Every brand/manufacturer says it ‘has the answer’. I was really impressed with the description of BG’s “answer” so I started seeking BG products.
Now that I’m looking for shoes, I’m uncomfortable that I may be sucked in by this type of branding/marketing approach. The closest Specialized dealer is 45 mins away and they don’t carry a wide selection of 40’s – I have to order, THEN try on, then order a different pair if the first pair doesn’t fit, etc. This store (with 2 locations) seems to work this method fine: it doesn’t seem to bother them at all that it may take 2-3 trips for shoes.
So,
Are Specialized shoes better than others? Do other shoes really make the knees wobble (as their website shoes?), and Specialized keeps that from happening? (I have a 20-yr knees issue).
Or …am I being sucked in by Specialized marketing to crave their shoes?..
OR…should I just pick any ‘big enough’ store nearby, pick ANY shoe which I can obtain easily, and leave it like that? (Seems a little random – whichever store didn’t sell out of my size and price range)
Advice about Specialized’s shoes or about fitting shoes in general?
This is no hype. I have ridden every high end shoe under the sun in the search for “the one.”
My Nike MTB shoes wore a nice hole in them at XTerra Worlds last year, and I replaced them with the SWorks BG shoe with the Boa Lacing.
I cannot quantify how many more watts they gave me, but feeling comfortable on the bike for hours made them worth while. I liked them so much I bought a road version.
If you buy them and dont like them, I will take them off your hands (Size 43),
I went for the BG shoes initially because I prefer all velcro straps. For some reason, most shoes with a clip type clasp end up cutting into the side of my foot and making life a bit uncomfortable.
I’ve been very impressed with the comfort provided by the sole of the shoe. I had come to accept a minimal amount of soreness/hot spots on the sole of my foot as normal, however this seems to have eliminated them. I don’t know if it is the BG technology specifically, but I enjoy long rides in these shoes more than with any other I have.
I cannot speak to the difference between Specialized shoes oand other brands other than to say that while trying on bike shoes for the first time every other company I tried hurt my foot within 1 min of having it on in the store. I immediately felt comfy in my BG’s and have not looked back.
Now If I could only get them to stop smelling so bad.
That is my business. But, I have to say, their shoes (and insoles) are very well designed. I’ve used Carnacs, Shimano and now the Specialized S-works with the Boa lacing. Wow - I’m impressed as well. A lot of it is marketing, but they at least went the extra mile to try to address some of the more common issues cyclists develop in a stiff cycling shoe and it does work. Some of the additions that I would add to a patients shoes are built into theirs.
“That is my business. But, I have to say, their shoes (and insoles) are very well designed. …A lot of it is marketing, but they at least went the extra mile to try to address some of the more common issues cyclists develop in a stiff cycling shoe and it does work.”
Rod,
Your profile says foot and ankle surgeon. LOL. Awesome
I’m having a fit problem with cycling shoes whereby the tongue needs to be looser: the lower insertion of my tibialis is massive and muscular, so I need to fit each pair of possible choices. This “we don’t carry many shoes in your size” is hard, especially because it’s hard to find Specialized dealers.
I had to start with the store’s Specialized carbon line because the didn’t have the lower-priced model sizes in stock… even a few of those didn’t fit my hulk-like (LOL) ankle muscles. I DEFINITELY need to try on each shoe…
I hope to return this week for more try-ons… just wanted to know if I was spinning my wheel (ha!) about Specialized. It’s just about a 2-hr (or more) round trip, each trip. It’s worth it if the shoes are worth it!
I went with the trivent shoes b/c there are very few tri shoes with double closures. I didn’t like the sidi’s and the Louis Garneau were too big. I drove 30 min and paid $5 in tolls to get to the shop and they were worth it. I’m very comfortable and the double closure lets me get them as tight as I want throughout the shoe. They’re a great price and I didn’t even realize it at the time but the sole is carbon. This was not a must for me, but finding a carbon sole shoe in the $150 area is very tough. I’m looking for a pair of their road shoes now.
good luck
Wife and I both have Specialized Pro Road Carbon BG Shoes - wife has knee issues (prolific runner in college) where as I do not. Prior to the Specialized BG shoes, she started with low end Shimano’s and Speedplay X-series pedals then I bought her a pair of Shimano’s top-end carbon shoes and a set of Speedplay Zero’s (X3’s had to much float) which she liked but after about 4-5 months, she started complaining about a pain behind her big toe (desribed it as feeling numb then throbbing) after 40-50 miles during longer rides. At that point, my Shimano Carbon shoes (had Diadora Veloce’s before that) were loooking bad so decided we should both try the Specialized Pro Carbon Road BG shoes. In her case, I also added a couple of LeMond LeWedges - alternated the shims to increase stack height as she has a very slight leg length discrepancy - and now she rarely complains of knee issues except for days when we really hammer or she over-does it on longer rides in the hills Northwest of town.
As for me, I liked the shoes but a month later wanted the bling of the DMT RSX and then the DMT Flash a year later. I primarily train/race (USCF road) with DMT Flash shoes and reserve the Specialized shoes for recovery/easy training rides (or when DMT’s are wet from a sudden rain shower) and so I can’t really call this is an apples to apples comparison as the BG shoes are 1/2 size larger. The difference in size makes it seem as if the Specialized shoes are more comfortable after long, fast road rides in the DMT’s but I think if both were the same size, I would be indifferent on the comfort factor.
While unsure of what you are wearing now, I have been told by a friend who wears the same size and tried on the Specialized shoes that compared to his Sidi shoes, the BG’s have a slightly wider toe box but a noticible difference in the ‘feel’ of the arch. Also, I think for some the little wedge/bump that is molded into the BG insole may take a bit to get used to, but I like and even got an extra set of the BG insoles to replace the ones that came in my DMT’s!
I have a pair of S-Works with the Boa I bought this year and a pair of Specialized Comp mountain bike shoes I’ve had for five years that I’ve logged about 15,000 km in. I had Shimano before that. I bought the Specialized because they just fit me better than all the others (Sidi, Carnac, Shimano, Diadora, Exus, etc.) I tried on.
The Boas are awesome! All I wanted was the Pros with three Velcro straps, but they didn’t have my size. The shop gave me a deal on the Boas, so I reluctantly tried them. No regrets at all now. I have patellar tendinitis in both knees, and my knees haven’t faired any worse with the Specialized.
As for the BG stuff, it seems to actually work for me.
I like your web site - not bad for 40 … i think I still remember those days:-)! Anyway, the problem I had when I tried the specialized shoes was that my toe hit the firm rubber “bumper” and I was affraid that would cause problems on IM length rides. From reading all the good reports I’m thinking maybe I should have tried them.
"I like your web site - not bad for 40 … i think I still remember those days:-)! Anyway, the problem I had when I tried the specialized shoes was that my toe hit the firm rubber “bumper” and I was affraid that would cause problems on IM length rides. From reading all the good reports I’m thinking maybe I should have tried them. "
LOL,
Hi David… I’m 42 now, and I think much better than even at 40! - and thanks for the compliment on my website!
You are right - we never know what our rides will do. I’ve experienced various feet and knee issues from my various life adventures, so shoes questions about “marketing hype” are quite important - as you have also discovered.
I used to work in a specialty running store so my disclaimer is this: every foot is different and it’s all about what works for you. That being said, I’ve owned over 10 different pair of cycling shoes from almost every company out there and I definitely think BG design works.
The Specialized Trivent with the varus wedge feels so good that I bought the BG Insoles for my Nike Poggio road shoes. Get them and try them. If you’re like most you’ll really like them. If not you can always dump them here in the classifieds or unload them on ebay. Just a thought.
All I can say is that the Specialized Carbon Pro road shoes are the most comfortable I have worn. The carbon soles are super stiff and I have no hot spots at all. Specialized makes some good stuff…go figure.
I personally love the specialized tri shoes and will probably get a road set for training. Another interesting fun fact, something like 100 of the 176 atheletes at the tour wore specialized shoes.
- and thanks for the compliment on my website!