ER - Answer Speeder 2006 Shoes - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

12-05-2006, 12:58 PM

There I was, out on a ride for the first time since we got the new
place. I finally found a day for myself for the first time in eons,
and I headed out toa place I'd been hearing tantalizing rumors about
ever since I moved to NH; Exeter Woods. I started off on a great,
technical (in my book) climb. Soon into the first climb, I heard a
loud CRACK & my right foot felt funny. I expected to have ripped the
SPD from the shoe again, but I was still attached. I continued on,
wondering about the clicking under my right foot, and not wanting to
dab my first time into this climb. Once I dabbed anyway (lack of
traction) I unclicked & started to look at the bike. As I bent down to
do so, I felt the pop in my shoe again. A quick check told me that
I'd snapped the sole straight across, side to side, under the ball of
my foot. Alas.

Being short on $ due to the new home, replacing the shoes was out. I
couldn't justify to myself or my girl a $200+ expense right then, and
I couldn't justify not riding to myself. After one more frustrating
attempt to ride on the broken shoe, I decided new & cheap would be
better than nice, old & broken. I settled for a pair of 2006 Answer
Speeders, which I picked these up for $70 from Dan's in June. When I
called Dans told me they only had them in full sizes, and I needed a
half. The woman, however, was able to find me the metric equivalent
within 1/16th of a US size, so I went with it.

I had little to no expectations for these shoes, as there were
reasonably inexpensive. When they came in, however, I started to get a
little more excited. The quality seems good, and they didn't look
nearly as cheesy as I expected. I was a little disappointed with the
"exclusive lateral heel strap retention system", which I expected
to be adjustable but was really just a strap of nylon over the heel of
the shoe. Perhaps this will help the heel from wearing weak, but who
knows. Aside from that, I liked everything about them, including the
comfort. Stiching looks good, anything attached seems very solidly
attached, etc.

The first scare was when I tried to click the shoe onto the pedal,
without me in the shoe. Due to the way this shoe recesses the cleats,
I couldn't get them to click. Disapointed, I put the shoe on to see
if I couldn't force it to click in. Turns out, by standing on just
that one foot and bouncing my nearly 200lbs on a single pedal as hard
as I could, I was barely able to get it to engage. Repeat 3x on the
left foot, and I'm clicked. Ride in circles for a good 20 laps, and
I finally manage to unclick the right foot. Left comes right out.
Perhaps these need a break-in before I ride trails...

I then clicked in and went for a spin, clicking in & out as I rolled
down the street, and generally tooling around, getting a feel. Not
only do they feel as good if not better than the Shimano shoes I
replaced them with, clicking in & out is easier every time. By an hour
into this ride, I'm in & out almost as easy as the old shoes, and
I'm ready for the trails.

The 3 Velcro straps make tying optional for me, something I could never
say about the 2 strap shoes. This is nice on shorter or easier rides.
The shoes are very stiff, and though they don't walk great over
distances, the translation of body English to the bike is great, as is
the lack of give when pulling up on the pedals climbing. The
reflective strap around the sides & heel is nice, especially on the
road bike <duck>. I don't know if it actually helps, but it can't
hurt.

All in all, I'm very happy with my purchase. I may have liked a $200
pair more, but I don't know if I'd feel I got as much for my
dollar. It's too soon to judge durability, but so far so good. If I
get a few years out of them, as I did my last pair, I wouldn't
hesitate to pick up another pair of these shoes.

Dan

12-06-2006, 02:15 PM

<slight tongue in cheek>
$200 for shoes? That's more than I paid for my current beater hardtail. -
which rides great.

<serious now>
I've been riding the same pair of $39 on sale specials for 5-6 years now.
What does an extra $160 buy me?

12-06-2006, 04:46 PM

"G Wood" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> <slight tongue in cheek>
> $200 for shoes? That's more than I paid for my current beater hardtail. -
> which rides great.
>
> <serious now>
> I've been riding the same pair of $39 on sale specials for 5-6 years now.
> What does an extra $160 buy me?
>

Yeah, I flirted with expensive shoes decades ago but have had various year
Answer Speeders that I got on closeout at Supergo for my last few pairs.
They worked great. I'm now looking for something even cheaper, we'll see.
As long as they fit, as long as the sole is stiff or flexible enough for
one's usage, and they're appropriate for one's weather I don't see much
values in the expensive shoes. Obviously fit is important so one may have
to go to a $150 shoe to get the right fit, I'm lucky, my Speeders feel great
even when I'm riding with no socks.

Greg

12-07-2006, 04:29 AM

I paid 1 used BMX wheel for said $200 shoes from a friend a while back,
and just assumed they were in some notable way superior to the cheaper
models. The people at the LBS are always happy to tell me how much
better the expensive gear is <g>. Actually, there have been one or two
exceptions to that, and one just became my new LBS. The other went out
of business a few years ago.

I don't know the benefits of a $200 shoe, but I do know that I'm
loving what I got on my budget. I would have tried the Palisade's
for $20 less, but I like having the ability to lace up & Velcro.

Something I left out in the initial review is that I like the tread
even more than on the shoes they are replacing. I've dabbed in a few
slippery hill sections, and have not slipped yet. I'd assume I could
get spikes for the toes (there are bolts there now) but the only need I
can see is riding on ice. I'll wait and see.

Dan

On Dec 6, 6:15 pm, "G Wood" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> <slight tongue in cheek>
> $200 for shoes? That's more than I paid for my current beater hardtail. -
> which rides great.
>
> <serious now>
> I've been riding the same pair of $39 on sale specials for 5-6 years now.
> What does an extra $160 buy me?

12-07-2006, 09:14 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> I paid 1 used BMX wheel for said $200 shoes from a friend a while back,
> and just assumed they were in some notable way superior to the cheaper
> models. The people at the LBS are always happy to tell me how much
> better the expensive gear is <g>. Actually, there have been one or two
> exceptions to that, and one just became my new LBS. The other went out
> of business a few years ago.
>
> I don't know the benefits of a $200 shoe, but I do know that I'm
> loving what I got on my budget. I would have tried the Palisade's
> for $20 less, but I like having the ability to lace up & Velcro.
>

So the current Speeder has laces, too? I'd prefer to stick with that
combo. I thought Answer had gone the way of most other shoe
manufacturers and dropped laces. Ah, just checked their site and
they've kept laces. It doesn't look like the Palisades has laces,
though, but I see that's what you're implying above.

I think I'll get yet another pair of Speeders.

Greg

--
"All my time I spent in heaven
Revelries of dance and wine
Waking to the sound of laughter
Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons

12-07-2006, 10:15 AM

When I got my shoes, Dan's had both the 07 Palisades & the 06
Speeders. The Palisades had only Velcro, and the speeders were Velcro
& laces. I don't know about the 07 Speeders, or the 06 Palisades.

Dan

On Dec 7, 1:14 pm, "G.T." <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> > I paid 1 used BMX wheel for said $200 shoes from a friend a while back,
> > and just assumed they were in some notable way superior to the cheaper
> > models. The people at the LBS are always happy to tell me how much
> > better the expensive gear is <g>. Actually, there have been one or two
> > exceptions to that, and one just became my new LBS. The other went out
> > of business a few years ago.
>
> > I don't know the benefits of a $200 shoe, but I do know that I'm
> > loving what I got on my budget. I would have tried the Palisade's
> > for $20 less, but I like having the ability to lace up & Velcro.So the current Speeder has laces, too? I'd prefer to stick with that
> combo. I thought Answer had gone the way of most other shoe
> manufacturers and dropped laces. Ah, just checked their site and
> they've kept laces. It doesn't look like the Palisades has laces,
> though, but I see that's what you're implying above.
>
> I think I'll get yet another pair of Speeders.
>
> Greg
>
> --
> "All my time I spent in heaven
> Revelries of dance and wine
> Waking to the sound of laughter
> Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons