The new service allows you to map turn by turn cycling directions, see the trails and bike lanes directly on the map, and drag and drop points to customize your route. Now you can avoid congested streets and large climbs on your commute. Check out this detailed video of the features. Happy Riding.

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Available from in white, black, red, yellow, and blue colors.

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Bontrager's new shoe for women provides all-day comfort

The newest model released this week is called the Cadence and is built for the off-bike versatility as well as being ideal for the active bike commuter on the go.

The shoe looks a lot like a tennis shoe with low profile tread suitable for walking without the need to change shoes after riding. These would be a great choice for any woman who doesn’t use clipless pedals, even though they do accept optional pedal cleats.

Bontrager Brand Manager, Natascha Grief, was quoted saying “It’s the perfect shoe for when you want some of the performance benefits of a cycling shoe without looking like you are wearing one.”

Bontrager constructs their shoes with four aspects of shoe design technology. They call them the four C’s: Construction, Cut, Cup, and Customization. This time all that attention is directed with women athletes in mind.

Construction
Bontrager starts with a women’s specific form (called a last) and uses a Strobel construction method that gives the Cadence a good blend of stability and comfort.

Cut
The Cadence features non-stretch synthetic uppers chosen specifically for their ability to provide support for on-bike efficiency and suppleness for street-shoe comfort, but again with a woman’s specific design in mind.

Cup
The Cadence uses an internal heel cup instead of a bulky looking external cup found in higher performance racing shoes.

Customization
All Bontrager inForm shoes can be customized. The Cadence will accept any custom or customizable insoles.

The shoe laces up with normal shoelaces. If you are shopping for this shoe you might want to make sure these won’t get caught and torn in your chainrings.

The Cadence will be available starting in October 2009 from Bontrager dealers.

price: $74.99
US sizes: 5.5 to 11

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.