon-reinforced nylon outsole with an 8/10 stiffness rating, rather than a full carbon one more geared towards racing.

Compared to my usual shoes, with a 10/10 stiffness-rated full carbon sole, there was slightly less of that ultra-direct feel under maximum effort, although I only really noticed the difference during hard sprints – admittedly not my strongest discipline.

For normal riding, climbing and threshold efforts, the sole felt more than stiff enough.
It is well shaped and the arch is supportive. I didn’t experience any aches or soreness on longer rides, which can occasionally happen with race shoes.

The shoes use a fixed cleat mounting plate, rather than the more adjustable systems found on higher-end race models. This reduces flexibility, so cleat positioning needs to be set up more carefully at the outset. In practice, it wasn’t something I noticed, once I had them right, but it does feel like a slight step down in adjustability versus top tier shoes.

Closure

The closure system on each shoe comprises a pair of Boa Li2 dials. These enable you to tighten and loosen the fit on the move. I really liked this, as during long rides in hot weather, I like to loosen my shoes as my feet swell, which was very easy to do with these dials. Li2 dials are typically only reserved for the top-end shoes, so it was good to see them here.

The heel and toe bumpers are quite large. They give good grip when off the bike and protect the sole and front of the shoe.

Materials

The upper is made from a mesh which gives the shoe a light and well-ventilated feel. There are also reinforcements around the closure system and other key areas to improve comfort and foot retention.

Unlike some premium models, which use a more sock-like construction, the Lyra employs a traditional tongue. It is oversized to make entry easy and contributes to the shoe’s comfortable feel.

However, it doesn’t provide quite the same locked-in sensation as some more race-focused designs. I noticed a small amount of heel movement during all-out sprint efforts, while the more open construction also makes it easier for dirt and debris to find its way inside.

I tested the Lavender/Mint Green version and they look great – I’ve had lots of comments from clubmates admiring them (though they may not match much of your kit). They are also available in a more traditional black or white.

Fit

Fizik says these are designed with a modern ergonomic shape and a wider toe box and the fit feels quite different to other road shoes I’ve worn.

They are quite wide across the whole foot rather than just at the toe box. I liked this. I do have quite wide feet and can often experience toe pain when riding long distances in warm weather, but I have never had any problems with these.

The sizing is spot on. I tested EU45, which equates to a UK10.5. I usually wear a UK10.5-11, and these were a comfortable fit. Using the dual dials, I could really fine tune that, though, as mentioned, I did experience slight heel slippage during some sprint efforts.

The Lyras are available in half-size increments across the most common sizes.

> Finding the right cycling shoes for your wide feet

Weight

At 652g for the pair in a size 45, the shoes are around 100g heavier than my usual road shoes and not especially light compared to some more race-focused alternatives.

Despite that, the extra weight was rarely particularly noticeable, and it never detracted from the overall riding experience.

Ventilation

Ventilation is excellent. The mesh upper with integrated perforations and venting zones allows air to move through the shoe rather than just across it. Underneath, three sole vents draw airflow through to help keep your feet cool.

I rode these in temperatures up to 32℃, including on a hot club chaingang, and my feet remained comfortable throughout. In many road shoes, I tend to get hot spots or sore toes in those sorts of conditions, but that was never an issue here – likely helped by the wider toe box.

Most of my testing was done in the spring and early summer, so I’ve not tested them in very cold conditions.

Value

At £229.99, the Fizik Lyra shoes benefit from some trickle-down features from the top-end models, but they have plenty of competition at this price.

Emily thought the Quoc M3 Sport were excellent, for example, and they are priced at £220.

The Trek Velocis also come with dual Li2 dials and received a very good review. They are the same price as the Lyras.

If you are looking to spend a bit less, Josh thought the Van Rysel RCR shoes were excellent and they are now priced at £179.99.

> 24 of the best performance road cycling shoes – get faster with light, stiff shoes

Overall

The Fizik Lyra is a highly capable, all-round road shoe with excellent ventilation, a comfortable wide fit and premium dual Li2 Boa dials. They’re not the lightest shoes at this price, and I experienced a small amount of heel slip under maximum effort, but they’re comfortable and perform well across a wide range of riding.