Shimano’s latest S-Phyre RC903 road shoe has broken cover, featuring a newly developed upper and a host of other enhancements that are designed to treat track racers, sprinters and time trial specialists alike to “a glove-like fit that offers optimal rigidity and stability”.
However, improving upon the previous generations of the S-Phyre road shoe was no easy task for Shimano, relying on the extensive use of pressure mapping sensors and several prototypes to arrive at the final design.
With this information in hand, Shimano’s designers constructed three different shoe upper structures to meet the unique and specific needs of each rider type. One features extra mesh to help keep weight low and enhance cooling (for the climbers). Another has a more traditional balanced design (for the generalists). And one—found on the new S-PHYRE RC903 PWR—utilizes a 360-degree surround wrapping upper that delivers the enhanced rigidity and stability required by the sport’s most powerful sprinters, track racers, and time trialists.
“It’s that stable foothold with no heel lift or twisting that makes these the most efficient shoes Shimano has ever produced,” explains Shimano Lifestyle and Gear Product Manager Jessie Gascon. “They are engineered to help you go faster—period.”
“This shoe is for racers who can put out huge power numbers,” adds Gascon.
To ensure that no pedal output is wasted, the S-PHYRE RC903 PWR’s midsole-wrapping upper is made from reinforced and breathable anti-stretch microfiber that’s 50% thicker than regular microfiber, when combined with a traditional padded tongue provides a comfortable and cool glove-like fit for maximum pedaling stability and efficiency.
But what’s truly unique about the new shoe’s upper, says Gascon, is its embedded thin, pliable plastic reinforcement layer that helps maintain comfort while also delivering the rigidity racers need to generate force throughout their pedal stroke. That’s combined with the midsole’s low stack height that further stabilizes the foot, while the stiff carbon sole helps the S-PHYRE RC903 PWR achieve a 12-out-of-12 rating on the Shimano stiffness scale for even greater power transfer efficiency.
Additionally, designers also increased heel cup stiffness, which prevents unwanted twisting and assures optimally secure foot positioning during intense accelerations and sustained high cadence efforts. Foot security is further bolstered by a robust BOA Li2 metal dial closure mechanism with power boost guide cable routing. This provides perfectly even tension across the top and middle of the foot, plus increased cable leverage so riders can achieve the truly cinched-down fit that’s critical when winding up your sprint or driving to the finish of a tough time trial.
Below the toe-box, the S-PHYRE RC903 features a Velcro strap that’s designed to reduce foot movement, enhancing power transmission and enabling the use of clipless pedals with toe-straps, a popular choice among Olympic-level track racers.
To top it all off, Shimano employed a new optical coating surface treatment that yields a dazzling color-shifting crystal finish on the outsole and heel of the S-PHYRE RC903 PWR.
Offered in white only, the new S-PHYRE RC903 PWR is available in sizes ranging from 40m to 48, with half sizes in 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 for $475.00.
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Shimano
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