On Tuesday, I put some new SPD cleats on the Northwave Ninja MTB shoes I bought off Ckucke. I needed a good set of backup shoes for the Sidi Dragon II’s, and the price was right.
On Friday, I put them on, cranked the Boa laces tight and went for a spin around the neighborhood. They clicked in fine with no interference from the sole on the pedal body. The float was without resistance, so there was no contact drag. They were stiff yet comfortable. The insides around the arches were a bit more built out, as they rubbed the crankarm if I allowed my heels to move inward while pedaling. A dual-Boa system like snowboard boots might have been nice so the forefoot and instep could be adjusted independently, but that might be overkill for a MTB shoe. The fit was firm and encompassing, but if I made the Boa as tight as I would prefer for the instep, the toes became a little on the tight side.
I did the normal training loop, but on the first climb, I immediately noticed knee discomfort and a discernable click coming from my left knee. The Sidi’s had pronation shims to adjust the cleat angle, but these new shoes did not. I could really tell the difference. I couldn’t apply the same power or get the same spin without the proper angle. The shims really make a difference. I cut the ride short so as not to blow out my knees, but I could feel a little lingering ache this morning.
Time to ask Jarrel to order me another set of shims…
D = 5.14-miles, Vavr = 11.2 mph, Vmax = 23.3 mph, T = 27-minutes
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