The professional peloton and your common weekend group trip is a sea of white footwear with carbon fiber soles and BOA dials. Undoubtedly stylish wanting, however if you wish to make a press release/stand out from the gang, then the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear are the ‘droids you’re searching for. PEZ did a sneak peak of those footwear in early February, however now right here’s Chuck’s full assessment.
What Fizik says: A minimalist carbon highway biking shoe designed to face out for its mix of efficiency and luxury in addition to a daring, iridescent-blue colorway.
- PU laminate over mesh higher
- Li2 BOA® Match System
- R2 outsole – full carbon unidirectional, stiffness index 10
- Weight: 228 g
- Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47 additionally in half sizes)
Barely heavier than Fizik’s spec (though Fizik doesn’t say what measurement shoe for his or her spec weight)
NOTE: In case you favor extra “normal” colours (white, black, or purple … though purple is hardly normal), take a look at the “common” Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon.
Design and building
Colour apart, the very first thing you discover in regards to the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear is the only BOA dial (on this case, a BOA Li2 dial). That is totally different from virtually all “professional” highway footwear which have two BOA (or another sort) dials for match adjustment — one throughout the instep and the opposite for the forefoot. In that respect, the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear are extra like my older Fizik R3 Uomo footwear (that I nonetheless trip) which have a single BOA dial and a velcro strap for forefoot adjustment.
My properly worn R3s (left) and new Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent (proper) have a single BOA dial in frequent
The higher is an artificial materials that’s properly vented with perforations all through. Evidently, the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent is a heat climate shoe (in the event you stay someplace the place the climate continues to be frigid, take a look at the Fizik Tempo Artica GTX footwear). The higher can be coated with a polyurethane laminate that sheds water (it doesn’t make the shoe utterly waterproof as a result of the perforations will let water in, however useful in the event you get caught out in a passing bathe).
Water beads up on the PU laminate higher
As with virtually all different highway biking footwear, the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent is a board final design with the board being a stiff carbon fiber sole.
Fizik claims a stiffness index of 10, so not fairly Spinal Faucet territory
Eradicating the insole reveals extra black carbon fiber goodness
The insoles themselves are purposeful however pretty “fundamental” with no inserts for various arch assist
In line with the higher being properly ventilated, the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent has a large (wider than every other shoe I’ve seen) vent inlet simply in entrance of the cleat mounting space and an exhaust outlet on the again to channel air by way of the shoe for cooling/venting. If you understand you’re going to be driving within the moist, in all probability greatest to tape these closed.
Air inlet (inexperienced arrow) and outlet (crimson arrow). Additionally word the massive toe bumper space (not replaceable).
The pretty substantial heel pad, nevertheless, is replaceable (through a screw on the within)
Match and luxury
My ft are US measurement 9 and common width. Per Fizik, that’s Euro measurement 42 (similar measurement as my R3 Uomo). However how everybody’s ft slot in footwear is totally different, so attempt before you purchase is at all times a good suggestion (or in the event you’re shopping for on-line, ensure that wherever you purchase from has a very good trade/return coverage).
Match-wise, I anticipated the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent to be “Italian” — that means on the semi-tight (however not constricting) aspect (which is how my Fizik R3 Uomo’s match). The Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear aren’t unfastened by any means, however I discovered that my comparatively flat-ish ft didn’t “fill” the footwear up as a lot as another footwear I’ve. To my bare eye, the toebox is a bit more “rounded” than “pointed” (particularly in comparison with my R3 Uomo’s) and the forefoot part felt prefer it had a little bit extra quantity. To be clear: the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear match me just about how you’ll count on biking footwear to suit — which is to say tight sufficient so my foot didn’t transfer round in them however with sufficient room for my foot to increase from the downward power of pedaling (however not so roomy that my ft have been swimming in them). The toebox had sufficient room in order that my toes weren’t tightly squished collectively, however they have been nonetheless carefully enveloped and didn’t slide round. (NOTE: I’ve a pair of insoles from one other pair of footwear that permit me to regulate the arch and forefoot varus which might be someplace in a storage bin in our storage from transferring that I’ll have to seek out and see in the event that they make any distinction in how the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear match.)
One factor that was instantly noticeable was that the artificial PU laminate higher materials is extra “stiff” than “supple” so it felt agency on my foot. It wasn’t uncomfortable however I may really feel the higher extra round my foot than another pairs of footwear I’ve (time will inform if the fabric breaks in over time).
With the only BOA Li2 dial, I may tighten up the shoe in order that it was comfortably comfortable with loads of grip and no slip. To make sure, it’s not the identical fine-tuning adjustability for match as a 2-dial arrange, however I may get the lacing tight sufficient with none stress factors or feeling just like the cables have been digging in.
Two-way, micro-click adjustability: Twist backwards too loosen (inexperienced arrow), forwards to tighten (crimson arrow). NOTE: it’s the identical for each left and proper footwear.
The heel counter is pretty generously padded for consolation however nonetheless stiff for operate. And for my ft, suits carefully across the heel — so no raise/slip.
The within of the stiff heel counter is padded for consolation, but in addition has silicone dots to assist stop heel raise
The Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent has ubiquitous 3-hole Look mounting for cleats. I trip Speedplays so have to make use of adaptors to mount 4-hole Speedplay cleats. I just like the ball of my foot to be simply barely ahead of the pedal spindle so appreciated Fizik’s design selection: The cleat positioning is ready barely additional again in comparison with conventional settings to optimise pedalling effectivity and scale back knee compression—particularly well-suited for very aggressive, ahead aero positions. With each the Fizik mounting factors and my Speedplay adapters set way back to potential, my ft have been positioned the place I wished.
Though a little bit subdued, there are markings on the outsole to assist with cleat positioning
That colour
Indoors with synthetic gentle seems virtually “muted”
It’s the colour of the higher that units the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent other than the gang: aquamarine-ish to my eye (Fizik calls it “gentle blue”) with an iridescent “glow.” Relying on how gentle hits it, the shoe form of “shimmers.” And in several types of gentle, the colour takes on totally different hues. Undoubtedly on the bling aspect of issues.
Outside in vibrant daylight and it virtually “shines”
However the higher isn’t all aquamarine/gentle blue. The within of the heel part is black. No matter you consider this by way of fashion factors, by way of performance it’s genius IMHO. It could not occur lots, but when the within of your heel rubs your chain or chain keep, the black mark could be troublesome to scrub up (particularly on white footwear). Not a difficulty with the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent.
You may click on your heels like Dorothy as a lot as you need and never fear about marking them up
Add a little bit bling to your trip
My first trip within the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear was the Hilton Head Island Sunday group trip. It’s a quick and flat (the one “hill” goes up and over the Cross Island Bridge in each instructions — lower than 1 / 4 mile at about 4 % grade) not fairly 40 mile trip. So just about fixed pedaling within the large ring, which is a fairly good first check for a brand new pair of footwear.
If the shoe suits … (though you may see on the within of the instep space how my foot doesn’t fill the quantity of the footwear completely)
I’ve carried out this trip in “full on” $400+ race footwear, however was very happy (and quick sufficient) within the Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear which might be barely lower than that (within the Fizik lineup, they’re second from the highest). My ft have been comfy — no stress factors or scorching spots. And I used to be in a position to put the requisite energy down on the pedals — the carbon fiber sole was stiff sufficient however not so stiff that I skilled what I name “carbon sole fatigue” the place the only real “pushes again” and causes discomfort. Any lack of velocity on my half was positively not the footwear’ fault.
Feets don’t fail me now!
I have to get extra miles and a few longer rides in, however I’ve no cause to consider that the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Iridescent footwear gained’t be as much as the duty (particularly given the 1000’s of miles I’ve ridden in my R3 Uomo’s). In case you’re not afraid of being a non-conformist, they’re simply the ticket for including a little bit bling to your trip.
Blue bling so as to add some pop to murdered out black package
