Home  Cyclingnews TV   News  Tech   Features   Road   MTB   BMX   Cyclo-cross   Track    Photos    Fitness    Letters   Search   Forum  

Recently on Cyclingnews.com


Dauphiné Libéré
Photo ©: Sirotti


Reviews

On test: Specialized 02 Pro Road Shoe

These shoes aren't just made cycling

By Anthony Tan

Feeling a bit toey?
Photo: © Cyclingnews
Click for larger image

Unlike Nancy Sinatra's boots, Specialized's Pro Road shoes aren't just made for cycling - they also won't let you down when you're strutting along the pavement. And don't try telling us you haven't embarrassed yourself in front of your mates once or twice before outside your favourite café.

But cycling is the first and foremost reason for using Specialized's top-shelf pair of road shoes, and that's a great reason in itself. And while they may not look as flash as some of the more established Euro brands, they certainly live up to their "Body Geometry" name in the comfort category.

"Body Geometry" is a term used by Specialized on its range of cycling accessories that, as the name implies, is designed to conform to the geometry of an athlete's body. In respect to the Pro Road shoes, there are three pertinent features that are claimed to stabilise the cyclist's foot bed, help prevent injuries and increase performance. Sounds promising, doesn't it?

First up is the Varus Wedge. No, not another Star Wars alien bad-guy, but a cleverly designed part of the shoe's footbed that is said to bring the foot in better contact with the pedal - eliminating the rotational movement of the shin, knee and foot.

Next, enter the Metatarsal Button: a raised area under the footbed behind the rider's forefoot. The inclusion of the metatarsal button spreads the metatarsal bones slightly, and is said to prevent nerves and blood vessels from being crushed under the pedalling load, with less swollen feet at the end of long rides. Ahhhhh, relief.

And finally a built-in digital camera. Umm, sorry - I was getting carried away there - I meant to say the Longitudinal Arch Support. It's a diagonal, slightly raised area on the medial (inside) portion of the footbed that is claimed to provide a more stable foot platform, minimising arch flex and retaining more of the rider's energy in each pedal stroke. Power to the pedals I say.

I have to admit I was a touch sceptical about an accessory from a company whose forte is in bikes. You'd also think carbon, rather than vinyl straps, or at least a carbon sole would be a certainty on a pair of shoes valued at 150 George Washingtons.

However after a week of riding, I have to say the scepticism was beginning to wear thin. And after a month of riding, it had all but vanished. My feet have enjoyed the ride. Immensely.

One of my biggest gripes with cycling shoes is the seam of the upper rubbing against the top of my feet. The other is the excessive rotation of my foot and knee while pedalling; the problem exacerbated given that I'm of the flat-footed variety. So many years ago, I went to a sports podiatrist, handed over a wad of bills, and got a pair of orthotics custom-made. Immediately my whining was halved. The case of the uncomfortable upper though, is in the hands of the manufacturer, and Specialized do an excellent job here. No overlapping seams = no uncomfortable rubbing-of-the-skin-against-the-upper feeling.

And to see how good Specialized's Body Geometry insoles were, I tried the shoes without my orthotics. Again, I was pleasantly surprised at how good they were, with minimal difference between my custom-made orthotics and the production line insoles. The combination of the Varus wedge and the Body Geometry insole works a treat, minimising the amount of knee wobble (not a technical term) - so that your pedalling action is straight up and down.

Coffee shop compliant
Photo: © Cyclingnews
Click for larger image

The extra "give" in the vinyl straps was also welcome, especially on longer rides. Carbon straps can sometimes be too good, restricting the amount of circulation as your feet swell; so it felt nice to have a tad more flexibility in this department. While we're on the subject of longer rides, one gripe is the virtual non-existence of any padding in the upper. I'm used to the generously padded neoprene variety - so the minimalist upper could do with some more cushioning.

But what really put a smile on my face was the moulded rubber heel. After so many years of walking around in cycling shoes with stuff-all grip, I could now walk around the paved area of the Pierre's bakery with renewed confidence.

Sure, I still look like an idiot wearing cycling attire at a coffee shop, but at least I'm not going to fall over with my espresso and almond brioche in hand.

Price guide: $149.99 (USA)
Pro: Great design, excellent insole, pressure relief on longer rides
Con: More padding on the upper, please
More information: Specialized website
Cyclingnews Rating: Click for key to ratings

What do you think of the Specialized 02 Pro Road Shoe? Let us know
 

Recent tech

Tour tech: Zipp's slippery new wheel revealed
On test: Klein Palomino XV
June 25 news: New Giant carbon, Crank Bros, Colnago proto, Scott, Topolino
Book review: Lance Armstrong: Images of a champion
New bike for Van Moorsel
New bikes from BT
Cicli Pinarello displays its racing history: Fifty years of classic bikes
June 17 new arrivals: Specialized, Crank Bros, Thomson, Bicycling Science, Drop In
Pro bike: Iban Mayo's Euskaltel-Euskadi Orbea TT climbing prototype
On test: Campagnolo Eurus G3 wheels
Pro bike: Lance Armstrong's Trek Madone SSL proto
Pro bike: Emanuele Sella's Battaglin
June 8 news, part 1: Giro's Rev Six revs up at Dauphine, Rebellin conquers on Wilier carbon proto, Giant spy photos at the T-Mobile Service Course
June 8 news, part 2: Specialized unveils new kit, Cervelo & CSC fine-tune at MIT, New forks from Alpha Q, Paint job of the year?
Pro bike: Dede Demet-Barry's T-Mobile Giant TCR Carbon
Bikes of the Giro part 2:
The mountains
New arrivals: DMT, Jaggad, Blue Steel, Cannibal, Ellsworth, LeMond Fitness, Atomic Mount
On test: Park Tool IB-1 & IB-2 multi-tools
De Marchi responds
On test: Giro Monza
On test: De Marchi Contour bib shorts,
On test: DeFeet Armskins
May 21 news: Petacchi's new Pinarello, Mayo's Orbea TT secret weapon, adidas, Mavic, Ambrosio, True Temper
On test: White Industries Eccentric ENO hub
World exclusive pro bike: Marion Clignet's Look 496 track bike
On test: Carnac Quartz road shoes
Repair & maintenance: Recording MTB position
Pro bike: Chris Horner's Webcor Lemond TT bike
May 13 news: New Shimano wheels, 29inch victory, CycleOps, Naviion
New arrivals: Crank Bros, Park Tool, Sports Instruments, Morningstar & Panasonic,
New arrivals: 2004 clothing from Campagnolo
On test: Orbea Orca - Real-world team issue
On Test: Specialized Bar Phat tape
Bikes of the Tour de Georgia
Apr 30 news: Campagnolo, Klein, Giant, Sports Instruments, Burley, La Ruta
Apr 27 news: IRD, Oval, Fi'zi:k, Camelbak