Comments on: The World’s Most Dangerous Cycling Shoes

By: Mark Rushton

Mark Rushton — Tue, 05 May 2009 08:47:00 +0000

I have a pair of those N-waves and altho’ a good shoe their bling factor is eclipsed by a pair of white Sidis which win out on class. The N-waves are good (v.stiff sole) but perhaps best served in Kiss circa 1976. Perhaps good for blinding radar!

re dromarti shoes, Brian at

http://www.thewashingmachinepost.net has some reviewed.

By: BR

BR — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:05:04 +0000

Now I regret that I didn’t wear my Jiggy Socks for the picture.

http://www.sockguy.com/product1585.html

By: David

David — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:37:51 +0000

A bike buddy friend of mine has ordered a pair, so I think I will wait and check his out before committing myself

By: Stan

Stan — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:30:53 +0000

The Exustars are 655g per pair, so they are quite light.
The Dromartis Sportivos look really nice, but there are two things that give me pause; the price and the sole which looks as if it would be good in mud, but not on a smooth surface.

By: David

David — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:06:44 +0000

The Exustars look like a very good deal, I would be interested to know how much they weigh, they look pretty light.

I’ll probably get the Dromartis in the end, despite the cost, as they seem to do well in the reviews.

Wiggle are usually very quick, they used to send out a little pack of ‘Sweets’ with ever order… not sure if they still do so.

By: Stan

Stan — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:50:30 +0000

I very much sympathize and agree with your opinions about shoes. For a long time I rode in “SPD sneekers” (SH-MO38), but I’ve worn them out so I recently went on the hunt for some lightweight, walkable SPD shoes that don’t scream like a night at the disco. The new SPD sneekers all seemed quite chunky with unnecessary bling. So I finally settled on the SH-MO76 MTB shoe which has a fairly restrained tread ie no soccer cleats and is black and white. I ordered the Exustar Commuter shoe from Wiggle in the UK a week ago with the idea that it might be a month before I saw them, but today I got an email that they had already shipped. I think I’ll do a BikeSnobesque comparison between the 2 shoes when the Exustars arrive.

I’ve looked for a source for the Vittoria 1976s, but no amount of Googling leads me to a site where I can buy them. The Exustars are readily available which is a definte plus.

By: David

David — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:20:48 +0000

Thanks for the links, I guess these are all exceptions to some extent.
Interesting that they are all a bit retro, are we so lacking in original thinking and imagination?

My earlier comment was not to be taken altogether seriously but I think what I’m trying to get at falls somewhere between two thoughts:

One. That the bicycle is an aesthetic masterpiece, almost perfect form & function refined over many years and more than the sum of its parts, are we really to ride around on these ‘works of art’ in lurid road shoes or SPDs not fit for purpose?

Two. The question of real choice. There must be a dozen or so big bike shoe companies out there but 95% of what they produce is all the same. Are we dictating what they produce or have we fallen in to the trap where by they are dictating to us because we don’t question what they produce? (The American car industry in microcosm?)

Sorry to take Velodramatic’s original very funny posting and turn it slightly serious but Bredan’s new Northwaves really were the final straw, I just hope he can generate enough solar energy from them to power him up the hills.

By: Stan

Stan — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:27:25 +0000

If you want something retro, that works with SPD and won't kill the wallet check out these Exustar Commuting Shoes. I have a pair on the way

By: Velodramatic

Velodramatic — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:36:06 +0000

A pair of Sportivos are destined to arrive at some point. They certainly look good.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:45:20 +0000

Has anyone tried riding with the Dromarti cycling shoes?

Made in Italy in old school style.