Louis Garneau CFS-150 Carbon Shoe

Louis Garneau latest high end carbon shoe, the CFS-150 Here's a question for you … if things like shoes, handlebars and saddles are very much a personal choice how do we ever start the process of looking for new bits?

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When I was asked by Kris to put my trusty carbon Shimano shoes in the cupboard and test a new pair of shoes I quite literally broke out in a cold sweat even though they were none other than Louis Garneau's latest high end carbon shoe, the CFS-150. "What, you want me to try some shoes?" I said almost in Dickens like Oliver tone.

So with my blood pressure lowered I got the shoes delivered to me and, as they say, you only get one chance at first impressions. The packaging was really neat with a string pull bag containing the shoes, toe covers and red "hot stuff" insoles for the colder days. Of particular interest was the instructions on the bag on how to "thermo mould" the shoes. Step 6 … "When oven has reached 65°C, place shoes in centre of oven for 15 minutes"...yeah and serve with a side of fresh green salad!!! But jokes aside the idea is that you put the shoes on after you take them from the oven and wear them. As they cool they mould to your individual foot shape. More on this later.

The look of the shoes is eye catching - they are VERY white. They have a good mix of black mesh on the top and sides and aluminum style on air intakes. It was quite funny when I rode up to my first road race with them, everyone noticed the shoes straight away, and the helmet I have had for 6 months, the gloves that I have had for 3 months, the new brakes I have had for 12 months …. So yes the shoes definitely get people's attention!!

The shoes weigh in at 335g each for size 43, not super light but no heavy weight either. In the words of Louis Garneau "The sole is made up of 9 layers of extra rigid and super light Carbon HM outsole plus one layer of heat reflective fiberglass designed to provide excellent toe-to-heel rigidity".

Cleat positioning/compatibility is pretty much standard these days and the Louis Garneau are no different. I use LOOK Keo and I had no problem setting up the cleats. The shoes themselves are VERY slightly smaller in feel to my size 43 Shimano but this said it could be just that they are new or that the Shimano shoes are 4 years old or that the shoes have not been in the oven yet!!! A friend with a narrow foot found the 43 too "wide" but that being said these are not a broad shoe. Gets back to trying shoes on first … no point in buying an internet bargain that does not fit you.

One of the main design features (apart from the "Ian Hewitson Routine") is the air flow system the shoes use. This directs air from the front of the shoe and allows it to exit to the rear, very much like modern helmets. The shoes come with a perforated blue insole and this is for summer/warm weather use and the red 'solid" insole is for winter/cooler weather. The supplied toe covers also block the air intake.

Another interesting design is the heal cup. I found the contouring of the cup really suited my feet and I didn't have that bit of "slack" that many shoes exhibit.

Now to the weird bit. I followed the cooking instructions to the letter and can tell you a few things to be aware of. There is a strong smell as the cooking happens, so don't be alarmed. When you take them from the oven be careful not to touch what little metal there is on the shoe, trust me you will get burnt! Put an old towel under your feet during the cooling/moulding phase. As an added precaution I removed my cleats too. It was actually quite an interesting process. The shoes felt very pliable and hot when I slipped them on and I just let them cool down while I worked at my computer. Having worn them for a week beforehand I have to say they did feel different afterwards. I didn't have any comfort issues before but the shoes took on more of a "favorite sneaker" feel. I suppose it was like accelerating the wearing in process.

So what are they like I hear you ask? Pretty impressive I would have to say. Kris told me that I could hang on to them until the first cold morning but unlike the usual March/ April time for cooler weather, I got to experience the ventilation system in February. I took the bike over to Adelaide and was staying in the hills. One morning I arranged to meet a few people at the bottom of the freeway bike track. When I left Crafers it was quite cool and as I descended at 50kph plus I thought my feet were going to drop off with frost bite. (OK some poetic license here but my feet got quite cold!) So I stopped and put the toe covers on and that fixed the problem. But on the ride return leg, half an hour later, I had to stop and take the covers off as my feet got too hot climbing. So yes, I would have to say, not a design gimmick but a design feature that really works!

I also wore them in a few road races and found them really comfortable. Some stiff carbon shoes that I have tried in the past have been like wearing hard lumps of wood but I did not suffer from any hot spots or pinched toes at all while the hammer was down. In the sprint (stop laughing Kris at the thought of me sprinting) the shoes felt stiff and the ratchet strap was easy to tighten up, just before the race finish. I found that even the ratchet strap was a good design. On some designs you lift to tighten and also lift a separate clip to loosen. But the CFS 150s has a clip that you have to depress in a very deliberate manner to release the strap. This should reduce the chance of releasing accidently when you actually want to tighten them up.

So in summary, a very good high end carbon shoe. Put simply, these shoes work. At $399 rrp they're getting up there price wise, but you do get what you pay for. Now two quick questions Kris, (i) how much for a VERRRY used pair of shoes and (ii) how do I sneak the purchase past my wife, remembering that she is an accountant.

Price - $399 RRP

Availability - Available now through the Bicycle Superstore network

Website - Louis Garneau CFS-150 Carbon Shoe

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