I’ve been looking for that goldilocks shoe and Lake just came out with a CX239 in my size (49W)! They have black and white options. Black is more practical but my heart says white.
What do the wise folks of the TR forum say?
Polish them but get black boas because these are hard to clean
Get ‘em if you like ‘em….the only thing that matters.
Looking good adds like 10W to your FTP right 
Minimum.
If you want them and you’re roads are clean enough regularly get them. The roads can be quite manky here, so it wouldn’t be regular enough but if it where you are go for it.
Get a black pair in case it rains. Get a white pair too. The white is much cooler in Texas heat. Rode my white ones today. They both look good with my pink socks.
White shoes look amazing, but the people who wear them in all conditions are cleaning them a lot.
Something to consider. I too wear a 49 (sometimes a 48W will work), and white shoes look HUGE on me. I actually don’t ride white even though I love the look for this reason. If you wear white runners and are happy with the look, ignore me!
I already look like Toad from Super Mario in my large sized white Evade helmet. Maybe the shoes will draw the eyes away from my giant melon. 
I think this is the answer. I have a pair of black SPD shoes I can wear in crummy weather or on light gravel rides and keep the white road shoes for nicer road rides.
Hard no for me unless I’ve got a shoe sponsor.
I came up watching Merckx, Lemond, Hinault so black shoes and white socks made their imprint on me.
Sounds like it’s time to start a “How do you clean your white shoes” thread!
Asking the real questions!
On the road bike, def white shoes and white helmet for me. Road shoes nowadays are all plastic anyway and clean up easily. Gravel and mtb I lean more toward earth tones, with a preference for green.
Magic Eraser
I could care less about the look. But I wear white shoes because black shoes make my feet hot. I’ve had a very noticeable difference between black and white shoes in this regard and white has been far more comfortable
This was the motivation when I got my white helmet to be honest (and maybe a reason to justify it too ). I’ve had some foot pain issues that really bother me in hot weather. I’m hoping a wider shoe will help, but if the the lighter color helps that’s certainly a bonus.
Thanks!
White 100%, get the Crep shoe protection spray and reapply every month or so, super helpful!
If you show up to the mtb race in white shoes, we just became teammates.
