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specialized 74 road shoes
if you're a follower of comedian billy connolly, you may recall a sketch in his earlier years which referred to and made fun of a bizarre type of slipper into which both feet could be placed at one time. pragmatism was perhaps not uppermost in the mind of the designer or manufacturer, for though we are blessed these days by more infra-red remote controls than you can shake a stick at to change channel from a resting position, there are likely one or two points of an evening in front of the telly when some poor soul (that would be me) who has to make their way to the kitchen in order to get the cups of coffee and green tea during the advert break. though it's likely an evening in the safety of our own homes is bereft of an audience, it's still hard to retain a sense of decorum hopping through to carry out the task of making any form of hot beverage.
and by implication, there's an evens chance that every last drop of hot liquid would be trailed across the hall carpet while hopping back through to the sitting room. you can perhaps understand the root of billy connolly's humour.
however, there is perhaps little to compare with the comfort and cosiness offered by a pair of fluffy slippers, though most of us are far too macho and tough to admit to owning a pair. though my own are a considerable distance from such cossetting, even i will regularly remain slouching about in a pair of trainers in case an unexpected visitor may rumble the carefully crafted man about town image. this is a cloak and dagger subterfuge that can easily be extended to the hardened roadman image that i have long cultivated. i laugh in the face of materials compliance, opting at every turn for that of resilient stiffness, substantially inflated narrow tyres and wheels that wouldn't know the meaning of deflection if it were stamped on the tyre sidewall.
at least, that's what i'd have you believe.
the reality is that my colnago rides way too fast for my muscle fibres and it's all i can do to keep up. there is every likelihood that, by mid-summer, the colnago will be arriving for coffee a few moments before i do. in the face of such adversity, i am constantly scrabbling for every last eke of comfort that it's possible to find, wherever that may be found, to ameliorate the hardship of maintaining pace with the molteni orange bike. though the part about tyres being inflated to the point of hardship is perfectly true, in reality those are 24mm vittoria paves which find extra grams of cushiness in their width and pressure. the fsa bars provide good old traditional british comfort via brooks leather bar tape and i have one of those saddles with a hole in the middle to relieve any pressure on my bits.
the colnago is of columbus steel with a carbon rear and its heritage as a race bike does exactly what it says on the tin. however, it would be a naive rider who equates simple comfort with technical ergonomics, and there may not be a man in a better position to build upon the difference than the inestimable andy pruitt. he is the chap in co-operation with the specialized bicycle company, who has taken a long hard look at how accessories such as footwear can be modelled in favour of the way that human beings ride their bicycles. fast.
around 1974, specialized founder, mike sinyard, sold his volkswagen bus to finance a cycling adventure to italy. his experiences and searches brought him into contact with so-called specialized components. however apocryphal and nostalgic this story may be, there is little to undermine the importance of mike sinyard's bicycle company in the 21st century. it's nice, however, that companies such as this take a design look back every now and again and incorporate what they find into a combination of retro styling, luxurious construction and modern features. with all the foregoing in mind, the specialized '74 range (presently consisting of only two items) fulfils pretty much every reasonable expectation i can think of.
constructed from supple and sumptuous kangaroo leather, andy pruitt's input has ensured that the insole holds the foot in the ideal mechanical position for an optimal pedalling technique, while a metatarsal button contrives to reduce the all too common hot foot problem experienced by many a road cyclist. the fluffy slipper-like comfort of the shoe's upper is sharply contrasted by one of the stiffest carbon soles i have come across; stand up to give it some welly on the hills and every effort made goes directly into propelling the bicycle onwards and upwards. though doubtless of great entertainment to passing motorists, i spent a couple of kilometres bouncing on my mavic pedals trying manfully to elicit some sort of flex from the soles, but to no avail.
the concession to modernity is well made; closure is performed by means of a double boa system, so-called because turning each coin-sized button gradually constricts the shoe about the foot, something that can be accomplished with microscopic ease. i'd be the first to admit that i am probably the least serious trouble a pair of specialized '74 shoes has experienced. but it's quite probable that i'm representative of the many who may wish to shell out around £250 ($400) for a pair in the quest for comfort and joy. i am a great believer in spending your money on the three points of contact on the bicycle, for all the flash you may acquire will come to naught if performance is hampered by less than optimal comfort and mechanics. shoes may well be the top of the pyramid in this respect.
these are an example of beautifully designed and styled footwear that do not disappoint when push comes to shove. they have elicited approving glances and remarks from members of the pelotonese and are all but transparent in their efficiency.
thank goodness mike sinyard sold that vw bus.
posted sunday 19 february 2012
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