The Radavist

I just got in from the 2012 Red Hook Crit Dinner Celebration and I’m a little drunk, very tired and anxious for what tomorrow night will bring. The general vibe at this year’s dinner was quite intimate, drawing in a small crowd of racers, media, supporters and NYC locals. A dinner was served, drinks were poured and I got to see some familiar faces. Cinelli unveiled the 2012 Red Hook Crit Vigorelli, Giro displayed their prizes and other brands showed off their contributions. It was a great night.

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When I was in Portland, before my tour, the guys at Rapha North America told me about this collaboration with Giro that they had been working on. Their idea was simple: make a cycling shoe that boasts the performance of a modern race shoe, influenced by the classic models from the 70’s. If anyone has nailed that ideology down, it’s Rapha. The Grand Tour Shoes embody the same stylistic approach as their apparel line and by style, I mean simplicity. These minimally-branded, perforated white leather shoes utilize the same technology as Giro’s professional racing shoes and look damn good.

I’ve broken this review down into a gallery, with the captions describing each photo, so take note. See for yourself by clicking the image above or here to open in a new tab.