g32ecs wrote:anyone tried the Riots?
I'm running a pair.
I'm coming from Shimano shoes, size 44, which fit me very well if ever so slightly narrow when using after market insoles (they to take more volume than original ones). My feet are low volume but relatively wide; they are around average in the ball of the foot area, but my toes splay outward when I stand, so they really don't fit well into Italian-style shoes.
I got Riots in size 44, after a lot of measuring and deliberation. They are wider than Shimano in the front, but hold the heels better. I find them comfortably roomy without being loose - my feet don't move around, but I can wiggle my toes. Heel cups are interesting: due to the high stiffness of the soles, it feels like the heels are not very secure when walking around, but once I'm clipped in there's simply no moving around or any feeling of sloppiness whatsoever. This might come as no surprise to people already used to very stiff shoes, but for me it was new. Factory insoles don't work for me - even though the shoes are wide enough and the cleats are positioned slightly behind the balls of my feet, I still get hot spots that turn into numbness if I don't have some additional arch and metatarsal support. The increased thickness of after market insoles is also a benefit with Riots, as tend I run out of adjustment on the ratchet strap when using thin factory ones, due to the mentioned low volume of my feet.
Regarding heat moulding, I found that the Riots fit me very well right out of the box so no moulding was actually necessary. I did do a session just to try it out, but I don't think anything really changed. I noticed that even though they become pliable when heated up, they stay very elastic and have a strong tendency to returning to original shape as they cool down. I would have to use considerable and consistent pressure if I wanted to noticeably change the shape on any particular spot.
When it comes to overall build quality, I can echo what has already been written about these shoes in most reviews I've seen. The finish is not perfect, they look hand-made and somewhat rough around the edges. The ratchet mechanism also feels a bit flimsy, but, just like the rest of the shoes, it proved to be perfectly functional so far.
Overall, I like the shoes, but I was not blown away. The price is right for what they offer and I will gladly wear them out, but next time I'll try something else.
