At Sea Otter, Giro introduced several new models of road and off-road cycling shoes. Among them was the Stylus XC, the entry-level model in the brands lineup of off-road shoes. With a smooth one-piece upper, lace closure, and a moderately stiff nylon/glass fiber sole, the Stylus XC is aimed squarely at cross-country and gravel riders. At a quick glance, they look nearly identical to the top-of-the-line Empire XC shoes, but at $125, the Stylus costs $250 less.I got my hands on a pair of the Stylus XC shoes a couple of weeks ago, and Ive taken a few rides in them so far. Theyre lightweight and very comfortable, with a balanced performance that I feel exceeds the asking price. Of course, at the price, the Styluss sole is not quite as stiff as the Empire XC, nor is it expected to be. Still, they look great, and Id argue theyre one of the best values around for cross-country and/or gravel riders looking to save a bit of cash.Giro Stylus XCCheck Price at REISpecificationsMSRP: $125Weight (pair): 620g (size 44)Closure: Tubular lacesSole: Nylon and glass fiber with co-molded rubber treadIntended use: Cross-country, gravel, light trailAvailable sizes: 36 48 EUColors: Black, Dark Sage, WhiteProsReasonable priceGood-lookingBalanced sole stiffnessSurprisingly good ventilationSupple uppersComfortable lace closureConsNo half sizesBasic footbedJeremy BensonGiro Stylus XC DetailsThe Stylus XC is the most affordable model in Giros lineup of off-road footwear. While they retail for just $125, they share very similar styling to their more expensive siblings, with a consistent design language throughout the line. As mentioned, they are a spitting image of Giros Empire XC shoes, which retail for $375.The Stylus XC has a one-piece synthetic upper with some light reinforcement over the toes and around the heel. There are perforations on both sides of the midfoot, along with more on the lightly padded tongue for ventilation and breathability. Simple tubular laces secure the shoe on the foot, with an elastic retainer to keep them tidy.Underfoot, an injection-molded nylon and glass fiber sole provides the pedaling platform. The sole has a standard two-bolt cleat mount with hash marks to help with alignment. A grippier rubber tread is co-molded to the nylon/glass fiber sole, with sturdy lugs at the toe, heel, and bordering the cleat box.The Stylus XC shoes come in whole EU sizes 36 to 48, not half sizes here. They are relatively average in width in the heel, midfoot, and forefoot, before narrowing pretty sharply at the toes. Inside, Giro included a simple, thin foam footbed.Fit and ComfortI typically wear a size 43.5 in Giro shoes, including the aforementioned Empire XC. With whole sizes only for Stylus XC, it was recommended that I size up to a 44, and Im glad I did. The 44 is just a touch long in the toe compared to my typical 43.5, but not so roomy that its problematic. The way the shoe narrows toward the toes results in a secure, slop-free fit regardless.The synthetic uppers felt supple and comfortable right out of the box, and the laces have provided even tension and a snug hold of my foot while riding. While I do love the convenience of BOA systems, I cant deny the comfort of laces, plus Im a pretty big fan of the classic looks. My heels have stayed firmly in place in the deep and lightly padded heel pocket; my feet havent moved around at all in these shoes.My only real complaint about the Stylus XC is the flat, thin footbed, which doesnt really have any contouring or provide much in the way of support. I suppose thats to be expected at this price point, and Ill be putting a more supportive aftermarket footbed in for future rides.Ride ImpressionsOn the pedals, Ive found the Stylus XC to provide an excellent balance of pedaling efficiency and comfort. Theres a touch of sole flex when really smashing on the pedals, especially when compared to the super-stiff soles of the Empire XC, but they dont feel nearly as flexy as I expected for the price. I often find that I can feel the pedal through the sole of some entry-level XC shoes, not so with the Stylus XC.While they may not be race shoe stiff, theyre also not meant to be. I think the Styluss moderately stiff sole and snug fit will provide most non-competitive riders with plenty of efficiency on the pedals, without feeling overly stiff or punishing the way some super rigid soles can. For a couple of quick comparisons, they are much stiffer underfoot than the Fizik Terra Atlas, and they feel pretty much on par with the Crankbrothers Candy Lace, another similar lace-up off-road shoe.The cleat mount area has plenty of adjustment for my needs. The lugs bordering the cleat box interfaced with both the Shimano XT and Wolf Tooth DEL gravel pedals Ive tried them with, providing some extra lateral support. Off the bike, a little rocker in the sole and a bit of flex by the toes allow for a fairly normal gait. The rubber lugs grip well enough on most surfaces, but like any other XC shoes, I wouldnt go out of my way to walk long distances in them.At just 310 grams per shoe in a size 43.5, theyre also very light on the feet. In this case, the budget-friendly price certainly doesnt come with a weight penalty. Nor does it come with a style penalty. I think Giro nailed it by giving the Stylus XC a timeless look that hides their budget-friendliness. They look strikingly similar to other shoes on the market that cost two to three times the price, including Giros own Empire XC.The Giro Empire XC (left) and the Stylus XC (right). My TakeawayYou can easily spend $400+ on a new pair of bike shoes, but unless youre racing or seeking very specific performance attributes or marginal gains, you probably dont need to. For most riders, a shoe like the Giro Stylus XC will get the job done while keeping a bunch of money in your pocket. Beyond the basic footbed, I really dont have any other complaints about these shoes. Id be happy to wear these on any XC or gravel ride that doesnt involve a number plate or timing system. I think their combination of comfort, solid pedaling efficiency, classic looks, and affordability makes them one of the best values on the market.giro.com

Dame Sarah Storey announced her retirement from professional sport on Thursday, 34 years after her first Paralympic gold medal.The 48-year-old is the most successful British Paralympian of all time, with 19 gold medals, 14 of which came in cycling, plus a further 39 titles at the UCI Para Track and Road World Championships.Before turning to cycling, which began in the mid-2000s, Storey was a champion swimmer, with five Paralympic gold medals and six world titles in the pool. She first competed at the 1992 games in Barcelona, going on to represent GB in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Paris."I am so privileged to have spent 35 years as an international athlete. I genuinely pinch myself that my childhood dream of being an athlete for as long as I possibly could has led to nine Paralympic Games and opportunities across so many sporting events," Storey said in a press release. "This has included womens and Para sport alike, and I feel so proud to have contributed alongside so many incredible people to the progress weve all witnessed and enjoyed in that time."Ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Storey is keen to use her position to push Para sport forward, saying that it is at a "critical stage". "Theres also no doubt in my mind that, within Para sport, we have stalled somewhat since London 2012, and the years between each Games havent been utilised well enough to create the momentum that I and others hoped to see," she explained."I see this as a critical stage; there are many areas of Para sport that still need attention, and that is something that has played a big part in my decision. I fully believe that I can have a greater impact off my bike, rather than chasing a tenth Games and possibly further titles. "Im excited to be part of a future where we inject the momentum that is needed to ensure the future is bright for all Para athletes."Storey has also won titles at the British National Track Championships and UCI Track Cycling World Cups, competing alongside able-bodied athletes. She was also nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice, in 2012 and 2024, and is Manchester's Active Travel Commissioner, as well as being Chair of Lancashire County Cricket Club.Her last world titles came at the UCI Road World Championships in Zrich in 2024, after she had won the C5 time trial and C4-5 road race at the Paris Paralympics. Physically, I fully believe that I could be on that start line in Los Angeles, confident of defending my two titles from Paris," Storey added. "However, I believe I can now be a more positive influence leveraging new roles and opportunities that allow me to fight for Para sport, and the coverage that it deserves.Lord Sebastian Coe, the president of the IAAF, who was in charge of the organising committee for the London 2012 games said: "Para sport was an enormously significant part of London 2012, and I remain extremely proud of what we were able to deliver."However, the issues that Dame Sarah raises upon her retirement resonate with me hugely sport must continue to take those small but steady steps forward to ensure that what has gone before is not wasted."

Torstein Traeen safely retained the yellow jersey after stage 5 of the Tour de France despite being caught up in a crash inside the final six kilometres, with the Uno-X Mobility rider emerging unscathed ahead of Thursday's decisive mountain stage. The Norwegian enjoyed a relatively calm day as race...

Readers say more conflicts caused at barriers, some e-scooter users are taking to footpaths, and pedestrians are pushed to the footpaths.Dublins Capel Street and Parliament Street have been turned into an obstacle course without explanation from city council officials, with 14 chicanes barriers placed along the car-free streets.The barriers are placed at junctions and other points along the streets. In the case of Capel Street, there are nine (9) sets of barriers across the 420 metres section of the street, which is car-free. On Parliament Street, there are five (5) sets of barriers along the 430-metre stretch.The barriers are not in compliance with the national guidelines on Access Control of Active Travel Facilities, which mandates a 5 metre gap between chicanes barriers or gates, or a ministerial directive which seeks universal access and free-flow for users of routes. While the removal of cars from the two streets is widely seen as successful, there has been an undercurrent of opposition to cycling on the streets since their Covid trials and when Capel Street was made car-free in 2022. Some users including some cyclists have made claims of speeding cyclists, but these are largely believed to be users of illegal mopeds, sometimes referred to as bicycle-shaped objects because they look like bicycles but are not.Confusion was compounded by widespread misreporting, which led some people to believe that cycling would not be allowed on the streets. Others have pointed out that this has not been helped by unclear signage on parts of the street, which did not or still does not make it clear to pedestrians that it is a shared street.ALSO READ: Targeting cyclists for what is mainly an illegal moped problem on Capel St isnt helpful for pedestrians This week, IrishCycle.com has been contacted by users of the street who are wondering how the arrangements came about, and most have described how the barriers are causing more issues than they have solved.The barriers are made up of temporary traffic cones, poles and other traffic barriers. Images and reader accounts show traffic control workers sitting on the street, including beside or near vans, but there are no signs of any work and no week-long events on this street. Readers images, videos (see below), and descriptions include how pedestrians are more so than ever sticking to the footpath rather than the shared path because of the congestion at the chicanes barriers, and how there are more conflicts between users of the shared path. People cycling are now having to take larger swerving turns to get around the barriers. IMAGE: Parliament Street with Capel Street in the background, and the main image above shows the reverse. These issues include wheelchair users, cyclists, scooter users, and illegal moped users ending up face-to-face with each other at the openings between the barriers. IrishCycle.com has also been given accounts of people on e-scooters taking to footpaths when other people are at the barriers.ALSO READ: Most two-wheel problems on Capel St are caused by bicycle-shaped objects, not bicyclesThis website attempted to seek comment from Dublin City Council near the close of business yesterday and again after lunch today. IrishCycle.com was also in contact with councillors from different parties who were unaware of the changes to the street before they were contacted by the public or saw it themselves, and had not been notified of the changes by officials. More updates when we get them.