2019-05-01_Mountain_Bike_Rider

AdidasTerrex

TrailCross

Protect

FiveTen

Freerider Pro

IonRaid

Amp II

PearlIzumi

X-Alp Flow

Specialized

2FO 2.0

FiveTen

Kestrel

ProBoa

GiroChamber

II Gwin

O’Neal

Pinned SPD

Shimano

AM5

Specialized

2FO Cliplite

Price £129.95 £119.99 £114.95 £89.99 £130 £159.95 £129.99 £79.99 £79.99 £147

Weight 960g/pair 780g/pair 842g/pair 695g/pair 754g/pair 970g/pair 1,020g/pair 964g/pair 930g/pair 848g/pair

Sizes 6-13.5 5-14 5-13 5-14 5-13 5-13 4-13 4-13 5-13 5-14

Contact adidas.co.uk adidas.co.uk ion-products.
com

madison.co.uk specialized.

com

adidas.co.uk zyrofisher.

co.uk

moorelarge.

co.uk

madison.co.uk specialized.

com

Rating

M AY 2 019 mbr 115

FiveTenhasn’tbroughtouta newflatpedal

shoethisyear(yet),whichis thefirsttimein

agesit hasnotupdateditsoffering.Truthis,

it doesn’tneedtowhenit’scoveredallbases

fromtrailtodownhill,andintheFreerider

Pro,alreadyoffersthebestflatpedalshoe

onthemarket.

Noothershoehassucha compellingmix

ofpuregrip,comfortandsupport.Plus,it’s

nowansweredanyconcernsaboutdurability

andoverallqualitysinceAdidaspurchased

theFiveTenbrandandswitchedfactories

andprocessesa fewyearsback.

TheAdidasTerrexTrailProtectboothas

uniqueprotectivequalitiesandis a great

product,justwithmarginallylesspedalfeel

andgripthantheFreerider.It canbea bit

hotinmidsummertoo.Specialized’s2FOis

alsowelldialled,toughandprotective.We

reckonit couldbeimprovedthough,witha

slightlyretuned,firmer,thinnermidsolethat

providesmorepedalfeedback.

Ofthecliplessmodelshere,therearea

lotofdecentoptions.Alltendtobemore

sculptedandsupportivethanflatshoessince

themechanicalpedalconnectionis born

fromroadcyclingandXCriders’demandsfor

pedalling effi ciency. The best clip shoes for

trailorenduroridingstillneedtobe

suppleandcomfortablethough,asmost

seriousmountainbikerswillinevitably

spendtimepushingorcarryingonmore

adventurousoutings.

Giro’sChamberII ticksalltheboxes.The

shoesimplyfeelsrightineverydepartment

from stiff ness to comfort, even if it’s a little

bitheavy.Thesmoothcleatengagement,

andtheoptiontoplacethepedalexactly

whereyouwantit (bothsidewaysand

veryrearward)allowfora perfectset-up.

Durability,looksandpriceareallsortedtoo.

FiveTen’sKestrelProBoalooksfantastic

anddeliversif youwanta stiffer,race-ready

shoewithendurolevelsofprotection.In

commonwithSpecialized’s2FOCliplite,

however,thereareoneortwoperformance

compromisesthatwon’tsuitallriders.

BothO’Neal’sPinnedSPDandShimano’s

AM5offerexcellentvalueformoney,and

bothcanbefoundforbargainpricesonline.

O’Neal’sshoetrumpstheAM5intermsof

wet-weatherprowessandis alsoa bitfirmer

anddirectatthepedal.Shimano’slatest,

cheaperSPDshoehasa lotgoingforit

though,notleastexcellentpedalfeel

andsortedcleatengagement

design underneath.

Conclusion

TEST

WINNER!

CLIPLESS SHOES

TEST

WINNER!

FiveTenscontinue FLAT SHOES

tosettheflatshoe

benchmark