The Sidi Kaos Cycling Shoe is more about how you’ll be able to better disrupt your races and rides than about a cartoonish take on spies.

The shoe is proof of how amazing cycling shoes have become. Only a few  years ago, this would have been at the top of the Sidi lineup, and, in fact, elements of the shoe have been at the top of their lineup. The Sidi Soft Instep 2 strap, linking the buckle tongue to the shoe does a great job of spreading out the pressure of the retention system so you don’t feel any restriction on your foot. The buckle has three elements to it. There’s the fast lever, the micro-adjust levers, and the release button. You can slide the tongue in, ratchet down quickly, carefully micro-adjust, then release. There is also a Tecno 3 dial, which cinches down a microfilament cable. You lift the lever to turn the dial for tightening, then you engage the side buttons to release. The cable runs around bases for an even pull on the upper, minimizing pressure points.

The upper itself is made of a Politex synthetic leather. It’s pliable but doesn’t stretch, the result of bonding several layers of fabric together. The layered system also means it is tough, being able to resist destruction that can come with skidding along the ground in a crash.

The sole is a carbon composite. It a nylon base injected with carbon-fiber, making it a good bit stiffer than a standard nylon sole, but still keeping close on cost. The cleat mounting system is the standard Look three-hole setup, with a fourth “memory eyelet” for folks installing Look cleats. The heel has a soft, replaceable heel pad.

In addition to the replaceable heel pads, all the retention components, the buckles, the straps, the dials, are all replicable should they wear out or get damaged in a crash.