The carbon fibre bathtub chassis is the heart of Bont's customisable cycling shoes.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The a-one is Bont's top road model with a full carbon fibre lower chassis and heat mouldable fit.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Bont says it's a-one offers just a 3.6mm stack height.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The second-tier a-two is a close cousin of the a-one with just a slightly thicker carbon sole and other minor differences.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The Chrono is Bont's latest model, specially designed for track and time trial events where aerodynamics can play a key role.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Bont designed the Chrono with an aero profile front and rear to help smooth airflow.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The Chrono's pointed toe is meant to cleanly cut through the wind.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Traditional laces wrap the full carbon fibre shoe around the rider's foot while an additional carbon cover then hides the laces away.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The carbon fibre outsoles are devoid of filler materials.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
The carbon fibre outsole wraps up around the back of the foot to form the heel cup.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Bont also makes off-road shoes with a grippy replaceable sole.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Bont has a range of tri-specific shoes with easy-entry uppers.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Bont offers its shoes in both three-hole and Speedplay-specific cleat patterns.(Image credit: Emily Wren/www.emilywren.com)
Australian cycling shoe manufacturer Bont will now offer its full line of footwear to US consumers including road, mountain, time trial/track and triathlon models.
Sitting at the top of the road range is its a-one, using a full carbon fibre bathtub-style monocoque sole plate, a synthetic upper with either a ratcheting main strap and two additional forefoot straps or a lighter three-strap layout, and heat mouldable materials all around for a customisable fit.
Memory foam inserts add to the cushy feel. Claimed weights are around 225-250g per shoe depending on the configuration and claimed stack heights are a paltry 3.6mm.
The substantially less expensive second-tier Bont a-two is nearly identical, save for a slighter thicker sole while the mtb-one offers all of the a-one's features plus a replaceable lugged outsole.
Bont's latest creation is easily its most radical, though. The new Crono is specifically designed for time trial and track use where individual performances against the clock require as little aerodynamic drag as possible.
As such, the Crono uses a uniquely slippery-looking shape, including a diamond-shaped toe and a sharply profiled heel and trailing edge to smooth out the passing airflow. Even the heel pad has been shaped for minimal airflow disturbance.
Unlike on the rest of Bont's line, the Crono uses heat mouldable carbon fibre for both the upper and lower for the sleekest possible shape plus full laces and a carbon fibre lace cover. Claimed weight is just 295g apiece.
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Also coming in 2010 from Bont is a full range of triathlon shoes with similar heat mouldable carbon fibre chassis as on the rest of the line but easier-entry single-strap uppers for faster transitions.
