When Jim Wyker greeted me he slipped a pair of 2010 Aerlite S.B.S. on my feet and they felt relaxed and comfortable, so good they felt like they were a custom shoe. I was ready to ride.

The reason Northwave’s feel so comfy right out of the box might be partially because the insole is built on a wood foundation. Wood might not seem like an exotic material at first, and don’t worry the outsole is a well-ventilated Carbon epoxy, but wood is the way expensive dress shoes are made.

Then I met Northwave’s other heads of state. Desiree Moore and John McKone stopped and chatted for a while. John elaborated on the benefits of wood, “It’s an insulator to heat and road noise. You know what I mean by road noise don’t you?”

At first I thought I he was referring to dampening vibrations and shock transmitted by the pedals and cranks. But John went on to explain that the wood in Northwave shoes help create a quieter riding experience as well. I’ve never ridden shoes with wood insoles so I wonder what I’m missing.

Northwave’s wood insole is completely natural. The layers of wood are worked, thermoformed at high temperatures and treated with special bonding agents to protect the insole from sweat and water. The structure is broken down into two sections: a more flexible portion that adapts to the shape of your foot and a stiffer core to connect power transmission to the bike.

Northwave builds its shoes from a BioMap concept that analyzes how the body functions during physical activity. So the wood insoles are designed to transmit power directly to the pedals without wasting any energy.

But there is more to a pair of Northwave’s than just the wood intersole. Footbeds, the ventilated outsole, the enclosure and the Ultra Y heel system all work in congress as a complete design.

Check back with Cycling Shoes Online for a complete review.

Colors: black, blue and white
Sizes: 39-48, half sizes 39.5-45.5

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Many riders are hampered by knee, ankle or back issues constantly. It’s a pretty common problem both on the bike and after a ride. While the solution may be found in many areas, the center of the pain is often rooted in the pedals.

Now Speedplay is offering a new tool kit to help bike shops properly fit and sell its pedals (see pictures in the gallery below.) The Pro Fit Case comes with an arsenal of tricks offering five different spindle lengths, fore-aft extender base plates, shims, wedges and cleat fastening screws. All those options make quite a bag.

Speedplay has been a popular pedal maker for a long time and this special tool kit evolved after years of customer service. Sharon Worman, president and co-founder of Speedplay was happy to announce the Speedplay’s launch into the custom world.

Because of their simple design, Speedplay has been long-lauded for their pain-free pedals virtually eliminating knee injuries. Usually out of the box a set of Speedplays would guarantee you to a pain-free ride but now the kit, enhances their design to providing a complete orthopedic adjustment. These solutions can be made to Speedplay’s Zero, Light Action and X Series pedals.

If your local bike shop is a serious enough retailer interested in custom fit, they can fine tune pedal fit to account for previous injuries, discrepancy between the lengths of your legs and foot alignment problems. However, the kit isn’t free and will cost your shop about $575 bones.

“Serotta, Trek, Specialized and Bike Fit have all embraced this tool,” said Richard Bryne, co-founder and chief executive officer of Speedplay. Bryne, who had just returned from a tour of shops in the Portland area, said the kit has also met with “extraordinary” reception from shops. Portland is a hotbed of custom-fit cycling.
“Fit has become a big part of business at pro shops. It has a real perceived value. The Pro Fit Case adds value to the fitting process,” said Speedplay sales manager David Alvarez. For years Speedplay had provided custom parts but the new Pro Fit Case combines all their development into a unique package.

If you haven’t thought of Speedplay in awhile, this might be reason to take another look.

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Only this image I ripped from Cyclingnews.com. A good look at the spicy inside of Juan Antoni Flecha’s Shimano shoes.

Where can I get custom insoles like these? What kind are they? Who knows?

Eye candy for your beautiful spring weekend.

Until I tired these Sole beds, I didn’t really drink the Kool-Aid.

Essentially, custom footbeds distribute your weight and align your joints. This improves balance and reduces foot fatigue. Sign me up right?

Sole footbeds are different because they are probably the most affordable on the market. They have been around for a few years now. If your shop doesn’t have a special fit consultant they might carry Sole.

A pair of Sole’s are easy to install. Trim them to size with the included template, pop them in your kitchen oven for two minutes (200 degrees) and then quickly tuck them into your best pair of riding shoes until the insoles cool back to room temperature. It’s as simple as that. You are your own custom guru.

You will feel the difference right away from the first ride. Even if you don’t have obvious fit problems Sole footbeds will improve your cycling experience.

Price: $40
www.YourSole.com

Under its new Body Geometry label Specialized has responded to the growing demand for custom fit technology on many components including saddles, gloves, grips and now shoes.  The line is publicized as being developed by Dr. Andy Pruitt and the hard-working folks at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine.

Their road shoe and triathlon line starts at $90 but eclipses $300 for the high performance racer dubbed the S-Works.

Lacing
The S-Works is the only model that features Powerzone lacing. This system uses a Boa rotary closure near the top of the tongue. With this mechanism you would only have to reach near the top of your shoe to adjust the fit, which would make on-the-bike adjustments a breeze as well as safer.

With this kind of investment in a shoe it is nice to know that the braided steel lace at the heart of the Boa enclosure system is replaceable for $15 or the lace alone for $12.

While the Powerzone lacing tightens the top and mid areas of the shoe one Velcro strap tightens the toe. Specialized calls it a “set and forget” Velcro that alludes to the freedom of taking your shoe off and slipping it on while leaving the strap closed.

Usually a shoe that uses a mechanical enclosure weighs more, but even with the fancy tune ability the 2009 S-Works still averages 250 grams per shoe (based on a size 42.)

One of the features shaving weight is the full carbon outsole. It is called the FACT carbon sole with rigid stiffness and a longitudinal arch support as part of the design. This also helps turn your flexible foot into a powerful lever.

Techno Factor
Just on top of that sole is a 1.5mm “varus” wedge that brings more of your instep in contact with the pedal. Specialized points out that very often a person’s big toe will rest higher than their little toe. When you’re on a bicycle this varus angulation can cause your leg to go out of alignment during each stroke. This can not only hinder efficiency but possibly place added strain on your knee joints.

There is also a raised button in the forefoot that spreads metatarsal bones apart to prevent blood vessels from being compressed during the ride. The unique support of this shoe is intended to reduce soreness and discomfort from hot spots.

Customization
Unlike Bontrager’s shoe that customizes the insole with a custom eSole footbed, the Specialized Body Geometry technology allows a rider to customize their insole by mixing a combination of optional footbeds and toe shims.

The footbeds are candy-colored in a range of arch and metatarsal supports. With the right insole matched to your foot Specialized hopes to keep your arch from collapsing while pedaling like it does naturally when you walk. This would improve energy transfer efficiently sending more power to the pedals.

Specialized has created their own “Arch-O-Meter” Mat to help measure your arch.  The mat reads the contours of your foot to determine the proper combination of Body Geometry footbeds and wedges to use with your shoes.  Correct leg alignment is achieved from the resulting insole and wedge combination prescribed for you.

These Specialized footbeds are $47 a pair and a shim kit costs $37. By comparison a pair of eSole’s constructed from a Bontrager dealer cost around $75 (but sometimes more depending on the shop.)

Eye Candy
Like one big vent the tongue is optimized for breathability. Most of the other mesh venting given to the upper runs alongside the upper while the toe has hole punched in the Micromatrix fabric. This material is durable and water resistant.

The rear heel has no promoted features focusing on stability. It appears to be streamlined with the rest of the upper with mesh venting but Specialized does not promote any heel-specific cup or design. Riders with a joy for sprinting may want to try on this shoe before buying.

There is a little lack of toe protection so the S-Works might inevitably get scuffed on the front corners. You might have to enjoy any tarnishing as added character.

For a top-of-the-line shoe the S-Works is available in multiple color choices: black with silver mesh and gold trim, white with black, white with blue and a racy Team Limited Red. Only the blue shoe has blue on the carbon sole, the rest sport red accents.

Compatibility
The 3-bolt pattern for cleats will be compatible with most recent pedals including Shimano SPD-SL, Look and Speedplay. There is also a mountain bike version.

Along with the Boa lace being replacable, the S-Works Heel Lugs can be replaced much like the heel pads on Sidi Ergo 2’s reflecting an increasing demand for rebuild capability.

Women’s Shoes
For now in the Women’s Body Geometry line, there is not a S-Works level model with Powerzone and Boa closure.  But who knows, one might be released later.

Weight: 250 grams per shoe, size 42
Sizes: 39-48 (with half sizes from 41.5 to 46.5)
Men’s S-Works Price: $300
Women’s Pro Road Shoe $260

Bontrager’s launch is supported by a complete website that offers a product tour through the “science of comfort” and the research that’s been invested in the new line. Like everything Trek sells they break it down into a slick presentation to make you feel like you’re in a classroom instead of a sales pitch. Then based on what you’ve “learned” you feel empowered that you are an expert and confident enough to buy what they’ve taught you.

Each model has respective features to its price level. The high-end Bontrager RXL model has carbon outsoles and uppers made from a unique last, but the first impression is underwhelming and boring. Seeing the shoe next to a pair of Shimano’s reveals a difference in quality from appearance alone. Bontrager’s entire line looks more like old tennis shoes from the 1980s rather than cutting edge cycling technology we’ve come to expect.

Most of Bontager’s shoes come in a black color, but the retail version of the top-end RXL road is also offered in white with yellow trim and adjustable buckle. The result looks like a cheap knock-off of the popular Sidi Ergo.

You can certainly get more style from other shoes that cost $229 or even less. The Bontrager Race Road shoe is their entry-level offering but from the looks of the synthetic leather and tired graphic design you would be surprised to pay more than $80. Even the Street Shoe, an SPD-compatible loafer with Velcro straps for commuters looks cheap.

Bontrager shoes reflect growing consumer interest in custom sizing. They feature custom insoles provided by eSoles, a name brand in the growing world of custom orthotics. This feature is appealing but in order for the eSoles to be fully customized the bike shop must own a freestanding self-service machine to do the fitting. Several pro racers have been outfitted by eSoles. Levi Leipheimer rode his all the way to a third Tour of California championship along side riders like Geroge Hincapie and Team Ouch.

Making the kiosk available to bike shops is a neat idea, but some customers may not choose to upgrade because an extra fee will probably be applied to use it.  Besides that presently only the largest cities in the United States have purchased the self-service machine and there’s only one place in the UK with a kiosk.

So the stock footbed insoles that come with the shoes may only be of added benefit if you take time to adjust the removable arch. But if your local dealer has purchased the freestanding self-service machine then you will have the option to upgrade and customize your insole to the ePro level.

The fit of the shoe was comfortable with a roomy toe box thanks to an extra-long “derby” tongue. This is good news to those who find Sidi too narrow, but then why not try a Specialized or any other high-performance shoemaker that makes a wider shoe. Then you will benefit from better styling along with the comfort and stiff carbon soles. After all $229, even $129 a big commitment and cyclists expect the most from a purchase as significant as their shoes.

For 2008 Pearl Izumi announced an exciting renewal of its aging cycling shoe line. Since In the year since that Interbike show Pearl Izumi has gotten lauds for its shoe rejuvenation and Pearl hopes to continue its reemergence in 2009.

The Octane SL is the crown jewel of the lineup weighing in at a scant 199 grams per shoe. The sole is a unidirectional carbon plate with a very thin stack height bringing your connection to the pedal closer and stiff.

A new synthetic upper hides a thermoplastic heel cup which provides better heel hold than external mechanisms or textiles.

There is also a generous vent in the toe of the sole directing a cooling airflow to keep your foot dry and comfortable. Having a hole allows better wear by avoiding the use of unnecessary stitching. That same vent could make the shoe cold on wintery days, but Pearl Izumi is also known for making great toe booties as well.

Response from racers has been encouraging. Since Pearl Izumi made an agreement with Team Garmin several Slipstream riders have preferred racing with the Octane SL ever since the Tour de France.

While only unisex sizes are available now, the range dips down to a 38 for smaller feet and tops out at size 46 on the large side.

The Octane is styled in black and white minimalism but packed with features for the performance-minded racer. Three Velcro straps can be adjusted while riding tightening snuggly across a thin flexible tongue forgoing the need for padding.

While you might expect to find it on sale at your local bike shop for close to $299, you might find them online for much less.

sexy custom carbon heels aren't easy to make

The idea was simple. By creating a one-piece carbon fiber that comprised the sole and heel cup, energy would be maximized as the rider pulls through at the bottom of each pedal stroke. However, this idea was unconventional because made shoe building very difficult.

Rocket7 has now spent over a decade making that ultimate fit into a reality, and their hand-laid carbon fiber soles are the heart of Rocket7’s performance.

Rocket7 shoes are probably the lightest in the world. Even with Mavic’s new claims that they make the lightest shoes on the market, Rocket7 probably remains the champ. I looked it up, and while Mavic claims their D’Huez shoes to be 193 grams a shoe, Rocket7’s weigh a mere 190 grams. They achieve that weight by using the most expensive carbon fiber available on the market. The 3K carbon fiber weave they lay is the same grade of tightly woven carbon the aerospace industry builds space shuttles from. The definition of ultralightweight is a Rocket7.

custom footbeds with carbon are rare

Rocket7 offers both custom shoes and custom footbeds. The process for ordering a pair of insoles goes like this. They ship you a foam casting box that you step into to make an accurate impression of your arch. You send it back and your custom footbeds are fabricated directly from that impression.

You can combine your new custom footbeds with a pair of stock Rocket7’s or your existing shoes. These can be ordered online starting at just $109, a reasonable price for custom insoles.
But you can go even further. For the ultimate custom fit, Rocket7 makes a pair of Rx Prescription shoes.

In their top of the line model they take a plaster cast of your foot and make a fully-customized shoe. These castings can only be made by a pedorthist or Doctor of Pediatric Medicine. And the price of the shoe (around $1,450) does not include the casting fees set by the doctor. And you thought Sidi’s were pricey.

With the Prescription shoe you get a choice of colors, cleat mounting options and the custom integrated footbeds mentioned before. The time dedicated to crafting these cycling shoes is very intensive so they take months before they are delivered to you.

With all of this care and attention to each pair of shoes the athletes that wear them like Dave Zabriskie, Julian Dean and Geoff Kabush are some of the best examples of cycling professionals.

My friend ordered a pair and when he got his he reported “an excess amount of material that comprises the uppers. Even too much for my bunions?” But he did remark that his shoes were light and now wears them every day.

Rocket7 gives its clientele a whole new level of custom by offering free embroidery on the Rx shoes. This allows you to have your name stitched on the heel of your foot. The result is a one of a kind work of art.

Rocket7 offers a full line of models. They make mountain bike shoes, triathlon shoes and even a time trial specific shoe that offers a slipstream advantage over others. Those include a carbon fiber faring that sweeps across the upper portion of the enclosure.

A pair of Rocket7 shoes would be the once in a lifetime investment that most passionately reflects your love for cycling.

Perhaps the most significant part of a custom shoe is the insole.

Custom insoles are engineered to improve power and endurance while protecting your muscular joints from wear and tear. Much more than Doctor Scholl’s for cycling, a custom insole allows you to reap the benefits of a custom fit without buying new shoes altogether. And you can move a custom insole from your road shoes to your mountain shoes. Custom insoles allow riders to become more comfortable and connected to their bikes. The benefits of a custom insole provide a complete compliance from your foot to your bike conserving more power each time you pedal.

Conformables are easily the highest level of custom insole options. The company started out by making custom inserts for ski boot before they took their years of knowledge and applied it to cycling shoes.

Conformable insoles last and last, I have put only five thousand miles on mine, but some UCI Pro’s are rumored to have put over thirty thousand miles on theirs without replacing them or the insoles breaking down. After the initial fit Conformables can also be reformed by reheating and shaping them back into place if they ever feel that they need to be “tuned-up.” They also make running specific insoles too, as well as sets for motorcycle riding and racing.

Once inserted into your cycling shoes they become an extension of your foot planting into your pedals. These insoles act as the primary guidance system for your feet. The right cycling shoe and custom insole will provide 360 degrees of fit, allowing your muscles and joints to move with less stress and tension, increasing comfort and performance. State-of-the-art, super lightweight, heat-moldable materials are used to create an incredibly accurate mold of your feet. Strategically placed control and propulsive materials provide support, protection and performance.

Most custom insoles take about 30 minutes to make. For instance a local coach, Nate Loyal, did mine in Los Angeles and I rode them immediately afterwards. If you get a set of Conformables made at your local bike shop by a fit specialist you get to take them home with you on the same day. But these high-end footbeds come with a price tag to match and will run you anywhere $125-$145.

If that is out of your budget there are less expensive do-it-yourself options available online from companies like Sole or Sorbothane. They start around $20 but a good pair of Soles might run as much as $40 and are widely available from online retailers.

Soles are an attractive alternative for those of us on a budget or who live outside large cities. An ingenious process allows you to warm these puppies in your kitchen oven at home before you ride. You make your pair of Sole inserts right in your own living room while watching Tivo repeats of the Tour.