Ok, I heart me some Matt Pacocha but, I completely disagree with this statement:
“We’ve told you — and if you’ve tried it, you know — that Shimano’s top-of-the line $380 M310 mountain bike shoe isn’t a good option for cyclocross. It’s too stiff and its minimalist sole is just too slippery if you miss your pedal on the first attempt.”
I was skimming the interwebs and noticed that statement buried in a shoe review. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s talk about this for a second. And learn a thing or two about objective journalism!
The Shimano M310 is hands down the single best cyclocross shoe on the market! My opinion but, backed up by race win after race win. How many US cross races, National Championships, World Cups, World Championships and countless Euro CX races have been won on the M300 series shoe?
Oh, who is this? All of the leaders at the Koksijde World Cup? All in Shimano M310 shoes. I guarantee you that Zdnek Stybar was not bummed about having a stiff carbon sole when he took the bunch sprint off the front of the group and ahead of Sven Nys.
It is one the best fitting shoes (ok that is a personal decision), plus it is custom-fit heat moldable, extremely durable (I’ve got a pair that has seen 3 seasons in the US + Europe), has really long lasting velcro straps and replaceable buckles. The PRO features are all in there. A shoe you will have for life! And worth every penny.
I am guilty myself of wishing at one time for a more aggressive sole, more rubber for “traction” but, when racing in Europe I noted that all of the “toppers” had not modified their M310 shoes and were ripping through muddy and sandy run sections and remounting with no trouble whatsoever. Made me realize it is all in your technique (or lack of) and partially your pedal choice.
Which may be a hard pill to swallow for some. If your re-clipping technique is poor, a mediocre shoe will only reinforce that mediocre technique! Allowing you the comfort of sloppily getting back into your pedals.
When you put some work into your technique, it will improve. (I had to, it was a lot of work!)
And then you can stop blaming your shoes for your sketchy remounts.
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Check it out, worth all ten minutes of yr time.
Mullet with headlights. wait for it.
Discussion
5 comments for “I protest. Shoes.”
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I cannot discount your personal experience at all but the use of pros as an example may not support your argument. I have two questions for discussion. Are they using the shoes because of personal choice or sponsorship/endorsement money? Would they still be as good or better with other shoes?
hah! seconded. if youre missing your pedal on your first attempt, dont blame the shoe. work on NOT MISSING YOUR PEDAL ON YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT. equipment you can fudge - technique you cant.
Of course they are using the shoes because they are sponsored. They are also not having any issues clipping into the pedals.
At all.
Which really is the main point. The M310 is not holding them back.
OK, fast forward to 1:30.
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/veldrijden/091129_SP_Gieten_verslag#
The thing I like about Matt Pacocha’s tech features is they really seem to focus on a performance vs price ratio. It’s nice to hear thoughtful, objective reviews of products and not just a bunch of schill.