Strengths: Very light with plenty of ventilation. Nice heel support, rigid outsole and firm strap closure so no real need for the laces (supplied). Good mud clearance around the cleats.
Weaknesses: Definitely need Seal Skinz/Porelles in the wet/cold. Bit pricey @ £100...
Overall: The Body Geometry insole is heavily sculpted and can take some getting used to if you have flat feet. I have suffered from toe numbness a couple of times but any shoe gets you through a Red Bull can't be all that bad. They seem to be well built, but so did my last Specialized shoes before the top strap went after only 5 months. Not one for an everyday commuter like me because the rubber on the soles is quite soft, but this makes them great when the going gets rough. Built for the trail and it shows so I'd recommend a cheapo pair of shoes for everyday use. I love the colour fade on them, but they may be a bit too 'playboy' for some. I will definitely be looking at Specialized shoes when these finally wear out. If you can afford them & like the look, buy 'em.
'Hardly worth carrying a patch kit with these on!'
Strengths: Very hard wearing and pretty near indestructable. Hardly worth carrying a patch kit with these on
Weaknesses: Not the grippiest tyre ever made, and can be a bugger to fit/remove but there had to be a compromise...
Overall: Bloody marvellous for those of us who commute everyday. If you are a weekend warrior then these are great. I ride in London and there's loads of debris from bottles and broken bus shelters, etc, but no problems with punctures running over it all at 60psi! They shed rain pretty well but I've had a couple of nervous moments when I've tried to get my knee down on fast corners (perhaps it's just my riding style?). Thinking about getting some full slicks for training, but these can't be beat for the day-to-day stuff.
