MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
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MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:21 am
Because I'm on stage I want ones that look really nice, but of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder and they need to be relatively firm, as I have a really strong upstroke.
Previously I've used a variety of shoes, many of which were multifit road shoes using SPD's (2 bolt), however I am not keen on road shoes are they are not good walk around in. Currently I'm using some unusual Lake MTB's that have a solid (heavy) plastic sole. They have functioned well, but are not stylist.
So, looking around, I seem to come upon that the better shoes have carbon soles;
Sidi MTB Dragon 3 Carbon SRS Vernice Shoes - really nice looking and durable. I have ergo 2's which is the road equivalent
Specialised S Works is another that comes to mind.
What concerns me about shelling out the $$$ for those shoes, is what a carbon sole is like for everyday activities such as walking around a supermarket?
Then when I hit the plastic soled shoes, they are much cheaper but don't have the same quality in the upper or the looks Examples;
Shimano SH-M162
CARNAC Men's Escape
And they ain't as good looking
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby Chef » Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:49 am
I had a pair of the Dragon 3's - they were nice shoes with good fit and plenty stiff whilst not hard to walk in, however I had a problem with the heel retainer which split and fell apart on both shoes after six months of use.
I now have a pair of the XC Five's which are a great shoe, but noticeably less stiff; if you want the stiff SRS sole I recon the Spider SRS would be the go - very similar to the Dragon, but less complicated....
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby antipodean » Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:28 pm
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby trailgumby » Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:43 pm
I looked at the Shimano XC60 and it is a really nice shoe, and felt really comfortable.... with one catch. I have a very high arch and and varus forefoot, so with the Specialised BG forefoot shims in under the BG footbed, the lip on the tongue where it's sewn to the inside of the shoe upper pressed uncomfortably on my big toe tendon. Perhaps should have tried a size up, but they didn't have it in stock. That was my only reservation
So I've ended up with Bontrager RXLs. Brookvale Bike Factory had them on special for $219 down from RRP $299. I did two spin classes back-to-back last Sunday and they were great. Very comfortable.
The interesting thing is despite the carbon sole they were only 25g lighter each than the sub-$100 dhb's, and not really any stiffer. (The dhb's have a glass-reinforced composite sole that is as stiff as most top-end shoes).
Where the Bontragers win is the better ratchet-style micro-adjust buckle fastener, and proper urethane sole lugs, which from my experience with my much-loved but dying Vittorias will last very well. The dhb's lugs are the same material as the sole, and a couple of trips up and down the Harbour Bridge cycleway staircase plus a bit of rock-hopping in Canberra chewed up the lugs very quickly and grip on polished surfaces like concrete or tiles was nil.
The XC60's have a much better engineered buckle that will survive hits off trailside rocks and logs much better than the Bontragers, which by comparison look more fragile. Supposedly you can get replacement buckles for the Bontragers, but I'm hoping not to test that claim. If they're just for looking professional up front at spin classes I think either would be fine.
Thsi fashion for white mtb shoes has me laughing - not gonna stay that colour for long
Mine seem to be the 2011 model with the 2012 buckle
2012 model
2011 model:
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:38 pm
This is them on the Bontrager web site http://bontrager.com/model/09604
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby trailgumby » Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:57 pm
If you're interested in the XC60's, Bike Addiction had a good range of sizes. Personally I think the XC60s are better engineered.
I'm not a fan of the traditional cardboard or whatever it is inner sole material underneath the footbed on the Bontragers - my Vittorias had that and wet weather riding killed them from the inside out in the end. Shimano is much more fit for purpose, with fully waterproof materials used in its construction, but unfortunately it didn't fit my foot quite as well.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby Crittski » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:40 pm
Volagi Liscio Ultegra
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:27 pm
Bike addiction appears expensive online, though of course I don't know what in store specials they have
http://www.bikeaddiction.com.au/store/c ... 252d-Mens/
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby Crittski » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:45 am
Volagi Liscio Ultegra
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby gcouyant » Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:20 pm
Mike, I have used several pairs of SIDI Dragon 2s and the 3 is a detail evolution of that shoe. I have also lusted after red Vernice as well but with every purchase I settle for black. You have be able to live up to red Vernice.mikesbytes wrote:Technically I'm not looking for 2 bolt shoes for MTB riding but for spin classes (I'm an instructor) and fixie commuting.
Because I'm on stage I want ones that look really nice, but of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder and they need to be relatively firm, as I have a really strong upstroke.
What concerns me about shelling out the $$$ for those shoes, is what a carbon sole is like for everyday activities such as walking around a supermarket?
They are the sexiest most luscious looking MTB shoe on the market.
The carbon sole is tough and you won't crack or damage it walking around. I do a fair bit of bike hiking and whilst the shoes look pretty ragged after a year or so, they have never ever failed. One caution though - especially since you mentioned walking in the super market. The replaceable sole material can be an issue. The material is tough and grips rock and gravel well, however there are some polished surfaces that they will suddenly let go on....and I do mean suddenly.
If you're walking leave the heel retention on the loose side. I use the heel retention to make fine adjustment to the alignment of the shoe relative to the centre line of the foot. It is very useful to fine tune for differences between left and right feet.
Back to looks.... I personally prefer the look of the 2 because the toe box looks beautiful in red Vernice. The 3 has a rubber boot over it.
Let me share something.
I said earlier that I have always and continue to lust after red Vernice - and every time I replace the shoes I go through the same turmoil with the next pair of SDIDs..... A couple of years ago we were driving and riding the Savanna Way up in the Gulf and it was a hot day on a the rough part of the track near Lorella Springs. A couple of hundred meters up the track I spotted a pair of dusty red Vernice Dragon 2s on the feet of a lone cyclist as he crested a bump and bend ahead. This crusty old gentleman was in his early seventies riding on an old school CroMo MTB frame with rigid forks. He was riding solo from Cairns to Darwin on dirt.
We chatted over an icy orange and juice from the car's fridge and he shared his story on the shoes.....
He confessed that he too had always longed for red Vernice SIDIs and at last, at 72 years of age he felt that he earned it. He bought the shoes, broke them in, hopped onto his old mountain bike and headed West.... I sometime think back to that encounter in the middle of nowhere. He was a man at peace and he made an impression upon me. If it wasn't for the shoes, we would have greeted with a wave and a nod and continued on our ways.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby trailgumby » Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:27 pm
I think you need to contact SIDI with that one... please tell me you took a photograph, that's a brilliant story.gcouyant wrote:He confessed that he too had always longed for red Vernice SIDIs and at last, at 72 years of age he felt that he earned it. He bought the shoes, broke them in, hopped onto his old mountain bike and headed West.... I sometime think back to that encounter in the middle of nowhere. He was a man at peace and he made an impression upon me. If it wasn't for the shoes, we would have greeted with a wave and a nod and continued on our ways.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby gcouyant » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:15 pm
You know, when you're out there in the middle of nowhere on a bicycle, you are a traveller and not a tourist. When a pair of crusty old guys meet out there, it's most inappropriate to take photos.trailgumby wrote:please tell me you took a photograph, that's a brilliant story.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:56 pm
Almost got a set of red Dragon 2's last night but there was a problem with the postage been incorrect. The fixed the problem over night, but when I logged in again in the morning, as expected the basket was empty. So I went to order them again and my size was sold out...
Stumbled upon this interesting site in my travels
http://www.gambacicli.it/componenti/scarpe_frame.htm
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:00 pm
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby Kenzo » Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:42 pm
http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-iZUMi-Elite ... 12&sr=1-16
or the not so 'pretty': http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-iZUMi-Spinn ... 612&sr=1-8
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby gcouyant » Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:22 pm
The regular SIDI Dragons are lorica which is a synthetic and highly breathable leather - but they look dull. Great summer shoe though. I never bothermikesbytes wrote:What does 'Vernice' mean?
The Vernice is a high gloss and durable finish aimed at the rider who needs to continue to look good. Pretty popular with riders who want the best in MTB shoes but have an obligation to look professional at all times and in all conditions for their sponsors. That and anyone else who lusts after a luscious looking shoe. They don't breathe as well as lorica but really easy to clean.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:08 pm
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:40 pm
I'm thinking of some stop gaps, either or both of the following;
Gaerne G.Tekna Bianco Scarpe MTB € 59.90, postage unkown
Diadora X-Country Comp Cycling Bicycle Shoes White US$119.98 + about $20 postage (orders over $300 free postage)
I did find these ones, but I can't tell if they are Vernice
NIB Sidi Dragon 2 SRS MTB Carbon Cycling Shoes 43 US$297.99 + $30 postage
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby gcouyant » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:15 pm
Come on Mike you've been in the industry long enough to know that if you wantmikesbytes wrote:Man, the witch hunt for a pair at a realistic price is driving me nuts, I keep finding them at the right price in the wrong size.
1. low price
2. correct size
3. the right colour
Well, you can only have two of the three.
Good luck on your hunt.
A word of warning on the size though. In just about any other model of SIDI shoe I am one size bigger than the right fitting Dragon 2. In other words, one size smaller in a Dragon 2. That's with large sizes though - several bigger than your 43.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:49 pm
My ergo2's size 43 fit perfectly, is there any reason to have a different size for the Dragons? they appear to have identical uppers
And the Sidi's on ebay I posted above, are they Vernice ?
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby gcouyant » Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:38 pm
Yes and I want speed and stamina.mikesbytes wrote:You know I want my cake and eat it....
My ergo2's size 43 fit perfectly, is there any reason to have a different size for the Dragons? they appear to have identical uppers
And the Sidi's on ebay I posted above, are they Vernice ?
I don't know why the different size. Perhaps it's the carbon sole? I haven't tried the ergos so I'm sorry I can't give you a comparison there.
I think that they are lorica and not vernice you can't go by the picture though. Why not ask the seller?
.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby toolonglegs » Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:55 pm
Seeing you earn part of your living from cycling ?.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:00 pm
ATO Fitness and sporting industry employees - what expenses can I claim?toolonglegs wrote:Are you claiming all your cycling stuff back as a tax deduction Mike ?.
Seeing you earn part of your living from cycling ?.
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Re: MTB Shoes carbon vs plastic
Postby mikesbytes » Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:08 pm
Dear mikesbytes,
Hello,
Vernice.
Regards,
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