All about bicycles, electric-assisted bikes, technology and safety in the press

In our daily work as we deal with bicycle safety, technology and user manuals we come across lots of safety risks. The most frequent ones are published in articles of the leading German special-interest magazines TOUR – Europas Rennrad-Magazin Nr. 1, BIKE – Das Mountainbike Magazin Europas Nr. 1 and E-Bike – Das Pedelec-Magazin to make this information important for the sector accessible to a wider public.

For many years now the Eurobike Show Daily accompanying the annual international Eurobike Show has given us the opportunity to publish our perspective on major developments in the cycle industry in full-page articles.

We also speak regularly in independent lectures about all topics relating to bicycle technology and bicycle market. In addition, we are regularly cited by further special-interest magazines or trade journals as well as more and more by radio and television and in their media reports, which shows us that we are completely right with our information. The section NEWS informs you about the latest news from our specialist fields. The reports and publications of this section are listed chronologically or according to topics of interest.

BIKE 08/2005
Reading time 1:20 minutes

Bike shoes

Interview about the test: 20 bike shoes between 60 and 250 Euro.

The most important question: Where does the shoe pinch – and which one maximises the force put on the pedal? BIKE reveals it

(…)

Interview: Graduate engineer Dirk Zedler, Ludwigsburg-based bike-expert
"I am sceptical against carbon soles on bike shoes"

Carbon is increasingly often used for bike shoe soles. Does this make sense?
Race shoes have become lighter and stiffer by doing so. But I am sceptical against carbon soles on bike shoes. The demands are different.

How do the demands differ?
Above all by the walking passages. Edged rocks can carve exposed carbon plates. Carbon is much more sensitive against indentations than the usual polyamide.
The sole could break. The surface of carbon soles should in any case be fully protected by rubber – which annihilates quickly the weight advantage of around 20 grams per shoe.

And what about stiffness?
You have to differentiate in detail: There are carbon sole bike shoes which actually only are race shoes with rubber naps glued to the sole. They are stiff, but not at all fit for walking. For this, the toe box has to be a little flexible. If carbon is sensible in the sole, it is between bale and heel. There, it can improve the bending stiffness and therefore the power transfer.

So this is a small success for a small target group?
I only can think of two groups benefitting from it: Cross-country-racers, who slip into the shower and into their slippers immediately after their ten rounds at full throttle. And those who become ecstatic upon hearing the word „carbon“.