These stunning one-off rainbow-striped shoes feature the R321's custom fit technology with a super-stiff base to transmit total power through the cranks. A very fitting shoe then for a man who delivered a tremendous display at the UCI Road World Championships powering his way to victory in Richmond, USA in September 2015.
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New R321 shoes are over the rainbow
Shimano is very proud to share with you the first images of 2016 Time Trial World Champion Vasil Kiryienka's special edition shoes.
The 34-year old Belarussian claimed the title with a blistering time of 1hr 2m 29s for the 53.5km route, blowing away many of the pre-race favourites on his Team Sky issue Pinarello complete with PRO disc rear and tri-spoke front wheel, Shimano DURA ACE chainset and Shimano R321 shoes.
To congratulate him on his victory, Shimano has produced these uber-rare customised R321 shoes, complete with the World Champion's rainbow stripes and Kiryienka's name on the heel.
Shoes across the rainbow
Kiryienka isn't the only one riding with limited edition World Champion Shimano products this year. All-round off-road star Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was presented with a Shimano XC90 rainbow-striped cross country shoes to mark her World Champion status in cyclo-cross and mountain biking.
While Dutch cyclocross wunderkid Mathieu van der Poel has been rocking rainbow-striped Shimano Equinox (EQX2) glasses this season in celebration of his cyclocross World Championship victory in Tábor, Czech Republic earlier this year. Highly deserved and highly sought-after items for three of the most talented riders in the world today.
Custom-fit not limited to World Champions
But the really good news is that you don’t have to win a World Championship to get your own custom-fitted shoes. Once you have a pair of Shimano R321 road shoes they can be fully tailored at your local Shimano dealer.
The patented system works with a special oven and vacuuming process. Firstly the shoes are softened in the oven so that the upper and insole gently melt a little. Then you wear the shoes inside pressure bags. The air is sucked out of the bags by a vacuum pump and once the shoes have cooled they will have moulded to match the shape of your foot. This can be done up to three times within the warranty period.
Many riders don’t even feel the need to have the shoes moulded as they are designed to be extremely ergonomic. They also come with a selection of interchangeable arch-support insert options fine tune the underfoot fit as necessary.
Perfect power transfer and reinforced comfort
The other major advantage of R321 is gained from its ultra-rigid lightweight hollow channel weaved carbon fiber composite sole. Rigid and generously wide it fully supports your cleats, adding stability and improving pedalling efficiency.
Power is transmitted directly without any loss and comfort is maximised, as pressure is spread across the sole. Plus a reinforced ergonomic heel cup enhances the support still further. It’s the perfect balance of holding power and absolute all-day comfort. No wonder it’s the choice of World Champions.
The comfort is reinforced by a 3D breathable mesh for optimal ventilation. While mesh vents in the toe box and uppers, one sole vent and an array of perforations keep things cool.
The adaptable closure system is the finishing touch, adjusting to various instep heights and shapes. With R321 at your feet, you’re one step closer to a World Championship performance.