Shimano unveils special edition Unbound gravel shoes
Shimano commemorates Kansas, the gravel monument and the Flint Hills with three special colorways of the RX6 and RX8 shoes
Shimano today unveiled special edition RX6 and RX8 gravel shoes to commemorate Kanas, the Flint Hills and the gravel monument that is the Unbound 200.
Unbound Gravel, formerly known as the Dirty Kanza, is a mass-start event that takes place in and around Emporia, Kansas, in the middle of the United States. With five race distances on offer and thousands of attendees duking it our for the now-prestigious win, Unbound has become the world’s marquee gravel event.
The famous 200-mile course is a true test of endurance, self-sufficiency and equipment. In addition to needing to fuel oneself for 11+ hours of riding, the sharp flint rocks are notorious for slicing tires and dashing podium aspirations. Along the way, riders also need to contend with the undulating terrain, exposed sun-baked roads, headwinds and, if at all wet, tire-sucking mud.
Named Twilight, Moonlight and Sunrise, Shimano’s special edition shoes are meant to represent the early mornings and late nights riders push through while competing and pushing their limits on the gravel roads of Kansas.
RX8 Twilight
The RX8 Twilight brings the performance and comfort of the RX8 shoe in a special pink to purple fade with the elevation profile of the race along the side of the shoe. The RX8 combines pedaling performance and off-the-bike walking capability for the modern gravel rider taking on the biggest race in the country.
Features:
- BOA Li2 Dial
- Synthetic leather upper
- Carbon composite sole
- Scratch resistant TPU outsole
- Vivid Inkjet printed graphics
- MSRP $275 USD
- 268 grams (size 42)
- US Regular Sizes: 38, 39, 40, 41, 42-45(half sizes), 46
RX6 Moonlight
The RX6 Moonlight shows off a blue and green fade with a turn by turn map of the course along the shoe celebrating the journey through the prairie grass of Kansas. The RX6 brings performance details alongside a comfortable fit making the RX6 suitable for gravel riding and bikepacking adventures alike. With a carbon reinforced outsole and widely spaced lugs the RX6 has stability on and off the bike.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Features:
- BOA L6 dial
- Stiff carbon reinforced outsole
- Wider outsole for extra stability
- Vivid inkjet printed graphics
- MSRP: US $180
- Weight: 274 grams (size 42)
- US Regular Sizes: 38-46 whole sizes only
RX6W Sunrise
The RX6 women's edition celebrates the sunrise over the Kansas fields with a blue and pink fade and the turn by turn course map crossing the shoe. The RX6W has all the same performance features of the unisex RX6 with a womens specific last for a long lasting comfortable fit. The RX6W balances stiffness for pedaling efficiency and walkability for whatever your adventure brings.
Features:
- Women’s specific last
- BOA L6 dial
- Stiff carbon reinforced outsole
- Wider outsole for extra stability
- Vivid inkjet printed graphics
- MSRP: US $180
- Weight: 274 grams (size 42)
- US Regular Sizes: 37-43 whole sizes only
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Lord is a Cycling Weekly Intern. He grew up in southern Maine and was introduced to mountain biking by his dad. Lord grew up racing mountain bikes and cyclocross across the East Coast as well as downhill and XC skiing. He moved out west to Durango, Colorado to start college at Fort Lewis, where in the last two years he has focused on road racing in addition to studying Communication design and marketing.
-
Stock but not standard: Argonaut Cycles upgrades its stock offering to flagship status; launches carbon gravel wheels
With 13 frame geometries, Argonaut’s high-end stock program aims to streamline the buying process of its handmade bikes
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Claims against bankrupt Sir Bradley Wiggins’s estate double to £2m
Wiggins’s efforts to pursue money through the courts have been paused
By Tom Davidson Published
-
New prototype Giant gravel bike raced at Unbound
At Unbound Gravel, we got glimpses of new, unreleased bikes, including a prototype Giant, which we are pretty sure is a new top-end Revolt. Giant is mum on the details but here's what we know.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Enhanced clarity and color-tuning, Shimano's launches purpose-built sunglasses for road, gravel and trail
With three frames built around Shimano's 6 Ridescape lenses, Shimano aims to serve every rider's needs
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Shimano teases 2024 line-up of its popular S-PHYRE performance shoes
Shimano's new collection of S-PHYRE shoes promises 'unmatched performance' and includes the line's first-ever triathlon shoe
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Shimano GRX 12-speed adds a gear but keeps the cables: ‘The market wants mechanical’, apparently
First spotted at Unbound Gravel at the start of June, Shimano today officially unveiled its latest generation of GRX components, consisting of three new 12-speed, mechanical drivetrains.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
The Ultimate Gear Test: this bike and gear survived an epic edition of the Unbound XL
The Unbound XL is a true test of fitness, self-sufficiency, tenacity and equipment. Here’s how this rider's bike and gear fared after 352 miles of gravel, mud, rain and thunderstorms.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
New Canyon Grail breaks cover at Unbound
Canyon Bicycles teased out their new Grail gravel bike at Unbound Gravel in June. The racey steed was ridden to victory in two events this weekend.
By Joe Baker Published
-
Bikes of Unbound Gravel 2023: The rigs taking on the world's biggest gravel race
Custom bikes and the pinnacle of gravel tech was on full display in Emporia, Kansas, for the world's biggest gravel race, Unbound Gravel
By Henry Lord Published
-
Unreleased Shimano GRX 12-speed groupset spotted at Unbound Gravel
The potentially new groupset was spotted on Taylor Lideen's bike before this Saturday's racing
By Joe Baker Published