White Shoes: A Tradition in Cycling
“You could always tell the serious riders—not by their bikes, but by their shoes. White shoes, spotless at the start line, scuffed with pride at the finish.”
In cycling, few details speak as loudly as a rider’s shoes. Jerseys may change with sponsors, bike colors come and go, but for decades, white shoes have stood as a quiet symbol of style, tradition, and dedication.
The Origins of White Shoes in the Peloton
The sight of a professional rider in gleaming white shoes is deeply ingrained in the visual history of the sport. In the 1970s and 80s, when cycling was still dominated by leather shoes and toe clips, white footwear became a mark of distinction. They stood out in a peloton filled with black and brown leather—clean, sharp, and undeniably elegant.
Keeping them white wasn’t easy, either. Mud, dust, and road grime were part of the game, and a rider who kept their shoes spotless showed a certain respect for the sport. White shoes became shorthand for professionalism, pride, and a little bit of vanity.
More Than Just Fashion
Of course, cycling is a sport obsessed with details. White shoes aren’t just about looks—they reflect the culture of care. To keep them clean means you pay attention. To wear them means you carry a little piece of the peloton’s history. They’ve become a badge, a way to quietly say: I’m serious about this.
Today, the tradition continues. Look at the start line of any major race—from the Tour de France to gravel classics—and you’ll see white shoes everywhere. They’re timeless, working equally well on the smooth asphalt of road racing or the rugged grit of gravel.
White Shoes Today: Our Take at Kult Cycling
When we were deciding what shoes to stock at KULT, we leaned into this tradition. That’s why our cycling shoe collection is exclusively white. Not because we think other colors don’t have their place, but because white shoes are cycling distilled: heritage, fashion, and performance in one.
We chose to partner with QUOC, a brand that perfectly blends timeless aesthetics with modern performance. From the pro‑level M3 Pro road shoe to the rugged Gran Tourer for gravel, down to beautifully simple lace‑up road shoes, QUOC captures both tradition and innovation in white. It’s a collection that feels both classic and fresh—a continuation of cycling’s story rather than a departure from it.
Where to Find Them
You’ll find our QUOC collection ↗ online at kultcycling.com, with fast, secure and tracked shipping to EU countries. Our checkout supports local currencies across Europe for a smooth experience. And if you’re local to Warsaw, you can come by our store to try them on, grab a coffee, and see why white shoes remain such a defining piece of cycling style.
White shoes aren’t just an accessory—they’re a tradition. A link between cycling’s past and its present. Whether you’re pinning on a number or rolling out for a weekend café ride, they’re a statement that never goes out of fashion. And with our QUOC collection, we’re proud to carry that tradition forward, one pair at a time.