Specialized MTB shoes have, for the past five years, been the most popular in South Africa, according to the annual SA MTB Survey, presented by Garmin. There’s a reason Specialized shoes are among the most highly rated. Actually, there are a few reasons…
COMFORT
As one of three contact points with your bike, your feet need to be optimally comfortable, especially when you spend many hours pedalling.
The human body evolved to walk, not pedal. Issues with forefoot numbness, “hot foot”, arch collapse, medial and lateral knee pain, and instability – all of which erode efficiency, power output, endurance, and comfort, while potentially leading to injury –occur when humans wear traditional cycling shoes, clip in, and pedal for hours on end. Working with the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, Specialized set about solving these problems through design and validating the solution with science. As a result, Body Geometry was created and shoe comfort was improved significantly.
FASTENING
There are a few mechanisms used to fasten a cycling shoe when you put it on. Specialized has always used the most effective and not the cheapest. This is because fastening the shoe should be done in a way that makes it easy to unfasten it easily and incrementally. Specialized primarily uses BOA® fastening systems, which allow for incremental fastening. On hot days, it’s also essential to be able to loosen your shoes incrementally to accommodate the slight swelling of your feet.
STIFFNESS
A stiff sole on a cycling shoe ensures no loss of power transfer. In other words, it’s highly efficient. But efficiency comes with the cost of versatility. Specialized makes cycling shoes with varying levels of sole stiffness to suit different riders. Recreational riders that may need to dismount occasionally have access less stiff soled shoes; while riders seeking high performance have access to super-stiff soled shoes. The most stiff-soled shoes use X Fact, a carbon plate that measures a stiffness level up to 13.
ROBUSTNESS
Specialized shoes are extremely robust. They are made from highly durable, but mouldable materials that allow for comfort, but which can take a lot of bashing. This is especially important in mountain bike shoes. The joining of the upper to the sole and the last is done seamlessly, which ensures no edges that can start to lift over time as is often the case with MTB shoes.
COOLNESS
Most riding in South Africa is done in warm to hot weather. Cool feet are essential and Specialized uses light, but super strong mesh materials to deliver airflow without compromising upper strength and form.
FIRM HEEL CRADLES
If your heel pulls out of the heel cradle of your shoe when pulling up on a pedal stroke, your efficiency is compromised! Often overlooked, a firm heel cradle is essential in a quality cycling shoe. Specialized uses PadLock ™ construction to ensure its heel cradles offer optimal firmness.
GRIPPY, ROBUST OUTER SOLES
Particularly important on mountain bike shoes are the grippiness and durability of the outer sole. Specialized uses various materials, including SlipNot™ to ensure long-lasting outer soles that offer grip in all conditions.
BODY GEOMETRY INNER SOLES
The arch of the human foot works like a leaf spring while walking. It collapses when the foot hits the ground, absorbing the strike force, and it rebounds as we stride off the forefoot, returning the stored energy. This is a great system for walking and running, but it’s miserable for pedalling. When we pedal, we want the foot to be a rigid lever, directly and efficiently transferring force to the pedal. To prevent arch collapse, Specialized’s Body Geometry insoles use moulded longitudinal arch support and come in different levels of support to suit all foot type.
GOOD LOOKS
It’s not even a question. Specialized cycling shoes are some of the best looking shoes there are!
To see our range of Specialized shoes at Lynnwood Cyclery, click here: https://www.lynnwoodcyclery.co.za/collections/shoes-mtb
Author, Lynnwood Cyclery