A mud-caked, sweat-drenched Quoc Pham Tourer.
This photo was taken at Nobeyama CX, which was also featured on Shige's blog the other day. Nobeyama CX is a once-a-year festival—a massive field day—where cyclo-crossers gather from every corner of the country.
Among them, there were people wearing the Quoc Pham Tourer to participate in the race. Since I personally manage to get by with just this one pair for almost everything—commuting, daily rides, cyclo-cross races, and even mountain biking on trails—a sense of camaraderie naturally grew within me.
This Tourer not only has a smart look that pairs well with both formal and casual wear, but it also boasts full functionality as a clipless shoe. The moderate stiffness of the midsole where the cleats are mounted efficiently transfers power to the pedals, while the beautifully arched outsole makes for a smoother stride when walking. Furthermore, the three-layer upper—consisting of cowhide on the outside, sheepskin on the inside, and a mesh sheet sandwiched in between for durability and improved breathability—gently wraps around your feet. You can achieve an excellent fit by tightening the laces thoroughly and in order.
As the name suggests, Quoc Pham’s Tourer is a clipless shoe designed for everything from daily use to touring, but the more you use it, the more you realize its vast potential, making you want to wear them here, there, and everywhere. I was happy to find that there are so many other cyclists who feel the same way.
It also looks great with a Cielo CX RACER.
Ready to ride!
Actually, a stylish touch with white laces.
Totally wiped out.
And once they’re covered in mud and sweat, you have to give them a proper cleaning.
Seeing them reborn in their clean state makes me feel even more attached to them, and makes me want to unlock even more possibilities.
If you’re interested, please give them a try.