Road Shoes? Sydney shopping

[dale79]

When I was speed skating that was the only way to get bonts, go down Inz would take a mould of your foot and 2 weeks later your boots would be ready.

[skull]

That is how it was done. Their boots are now made elsewhere so the factory is rather empty but does hold excess stock.


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[twizzle]

I'm really pissed. I'm trying to find wide shoes, I really wanted to try out the Bont A3's, but the Australian distributor won't even respond to emails. I've managed to find some Shimano's in wide from the U.K., which I'll take a risk on, but it pisses me off that unless you are 'average', the retailers won't even try. Clothing and shoes are the things I really try and buy locally, because that's what will keep the LBS's alive... but customer service is definitely not high on the list of priorities for retailers or distributors in Australia.

O.k. - seems they missed my email, so I got a response to the original email today, plus a phone call when they got another email today.

GKA doesn't bother to warehouse narrow/wide as they sell bugger-all in wide, so if I can't find a wide pair to try on I could end up waiting 6 - 8 weeks to get a pair on special order.

[herzog]

As a general rule Specialized boots are a wider fit.

[MarkG]

As are the new Garneaus.

[twizzle]

My foot length is a 45, I'm using 47/48 to get the width. It's a bad solution. I tried on a standard Bont 45, the length was O.K., the width was too narrow, and their 'standard' width is considered wide compared to other brands.

At least Bont has a table of length/width for each shoe, so does Lake. Only one distributor for Lake in Oz, and they only sell the shoes through their retail store in Melbourne and don't list the wide sizes anyway.

Most of the other manufacturers simply have a sizing chart, and have a "high volume"/"mega" etc., without bothering to suggest dimensions.

[MarkG]

FWIW twizzle..

I run a 45 in Specialized, 45 in Bont, 45 in Northwave and 47 in Garneau.
My foot is defn not narrow by any means, but it's not abnormally wide either.
I used the measuring guide on Bont's website to determine that a 283mm length meant I needed a size 45 which is perfect.

Hope that helps!

[Baalzamon]

Twizzle, I'm just working on my set of Bont Vaypor Wide in 45 right now. Didn't get them from a LBS or anywhere in Australia for that matter. Picked them up from the UK from http://www.velodromeshop.net

[humanbeing]

FWIW twizzle..

I run a 45 in Specialized, 45 in Bont, 45 in Northwave and 47 in Garneau.
My foot is defn not narrow by any means, but it's not abnormally wide either.
I used the measuring guide on Bont's website to determine that a 283mm length meant I needed a size 45 which is perfect.

Hope that helps!

That's interesting to me also. 45 Specialized here.
Called Renegade and Cheeky Monkey today. Bont Vaypor $399.
With coupon Bont A1 $235 from Wiggle.
I'm not really a gambler but...

[Baalzamon]

FWIW twizzle..

I run a 45 in Specialized, 45 in Bont, 45 in Northwave and 47 in Garneau.
My foot is defn not narrow by any means, but it's not abnormally wide either.
I used the measuring guide on Bont's website to determine that a 283mm length meant I needed a size 45 which is perfect.

Hope that helps!

That's interesting to me also. 45 Specialized here.
Called Renegade and Cheeky Monkey today. Bont Vaypor $399.
With coupon Bont A1 $235 from Wiggle.
I'm not really a gambler but...

Bont Vaypor from merlincycles are $289 and velodromeshop around $270
Beats local prices hands down yet again
Velodromeshop is the only place that I'm aware sells anything online that is in wide. I would love to find a commuter version in wide somewhere

[twizzle]

Twizzle, I'm just working on my set of Bont Vaypor Wide in 45 right now. Didn't get them from a LBS or anywhere in Australia for that matter. Picked them up from the UK from http://www.velodromeshop.net

Interesting that they say only the Vaypor comes in wide/narrow when from Bont's online shop most of the shoes come in wide/narrow.

[Baalzamon]

Well I wanted the Vaypor in Wide after doing the sizing wizard at bont's website.
Now I need a commuting shoe, do I go for the commuter 1, or the vaypor xc. Problem is I'm going to have to order them from bont direct I think as no one else stocks wide in the other flavours. I've sent a message off to gkasports to see if they do anything in wide as well. Gkasports has all the bits and bobs for the bonts as well. Ladders are cheaper here than in the UK as I have high arches and the stock ladder was too short for me.

Currently my right shoe needs a bit more heat molding I think. It's getting better each time. My left shoe OMGosh I can't tell I'm wearing the shoe it feels so good. Don't think I'm going to be able to go back to my old shoes

[Baalzamon]

After sending off an email to GKASports I got a reply back and yes they are able to get wide varieties in stock. They will need to be ordered however.

[vander]

If anyone wants to try Bonts in Sydney the new shop in Olympic Park, Park Bikes, I am pretty sure stocks them. I looked everywhere for them earlier this year and noone seemed to stock them.

[humanbeing]

Well i started this thread with the intent of shopping in Sydney and trying and buying the best road shoes for me with a budget of approximately $300.
I just pulled the trigger on a pair of Bont A1 size 46 EU (right for me according to the Bont Sizing Wizard) from Wiggle.
A lot cheaper than in a store in Sydney, I'll let you know how they go. Just don't say i told you so.
Merry xmas to me
Peter

[mjd]

Just ordered a wide fit from http://www.velodromeshop.net/ they will be the first pair of shoes I own that are the right length. Hoping they are wide enough and as good as all the reviews I have read.

[twizzle]

TBSM has Shimano wide and Sidi Mega on their website. Lots of options.


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[Xplora]

Just a word on the Bont Sizing Calc, GKA advised me that the calc doesn't work for 50% of people, if you have a shorter big toe than the 2nd toe then it's not going to be accurate. Bit mindblowing really.

If they could do a custom shoe for an extra hundred, I'd go custom. I was just outside the 41 Wide, guessing that a bit of heat molding would fix it up

[Baalzamon]

Just a word on the Bont Sizing Calc, GKA advised me that the calc doesn't work for 50% of people, if you have a shorter big toe than the 2nd toe then it's not going to be accurate. Bit mindblowing really.

If they could do a custom shoe for an extra hundred, I'd go custom. I was just outside the 41 Wide, guessing that a bit of heat molding would fix it up

YES
I'm having that exact issue!!!! My 2nd toe is larger than my big toe, heck my 3rd toe is just a tad longer talking a mm longer than my big toe. I've emailed bont and now going to copy that info in as well. Already contacted GKA sports asking about Bont Commuter 1 wide in a 46 1 size up on my vaypors which I'm thinking about offloading due to toes being cramped

[twizzle]

Just a word on the Bont Sizing Calc, GKA advised me that the calc doesn't work for 50% of people, if you have a shorter big toe than the 2nd toe then it's not going to be accurate. Bit mindblowing really.

If they could do a custom shoe for an extra hundred, I'd go custom. I was just outside the 41 Wide, guessing that a bit of heat molding would fix it up

They do custom shoes.

[Baalzamon]

From what I know custom shoes aren't $100 dearer, they are close to a thousand from what I know.

[twizzle]

From what I know custom shoes aren't $100 dearer, they are close to a thousand from what I know.

My understanding is that there's custom, and there's custom. If you send them the foot outlines they can see if they have an existing last for each foot and will select a pair. If you have really odd feet, you then go the full custom moulding option. I guess you would have to talk to GKA to find out what is possible in Australia.

[skull]

What Twiz said.

You can send in a tracing of your foot, from that they will modify the last to match the tracing. These would be considered semi custom.

A full custom build, they would plaster cast your feet and then make the boots on the cast.



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[MarkG]

Even if they are $100 more than off the shelf jobs - the price is soon forgotten once you can ride without pain.

[Baalzamon]

ARRGH

I'm not winning!
Run the bont sizing calc again and it's spitting out I'm standard
Oh well I'm selling mine and going to go to LBS and see what they say