Specialized Saddles and Shoes

Specialized is attempting to lure the ever-fashionable All Mountain jimjams brigade with some fancy new footwear  – which is, or course,  just as likely to appeal to those who enjoy shoes of the skate-y persuasion.

The new Specialized 2FO shoes are available in two flavours – SPD and Flat, in a variety of colours. They’ve also got Body Geometry insoles and lots of nice touches – such as a special foam to help fast drying (and low wet-weight) while still keeping things comfy.

For Flationistas (see what I did there?) the ‘Slipknot’ sole rubber is apparently designed to provide additional grip when you’re riding with dropped heels, and has different tread patterns around the shoe for consistent feel in the ‘pedal zone’ and grip when you’re off the bike.

SPD pedal riders get different durometer rubber and sole design to enable ‘effortless clipping in and out’, and extended Body Geometry cleat slots.

Prices are £90 for the Flats, and  £100 for Clipped.

And here is the Specialized Henge saddle:

Low friction material on the sides and back means you can get off the back (and on again, hopefully) more easily and it’s designed with all the usual Body Geometry furrows and ridges. It’s available in two widths, 143 or 155mm, and has EVA padding and hollow Ti rails to keep the weight down.

Price TBC (but the whistles and bells one is likely to be £200+)

From Specialized.com

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

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