Specialized Body Geometry

carbonguru said:

Is there anyone riding a pair of Specialized Road Shoes with Body Geometry? If so, are they comfortable to you? Do you experience any knee pain when riding long distances?

I have been riding Specialized BG MTB shoes for about a year as my commuter shoe and road shoes for about 6 months. The lateral canting is noticeable if I pay attention, but has worked well for me. I liked the feel and fit of the MTB shoes enough that I got a pair of road shoes when my previous Diadora pair was shot. The toe box on both pair of shoes is roomy, but the midfoot fit is narrow so the shoe still feels snug but doesn't constrict circulation to my toes. This has caused one problem with the road shoes and that is to get a proper midfoot fit I got a size that is bit long. The shoes feel pretty good on the foot but the added shoe length means that the cleat mounting holes are a little too far forward for me and I have abandoned using speedplay cleats with those shoes as I can't get the cleats mounted far enough back for my tastes. The curvature of the sole also did not fit the cleats without making some homemade shims. This sole compatibility (or lack thereof) is known to the Speedplay folks. I guess it is just one of those things. As such, for the winter I put SPD-type pedals on my road bikes and have been riding with my MTB shoes on the road for the winter. Come spring, I'll come up with a better solution-either switch shoes or pedals.

The metatarsal pad on the insole is also noticeable, but again hasn't caused me problems.

I can't talk for the shoes, but they have a gimmick for their seat where you sit on something that tells you the distance between your sit bones. Using terms like body geometry is good advertising and their is truth to their R&D, but it's all about comfort (for example, the specialized seat I bought was terrible, even though the fit was perfect as per the test). Don't be fooled.

I agree. Specialized saddles are way uncomfortable.

noonievut said:

I can't talk for the shoes, but they have a gimmick for their seat where you sit on something that tells you the distance between your sit bones. Using terms like body geometry is good advertising and their is truth to their R&D, but it's all about comfort (for example, the specialized seat I bought was terrible, even though the fit was perfect as per the test). Don't be fooled.

I have an avatar saddle, and its pretty hard for long rides, but I'm happy enough and will check out the newer/other models for my next saddle.

I think shoes are a lot like saddles, what works for one person won't always for another. Shoes shapes are generally consistant within a brands range, so if you fine a brand that suits you just stick to it.

If you find a shoe that fits well it will last longer as well. Best fitting pair of soccer boots I ever had lasted over two sessions when the other less suitable boots generally split after one year due to too much tension in some areas not being spread into the others.

I've been using specialized BG shoes for the past few seasons and wouldn't switch to anyone else. Most people have some sort mechanical problems with their feet (over-pronation, under-pronation, forefoot valgus, etc...). Luckily for most, the issue is minor enough not to cause any significant problem. Over the long run, however, and for those with more pronounced problems, it's certainly better to have the issue corrected. Specialized is the only larger shoe manufacturer to address this. Their standard BG shoe corrects for an issue that most of the population shows, but they also offer an insole kit (with three types of arches and various plates to correct forefoot tilt) to go along with their shoes to cover a wider range of issues.

Simply put: the shoes do change the mechanics of your pedal stroke, and so will take some time to adjust to (much as is the case with changing saddle height, etc...). For most people (but not all!) they are a step in the right direction. For some (like me, who have more pronounced mechanical issues) the BG shoe line is the only that addresses the issues directly.

As far as the saddle goes, you are right that the specialized saddles may feel a bit uncomfortable at first. There is reason behind this though. The saddles were designed with free circulation as the primary objective. This is a simple question of physics. A saddle is "comfortable" when the riders weight is spead over the largest possible area and there are no pressure points. Unfortunetly spreading the weight out over the largest also means you will necessarily impede circulation. The Universities of Cologne (Koeln) and Freiburg carried a large test on about 30 different saddles last year (published in the German cycling magazine "Tour"😉 which measured pressure distribution of various saddles vie piezo sensors and circulation via a nifty mechanism over the tip of, umm, sensative male organ. Sure enough, the better the pressure distribution, the more the cirulation was cut down. Specialized (the alias and toupe models) were the top two saddles as far as circulation is concerned (around 80% of normal depending on the rider and the degree to which the hips were rolled forward), but did fairly poor in terms of pressure distribution. The best in that respect? Interestingly it is the saddle manufacturer that is often recommended as the most comfortable on these forums, fizik. Of course the comfort came at the expense of circulation, where the fizik models were amongst the worst in the tests, with only about 15% (again depending on rider) of normal bloodflow getting through.

In short then, the specialized saddles may not initially feel fantastic, but it isn't necessarily because they are poorly designed, just a different approach.

I had a fizik saddle which came with my bike. After doing the Melbourne around the bay in a day (210km social ride) the little guy went on strike for about 2 weeks (girl friend was not impressed, and nor was I!)

I changed to the specialised and never had that problem again.

Shoes, saddles, and helmets are highly individualized items. I have custom orthotics to correct the mechanical problems with my feet, so I end up throwing out the inserts that come with the shoes. My biggest concern is finding a shoe that fits. The Performance house brand (Forte CM310) fit my feet (with my orthotics) better than any other shoe I have tried (including Sidi, Specialized, Lake, Shimano, Pearl Izumi, Northwave (a close second for me), and Diadora, but what fits my feet is probably not going to fit your feet.

While I have seen many posts that claim Specialized saddles are uncomfortable, that has not been true for me. I have a '07 Specialized Avatar, and find it to be very comfortable. I have never ridden longer than 75 miles in one day, but I have ridden saddles that were uncomfortable to me after as little as 10 miles.

Every shoe is going to be bad if it does not fit properly. Every saddle is going to be uncomfortable if it is not positioned correctly. There is no "best" shoe or saddle that will work for everyone.

I totally understand. For me, my min. mileage per day is 65 miles when I'm training in the Summer Months and 40 miles in the Winter Months. So I'm in the saddle a lot for a long time. I knew I was in trouble when I mounted a Specialized Saddle on a Tarmac I rode. My butt hurt so bad after 25 miles I turned around and cut my ride short by 15 miles. It hurt that bad.

As for the shoes, I hear that they actually GIVE YOU problems. My friend who is an Orthopedic Surgeon and cyclist said that Specialized Body Geometry, although a great concept, is actually worse for you over time than riding a regular Pearl Izumi or DMT road shoe WITHOUT Body Geometry. Although the knee may be straight, he said your ankles are not. And that alone will put a tremendous strain on you when you Sprint or Climb out of the saddle for any long period of time. Maybe the old school flat foot is best after all.

RickF said:

Shoes, saddles, and helmets are highly individualized items. I have custom orthotics to correct the mechanical problems with my feet, so I end up throwing out the inserts that come with the shoes. My biggest concern is finding a shoe that fits. The Performance house brand (Forte CM310) fit my feet (with my orthotics) better than any other shoe I have tried (including Sidi, Specialized, Lake, Shimano, Pearl Izumi, Northwave (a close second for me), and Diadora, but what fits my feet is probably not going to fit your feet.

While I have seen many posts that claim Specialized saddles are uncomfortable, that has not been true for me. I have a '07 Specialized Avatar, and find it to be very comfortable. I have never ridden longer than 75 miles in one day, but I have ridden saddles that were uncomfortable to me after as little as 10 miles.

Every shoe is going to be bad if it does not fit properly. Every saddle is going to be uncomfortable if it is not positioned correctly. There is no "best" shoe or saddle that will work for everyone.

carbonguru said:

Is there anyone riding a pair of Specialized Road Shoes with Body Geometry? If so, are they comfortable to you? Do you experience any knee pain when riding long distances?

The shoes shouldn't be a cause of any knee pain. Just make sure that the cleat is in the right place & that you're properly fitted on the bike.

carbonguru said:

I agree. Specialized saddles are way uncomfortable.

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myself and 2 other guys on my team are loving the Spec Toupe saddle. To say for the masses they are uncomfortable or they use gimmicky sales tactics is shortsighted.

I was speaking for myself. Specialized Saddles don't work for me. They are uncomfortable. No shortsightedness intended. Just my opinion.

jrstevens said:

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myself and 2 other guys on my team are loving the Spec Toupe saddle. To say for the masses they are uncomfortable or they use gimmicky sales tactics is shortsighted.

There are reports that their shoes caused knee pain to those that have ridden them. I posted the question to see if this is really the case.

remdog said:

The shoes shouldn't be a cause of any knee pain. Just make sure that the cleat is in the right place & that you're properly fitted on the bike.

jrstevens said:

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myself and 2 other guys on my team are loving the Spec Toupe saddle. To say for the masses they are uncomfortable or they use gimmicky sales tactics is shortsighted.

Agreed. I love the Spec Toupe saddle, as does a friend of mine.

However saddles are like that, very personal, what works for some doesn't work for others.

I have just switched to a pair of specialised body geometry shoes and I've been getting "pins and needles" in my left foot and leg, tho' not the right one. I was wondering what they'd be like on a long ride, and if the problem would persist when the shoes wear in.

Have had the shoes for two seasons and the helmet for two and the saddle for 6 months. And the SL s-works for 6 months and prior to that the Roubaix for 18 months and the gloves, and the kit, etc etc.

LOVE the stuff. It's good.

don't like the glasses and the helmet isn't as good as the giro top model. Everything else is pretty spec!

LOVE the stuff! 😄

Generally I love Specialized gear. I have the helmet, gloves, shirt and shoes (as well as the Hard Rock bike). BUT I have to say the Specialized Taho shoes I have always give me "pins and needles" in the toes of both feet and lately a little toe is really giving me pain after around 25 miles - very uncomfortable. I've had then for about 1000 miles and thought I would have broken thenm in by now - if anything they are getting more uncomfortable. They are well made and comfortable off the bike so probably would still look at getting another pair.

I'm telling you, my Orthopedic Surgeon friend is right. It has something to do with the angle of the ankle. It's just not natural to have that much pressure on the outside foot for 4.5 hours straight.

Don Shipp said:

I have just switched to a pair of specialised body geometry shoes and I've been getting "pins and needles" in my left foot and leg, tho' not the right one. I was wondering what they'd be like on a long ride, and if the problem would persist when the shoes wear in.

carbonguru said:

I'm telling you, my Orthopedic Surgeon friend is right. It has something to do with the angle of the ankle. It's just not natural to have that much pressure on the outside foot for 4.5 hours straight.

Just did a search and came across this thread. I am having real trouble getting my cleat position dialed with BG shoes. Had no problems with my old Vittoria shoes and same pedals but since I switched shoes my foot position feels all wrong. It feels on my left shoes that the foot is being tilted latterally. My right foot feels fine, feels natural but I developed a knee pain.

Sorry Rolfrae, I can't help you on the shoe question, but I've been using a Specialized BG Sport saddle for a good while and recently switched back to my old Selle Italia. I think kaiost's post on page 1 is interesting in that I agree it's a trade-off between circulation relief and general comfort. I used to have a major problem with numbness and after trying a few saddles I settled on the BG Sport. It was amazing in terms of reducing the numbness and I road it for a year or so, but I began to notice other problems after a while. It's a very wide saddle and so on longer rides it would chaffe the insides of my thighs, as well as really damaging my shorts. I also found, because it is so forgiving in terms of pressure, that on long rides I'd really sink into it. It was a like sitting in an old armchair. That caused problems elsewhere in my back and shoulders. So, now I've reverted to the next best saddle I had in terms of pressure relief and I think with becoming overall a bit stronger (I've been doing lots of core strength exercises) I've got no more problems with perineal pressure.