The rains have finally come to California and while there's plenty of styling opportunities to be had wrapped in seasonal jackets from Rapha and Showers Pass it's hard to believe that this time last year I followed the Continental boys as they rode the route of Stage 2 of the Tour of California on what amounted to an idyllic summer day. Today was more like the weather the pros endured a month later in race itself.

Don't get me wrong I know many of you have been in the deep freeze and across the pond the U.K. faithful have had the worst winter in years, so spoiled as we are, I'm not complaining. I just wanted to wear my flash new shoes more than once before Spring.

I'm referring to a pair of DMT Radials. You might remember I picked up a pair of DMT Dragon street shoes last year. The Dragons share the same uppers as the Radials except the casual shoes are lace ups and the Radials close with three broad velcro straps. No ratcheting buckles, heel clamps or boa closures. Cinch them and go.

With Look cleats installed the road shoes are a svelte 314 grams each. Lightweight mesh/microfiber uppers and super stiff carbon fiber soles provide the comfort and performance you'd expect from a top line Italian shoe like this. That said, the functional basics satisfied, I'll admit I bought these purely for looks.

This doesn't mean I'm about to abandon my preference for mountain spd shoes, but I'll have more to say about that in a future post when I compare several shoes sitting in the garage waiting for better weather.

In the meantime like everyone else North of the equator I'm wishing I was in Australia watching the Tour Down Under and spinning around between stages in my new white shoes.

4,000 Road Miles and Counting on my Favorite Specialized Cycling Shoes

I'll admit I liked the look of the Specialized Trail 120 shoes the minute I first saw them. True to their brand name, they've really turned out to be something special.

The rare 3/4 height offers great ankle support throughout the entire pedal stroke and as the images can attest, they've come through the first year with flying colors – well flying grayscale in this case. Other than the obvious concerns over weight, I'm puzzled why more cycling shoes are not designed with the high-top form factor, it's certainly been popular for virtually every other sport.

The Trail 120 has a rock-solid full carbon mid-sole, three secure velcro closures and a really comfortable woven lining with no sharp edges at the top of the shoe. They really didn't need a break-in period. The pair weigh less than 800 grams – negating any weight concerns – and their construction strikes a nice balance between ventilation and wind protection. Worn with a good pair of merino socks they're good down to 40F.

Initially I intended they'd be the ideal commuting shoe. With recessed SPD (MB) cleats, the 120s make it easy to put your feet down at intersections, and as I've demonstrated on numerous occasions when I've forgotten street shoes, wearable around the office. You get a little clicking from the cleat hitting cement if you walk to the corner for lunch, but it's nothing like the tap dance routine you'd perform in a road shoe.

When I purchased my Cervelo SLC-SL, there was nothing preventing me from building it with ultra-light, high-performance pedals and shoes but I had no desire to give up the look, fit or support of the 120s. While I may end up exploring some Crank Brother SPD pedal options, I mounted another set of Shimano A-520s on the Cervelo and haven't looked back.

Sometime soon, I'm going to buy a second pair and tuck them away. You know what always happens when you find something you really love.

The Specialized Defroster Promised to be a Warmer, Waterproof, Winter Cycling Shoe – but it's not quite Warm Enough

I'd hoped that the Specialized Defroster would be an Alaskan version of the Trail 120. As dawn temperatures in Northern California dipped into the low 30s (F) before adding the wind chill of riding, the superb 120s required shoe covers to keep my feet warm.

That was fine for a while. The problem had nothing to do with my favorite shoes, it was just a matter of how long it was taking me to suit up every morning. I reasoned the awkward shoe covers could be eliminated from the routine when I spotted the Defrosters. I also expected the winter shoes to extend the life of the 120s.

I can report after two months of daily use, that it's great to be able to pull on the Defrosters and not fumble with shoe covers – I've got more important layers to worry about. The shoes have proven to be completely waterproof as advertised. They fit well and look pretty svelt for a winter shoe, but even with two pairs of socks, they're just not warm enough. Inevitably, the toes on my right foot end up half-frozen by the end of the 13-mile morning commute.

Normally, I wouldn't bother posting about a product that was almost great. I offer this review in the hope that someone in the Specialized design team finds it, and beefs up the insulation for next season. Then we'd have a real winner.