Lake Cycling :: focus on the ride



BikeRadar July 2009 Lake MX155 We’ve been waiting for a shoe like the Lake MX155 for a long time, and it was worth the wait – we think it’s going to be a strong hit with UK trail riders, and for good reason. The super hard-wearing and grippy Vibram rubber outsole is covered with seriously toothy lugs, ideal for full scale hike-a-bikes. There’s also a large, strong rubber toe box that will have you booting rocks through corners just for fun. A genuine leather upper is combined with a neoprene inner sock – or ‘anti-scree guard’ in Lake speak – and good old-fashioned laces. The result is a biking boot that we liked after one wear and loved from thereon in – even if we did feel water seep through the seams a few times. Construction quality is really good, leaks aside, and we know from experience that Lakes will easily do three years of hard daily use before drawing breath – twice the life of most other bike shoes. Triathletes World July 2009 Lake CX210 A fibreglass-injected nylon sole and reinforced heel area make this a rigid shoe designed to transfer all the energy from your legs to moving forward. A breathable mesh upper features leather overlays that secure your foot and help it dry out from the swim. A clever wedge at the end of the Velcro tab means you'll never be fiddling to thread the tab through, and if you're a fashion-conscious triathlete - and who isn't? - the pearlescent shimmer and neat design add pizzazz. www.triathletes-world-magazine.co.uk Unicyclist July/August 2009 Lake I/O SDL Sandals and white socks are a fashion disaster, but wearing these with black socks are good enough to survive a quick glance! Wearing these with no socks is a recipe for smelly feet just like regular shoes, despite the antibacterial treatment. These have decent toe protection and a pretty rigid sole so they're suitable for MUni and comfy for hiking. With my wide feet, my usual size 42 was a perfect fit and comfy from day one. Unfortunately we managed to snap one of the lace clips before putting the shoe on! The lace securing system resembles the Yankz we tested last week, and works well as a slip-on sandal with no need to adjust the laces when putting them on. Despite this they were not too loose or distracting in use. Grip is excellent for such a smooth sole and it works best with metal pinned pedals. With the sturdy design there's less ventilation than a regular sandal but way more protection. MBR – Bikes and Gear Supplement - June 09 Lake MX85 Lake has long made dependable shoes that seem virtually indestructible. The MX85's comfort on and off the bike is fine for long tours, though the shoes are on the meaty side owing to plenty of comfortable padding, an aggressive tread and those tough moulded heel cups. The mesh panels on the uppers are on the small side, so cooling on hot days is not as efficient as some other designs. And while the styling may not be to your taste, in all likelihood you'll have many months to get used to it. A bargain. MBR May 2009 Lake MX140 Billed as an all-weather shoe, Lake's latest offering, the MX140, features an eVent waterproof and breathable bootie upper topped with a Neoprene collar to further fend off the elements. Unfortunately, the collar didn't wrap tightly enough around this tester's dainty ankles, and on the first encounter with a puddle I found myself with cold and wet feet. The Neoprene closure requires more Velcro on the collar for the strap to wrap around the ankle and form a good seal. Wrapping the strap tight exposed the excess to being pulled open by undergrowth and so I ran it loose. That aside, everything else about the MX140 is good news. The fit from the dial-in lace closure is as custom as one would want. The dial itself is worth a mention too. Push it in and rotate to tighten the laces, and release by pulling the dial outwards. It's simple and easy to use. The shoe is comfortable, and off the bike the heel counter successfully negates heel-slip. Add the aggressive race sole with stud threads into the mix and its unlikely that you'll get egg on your face from slipping over. A rounded toe box and guard provide comfort for the broad of foot, and Lake does half sizes so you can get a perfect fit. If can live with the collar issue, or have big ankles, then the MX140 is a good three-season trail riding shoe. What Mountain Bike Issue: No 98 Summer 2009 Lake MX155 Sandals and white socks are a fashion disaster, but wearing these with black socks are good enough to survive a quick glance! Wearing these with no socks is a recipe for smelly feet just like regular shoes, despite the antibacterial treatment. These have decent toe protection and a pretty rigid sole so they're suitable for MUni and comfy for hiking. With my wide feet, my usual size 42 was a perfect fit and comfy from day one. Unfortunately we managed to snap one of the lace clips before putting the shoe on! The lace securing system resembles the Yankz we tested last week, and works well as a slip-on sandal with no need to adjust the laces when putting them on. Despite this they were not too loose or distracting in use. Grip is excellent for such a smooth sole and it works best with metal pinned pedals. With the sturdy design there's less ventilation than a regular sandal but way more protection. “Wet issues aside, this is a good trail shoe that'll take a proper beating." "We think the Lake will be a hit with UK trail riders, and for good reason" Cycling Plus Issue: 222 May 2009 Lake CX170 Lake have always taken their own road when it comes to shoe design and the deceptively simple looking CX170 is no exception. All-leather uppers are something of a rarity on race shoes at this price, as is a Boa lacing system, let alone one that mounts the ratcheting push and turn to tighten – pull to release – knob on the heel. The system means that the shoe takes seconds to pull off and, in conjunction with the stiffened heel cup, works so well to tighten that you’ll find yourself over-winding it at first. The ﬁbreglass reinforced nylon sole is stiff enough for fast riding, and has generous bumpers for staying upright off the bike. Good heel reﬂectives too. MBR Issue: April 2009 Lake MX165 Compared to the other race shoes here the MX165 is slightly more robust with more of a trial bias. It has excellent soft compound Vibram sole, which offers a fantastic grip and great cushioning, especially around the heel. There are fittings for a set of toe studs and the rubber material extends over the instep for extra grip. Lake opts for a belt and braces closure system with three Velcro straps and a set and a set of optional laces above the secondary padded neoprene tongue. The upper is a mix of leather and mesh and there’s a toe bumper to stop this scuffing up. We’d go up half a size with the Lakes because they have a pointed shape. There’s more give in the sole so ultimate pedalling stiffness isn’t on a par with carbon sole shoes but they’re the most comfortable shoe here. Verdict :: 8/10 MBR Issue: January 2009 Lake MX330C Lake has done things differently with its placement of the BOA ratchet on the heel of its MX330C shoes. In theory this should pull the shoe nice and tight around the ankle, but in practice the crossing of the BOA cable across the forefoot meant that heel-lift was still noticeable, and we had to retighten the BOA a couple of times during the first half-hour of each ride before it settled into its perfect spot. Part of the problem is getting enough tension on the BOA twister in its position on the heel: its base has been built up, preventing it from twisting more than a single click at high tension. That said, the 330Cs are incredibly comfortable -the combination of the BOA's load-spreading abilities and the Kangaroo leather upper make sure there are no pressure points anywhere. Lake has produced a shoe that is considerably heavier than the other two tested here, but it is also more robust and the most trail-rider friendly, sporting as it does a full rubber outsole for when you really have to get off and push. Beneath the rubber is a carbon midsole which is almost equal to Specialized's in terms of stiffness. As an everyday shoe, the MX330C's were a better compromise than the Scott or Specialized - and the BOA also seemed less prone to getting gunged up with dirt - but could use a couple of small improvements to make them perfect. Verdict :: 8/10