What Would Jens Do?

It's hard to say in many cases what Jens would actually do. As one of the pro peloton's funniest, most unpredictable, and all around good guys, Jens is a fan favorite for sure. His riding style and toughness have also made him one of the most respected riders in the peloton. Take a look at this video to get an idea.

This takes me to my next point, while it may not be the greatest example because Jens gets paid to ride whatever components are on his bike, one thing is certain, Jen's would never do this! (disclaimer: this post is not meant as a jab at Shimano)

Even though I don't own a Pinarello or Colnago, it pains me every time I see one of those beautiful frames with any groupo other than Campagnolo. However it is especially painful when it's built with Shimano (Even Di2). If there were indeed gods of cycling, this wouldn't be possible.

Is it too much to ask? Not in my opinion... when was the last time anyone saw a IBM tower with a Mac monitor? Saw a Trek built up with Campy (world's greatest Madone... so wrong), Or ever heard anyone order a Rum and Pepsi? Some things are just never meant to work together.

So who do we have to blame for this? In the case of Team Sky, being that they're a Pro Team and they get paid by their sponsors, they have a good excuse.

The local team, club, and recreational riders are a whole different story. Yes, I know sometimes (a lot of times) they don't know any better. This is the reason it should all fall on the shops that sell Pinarello, Colnago, et al.

As a dealer of the aforementioned brands or (insert favorite Italian frame here), there is a great deal of power, it's a status symbol, it means your store is worthy so just build a kick ass frame with nothing but campy, it's as simple as that. It reminds me of what a man once said: "with great power, there must also come great responsibility".

I must now ask that if you're a consumer, a rep, a shop owner, a shop salesperson or mechanic, do what you can... it's for the good of the sport. And if you're ever in doubt, ask yourself, what would Jens do?

Bont Shoes... Is it Hype?

There's been a lot of talk about these shoes as of late. Partly because they've become a sponsor of one of the most popular pro peloton teams, the Cervelo Test Team, but mostly because it's an innovative shoe that seems to have a lot of upside to it.

The most noticeable trait of the shoe is it's non-traditional shape to it, looking down at the shoes, they kind of resemble an apple turnover or a calzone. Furthermore, unlike most shoes out there, especially those that are "custom moldable", the Bont shoe is not designed to be worn without being molded. Now, you may think "duh! it wouldn't be a custom shoe if it was". However, most recently I wore a pair of Shimano R300's that were molded 6 months after first wearing them, and to my surprise, the custom process barely improved the fit and comfort. So needless to say, when I got the opportunity to try a pair of the a-two cycling shoes, I was stoked.

The first thought that came to my head after trying these shoes on was "these are not going to work, they're way uncomfortable". In hindsight it re-enforced the fact that this is not a shoe that you CAN custom mold, it's a shoe that you MUST custom mold.

Being that I am stubborn I decided to give them a try first without molding them, and as uncomfortable as they were off the bike, they were actually not so bad while riding (I set them up with Keo cleats and rode about 40 miles). If you've ever had to break-in hockey skates, wearing these shoes for the first time was a watered-down version of that. After getting the shoes heated (instructions are clear on their website), putting them on was a completely different experience. The shoes had gone from being stiff all the way around to feeling like a slipper with a super stiff sole. I was excited to ride on them again!

The first ride after molding the shoes was a thousand times better. The shoes are so stiff (I'm afraid some might find them too stiff), yet so comfortable, it had essentially allowed the crank, cleat/pedal, and shoe to feel as one. I felt climbing/sprinting out of the saddle was where I noticed the most difference as every little bit of effort translated into power to the rear wheel. I was certainly pleased. In the end, the differences that I noticed from other shoes justified spending that amount of money on a pair of cycling shoes (a-one $399.99 a-two $314.99), plus they come in a range of colors to match most kits.

Finally, nothing is perfect, and my experience with Bont shoes was no exception. Over my handful of test-rides (no more than 300 miles), I did notice the leather upper peeling a bit around the toe. I also figured out a way to lose the rubber heel piece along the way... and though the toe issue has been fixed (rubber insert), and these are by no means huge issues that affect the performance of the shoe, they retail for $300 plus! You'd want them to be somewhat durable.

Check out their website for more detailed technical information on how their shoes are made, and for a list of all the shoes they sell.