Flat pedal friendly freeride shoe features sticky rubber sole unit and Ion-Mask water repellent treatment.
New Teva Links is the outdoor footwear specialist's first bike shoe - designed for use with flat pedals, it features sticky rubber for added grip on the pedals and the water resistant Ion-Mask treatment currently only available on Hi-Tec shoes.
A quick heads up for OMers who ride mountain bikes as well as walking and climbing with the news that Teva has launched its first bike shoe, the Links and due out later this year.
Designed in conjunction with pro mountain biker Jeff Lenosky, the Links is designed specifically to work with flat bike pedals, which features sharp pins for traction. The sole unit is made from Spider 365 to give better grip on the pedals, while the toe and heel feature aggressive tread to cope with walking use when necessary.
There's a Shoc-Pad in the heel to add cushioning, while the uppers feature flexible armour in key wear areas. Finally Teva is using the all-over Ion-Mask water repellent treatement, we think for the first time, to improve wet conditions performance.
We've used Ion-Mask on Hi-Tec footwear and while it doesn't make a shoe waterproof, it will speed up drying times considerably and reduce the amount of water the shoe absorbs in wetter conditions.
The background to the shoe's genesis is Teva's longstanding involvement in the Teva Mountain Games, which feature a freeride mountain biking event. Lenosky, the man behind biking at the games, says that he worked with Teva's development team for over year to build the shoe and comments:
“We didn’t compromise on any aspect of the design, using the very best materials, style and technology available. I’ve been wearing them and riding in them for a few months and I’m really proud of the finished product.”
Teva isn't the first outdoors footwear brand to dip a toe into the mountain biking market, Five.Ten adapted its famed Stealth climbing rubber compound to bike shoes a few years back and is now a leading player in the bike market. KEEN also produces bike shoes including an SPD-compatible sandal for hot weather riding.
More Teva info at www.teva.co.uk
