Bont launches new cycling shoe > your opinion

[DAOTEC]

ElChingon asked: So anybody else actually riding with these shoes? How are they in the hot days?

Bont's Thor Hushovd win's the 3rd stage of the Tour de France this year.

Here is the answer to both questions of late, and yes they are supurb shoes. There are a lot more pro riders out there with Bont shoes, but that supposed to stay secret. Ventilation has never been a problem only for competitors to make a stir.

Here are a bunch of blue color rider & athletes on Bont: http://www.bont.com/cycling/athletes/road.html

Here the Tweet: http://twitter.com/bontcycling

 

[Tapeworm]

So anybody else actually riding with these shoes? I'm on the fence and tempted to buy a pair soon. My only remaining issue is cooling, sure they have 40 or so holes for ventilation but there are no holes on the sole like most other cycling shoes. There are some by the arch but air doesn't freely flow in that way.

So anyone riding with these? How are they in the hot days?

I've been riding with them in the merry ol' land of Oz. Can't say they are any hotter/cooler than any other pair of shoe I've ever used, ie: they are fine. But DON'T leave them in the car with a heavy object on them - can kinda ruin the fine job you've done moulding them.

 

[ElChingon]

Thanks Tapeworm, it seems the other mass marketing types think we want to talk to adverts.

 

[marathon marke]

I speed skated for nearly 10 years back on the '90s, and Bont was making an exceptional product back then, always trying hard to improve on what they have already mastered. Alexander would show up at many of the races I competed in, including the Moorea Marathon (Tahiti), and he was always there to patiently answer any questions one might have. And trust me, if you can make a good speedskating boot...which in many ways is much more difficult to fit and design properly...you can make a great bike shoe.

I also agree with Tapeworm, you need to keep these things out of the heat of the car, or you will need to remold them. I'll probably be looking into a pair of Bont bike shoes myself very soon.

 

[Tapeworm]

With the latest release I am wondering if 4 pairs of Bonts are too many. Currently have road, track and mtb (now stupidly called "commuter"). A second pair of the new Vaypor would be nice indeed!

 

[DAOTEC]

Ok, will put up the article here for ElChingon to answer his questions from another angle by the firm itself, although we had the hottest TdF this year > How are they in the hot days?

Today on CN: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bont-to-launch-new-models-at-australian-show

Bont: “We’ve never really had an issue with ventilation,” Bont’s Steven Nemeth told Cyclingnews. “There’s always been ventilation, but it’s just not been as obvious, as many of the holes are disguised. We’ve made these changes to improve it even more; we felt if we can improve it even further then we should.

“We’ve also lowered the carbon height around the toe box to help improve comfort,” he added. “It reduces weight as well as increasing comfort.”

The new Vaypor in black and white

 

[ustabe]

The first thing about Bont shoes that impressed me is the shape of the toe box. The inside edge of the sole is basically straight from the ball to the tip of the big toe, more like the shape of real foot than any other cycling shoe currently available.

I recently tried on a pair, and probably would have bought them if the dealer had my correct size in stock. Decades of riding in tight, unsupportive, poorly fitting shoes have ravaged my arches and toes and I'm just happy to see that someone has finally made a shoe that is shaped like my foot.

 

[ElChingon]

I bought a pair last week and I love them!

As for the cooling, they have vents but no way are they as ventilated as say DMT's or Specialized, on those you tip your foot forward and you feel the air cooling your feet ASAP, the Bonts have some ventilation but I'd say 50% of those shoes. Today's ride was warm but not hot so not too big an issue, will report back on a hot day's ride. I'm a sweat hog so if they are not ventilated enough I'll know or have a swampy foot after the ride.

As for the shoes well it was like switching from a wet noodle frame to a stiff carbon frame, you feel much better as far as transmitting your power (effort) to the pedals. I even proved it to myself by doing a loop near home and swapping shoes, that was proof enough for me to say they rock!

Pro's: *They fit you dead on with the heat molding,
*You feel your efforts going to the pedals not wasted in shoe movement
*Light weight (I know not a big deal but still a pro)
*Can re-heat mold if not right the first time or just want to tune up
*Stiff
*Upper is also stiff and prevents foot movement to sides or up
*You don't need to tighten them on or strap them tight, just on.

Con's: *Need to be heat molded, need someone who knows what they're doing, not hard but still can go wrong
*Stiff (I know some will not like this as your foot is in semi-lock down mode)
*Not too stylish (yea not a biggie but its a con)
*May need more vents or a vent at the front of the toe box.
*Stiffness causes shoes to sound like Danish Wood Clogs as you walk (not a biggie but still there for those who it might be an issue for)

So after three rides those are my pro's/con's, I'm sure my views will change as time goes on but that is what I have so far.

 

[ustabe]

Pro's: *They fit you dead on with the heat molding,
*You feel your efforts going to the pedals not wasted in shoe movement
*Light weight (I know not a big deal but still a pro)
*Can re-heat mold if not right the first time or just want to tune up
*Stiff
*Upper is also stiff and prevents foot movement to sides or up
*You don't need to tighten them on or strap them tight, just on.

Con's: *Need to be heat molded, need someone who knows what they're doing, not hard but still can go wrong
*Stiff (I know some will not like this as your foot is in semi-lock down mode)
*Not too stylish (yea not a biggie but its a con)
*May need more vents or a vent at the front of the toe box.
*Stiffness causes shoes to sound like Danish Wood Clogs as you walk (not a biggie but still there for those who it might be an issue for)

Sounds like my kind of shoe. Now if I can just get $400 US past my wife.

 

[Master50]

I bought a pair of A2 four months ago. El Chingon got most of the points.
The shoes weigh the same as my specialized so they are not super light.
The carbon just does not need to wrap as far up your fool as it does. The soles are so very hard and come up quite a way above the footbed. I had to work out little pressure points for a long time.
In the Specialized shoes I was getting cramps across the forefoot arch. The Bont's are wide enough and I have been able to push out the shoe where the bunion is forming and the big callous on my big toe too. The shoe is deep and you do not need to tighten these shoes. Your foot feels so deep into the shoe.
I was hoping to get a pair made for Speedplay pedals but they seem to still be in development. I have never felt so solidly connected to the bike as with these shoes and Speedplay pedals. Still adjusting to both.
I like these shoes well enough to say they are very good at making a racing shoe. I need something else or more to make them perfect for my foot and I would not bring the carbon bowl sole up so high and switch to softer materials closer to the footbed.
So for me with super feet insoles they are the best cycling shoe I have worn for power transfer and stability on my pedals as well as connection to the bike. I recommend them. Word of caution. the cleat bolts creeped a little and my cleats came loose twice. There was an upside as each time I tightened the cleat the nuts would bed deeper into the insole. I could feel them and after the second tightening the bolts set tight to the footbed.

 

[ElChingon]

Sounds like my kind of shoe. Now if I can just get $400 US past my wife.

The A-3 is ~$180 USD, she'd like that.

 

[Anonymous]

Dear Cycling News

You are missing out on a lot of advertising $$ by letting these guys pitch their products in the Forum for free. How about this. Make a thread called "Meaningless Marketing Hype and Product Shilling". Then charge them by the word to "post" there. You make money, Forum readers can easily avoid the advertising if we want. Win Win.

 

[ElChingon]

I'm not pitching anything, just reviewing what I've bought. You buy what you want, I didn't buy because of this thread, only used it to ask more Q's on my quest for a new shoe and this was not the sole forum I did this on. I doubt the company will use our posts in their marketing, too truthful.

 

[dolophonic]

Stack height ? Have you hd to lower your saddle as a result of switching to Bont's?

 

[ElChingon]

Stack height ? Have you hd to lower your saddle as a result of switching to Bont's?

Yes, so far 5mm but I think I may have to lower it more.

 

[moon8885]

Looks interesting & every bit helps

 

[Master50]

Stack height ? Have you hd to lower your saddle as a result of switching to Bont's?

I had to lower pretty close to 5 mm. But I might need to shorten my reach and lower the stem too?

 

[TigerFish]

Ok I am sure you know more than me on this subject but the ball starts out stationary, then it is impacted by the club head, the spin that is imparted from the impact is not instantaneous. Several factors involved, force applied, how long the surfaces of the ball & club remain in contact etc etc will determine the speed of the ball & the amount of spin.
I would think in the fraction of a second that the club & ball meet, that the ball is not instantaneously spping at its highest rate.
If it is not, there is an acceleration and deceleration incolced in both the speed of the ball and its spin.
EVENTUALLY the air flow will cause the spin to lessen as the ball is further from impact but initially i believe it would be a contributing factor...

also the force to drive the completly spherical ball is not applied evenly by the club head, it would be anatomically impossible to do so. Hooks & slices are exaggerated examples. An even force would probably result in a knuckleball, but that is not the technique for addressing a golfball

Actually, the greatest amount of speed and rotation due occur in the minutia of a second the golf ball is struck. That is the greatest point of energy transfer. From that point forward everything diminishes.

Your point about a Knuckleball is the most valid. The dimples on a golf ball make a Knuckleball virtually impossible by insuring spin. The spin ensures a stable path. The stable path generates the fastest speed and resulting distance. The Knuckleball is the slowest pitch because of the lack of stability. Without all the technical arguments you are essentially correct.

However, part of the stability caused by the dimpling is dependent on the shape of the ball. I would suspect that merely texturing a surface will not necessarily reduce drag or increase stability. If that were true industries not dependent on marketing would texture all their products that experience drag i.e. aircraft. It is actually easy enough to prove stability or drag improvements through comparative testing. Does Bont provide the data?

PS Many golf balls have been produced over the years with exotic dimples/dimple patterns. None, that I am aware of, survived the test of time.

 

[TigerFish]

Why all the golf ball talk?

I just read the information on the Bont shoe on the website. I do not see anything about texturing for improved stability or resistance. Am I missing something?