Guest poster Don Blount’s search for the perfect bike shoe took him to the Antipodes – in a manner of speaking. He likes what he found.
Now the company is like my new best friend.
I began searching for new cycling shoes for a simple reason – my feet began to hurt after rides. The Cannondale RS3100 cycling shoes I had worn for two years were great for getting me into biking but I was riding harder, longer and farther. The results I was getting were not the same. I figured the shoes, which were actually free with the discount I received from Performance Bike when I bought my bike in 2008, had just run their useful life.
So I began looking for replacement kicks.
From a fit issue I needed a shoe with a wide toe box and a narrower heel. And I wanted something better fitting and stiffer than my outgoing shoes.
I looked off and on for a few months. I was off the road for two months because of injuries from a fall, so I was not in a hurry. I also took time to get over the sticker shock of upgraded shoes.
Then on a late Saturday night someone in my bike club’s e-mail group excitedly mentioned Bont and how the shoe was being made available in the United States. I had never heard of this 36-year-old Australian company that outfits Thor Hushovd and the Cervelo Test Team among others.
I settled on the ctt-three. The deal with a Bont shoe is that it has a “fully heat moldable carbon monocoque fiberglass chassis.” Seriously, pop these babies in the oven at low temperature for a bit, put them on, stand in them for a few minutes and they will mold to your feet. In other words, it becomes a custom fit shoe. They were perfect for someone with my shoe-fitting issues.
I have ridden about 950 miles in the Bonts, I think they are great. They are much stiffer than my old shoes, yet lighter at 295 grams. They flex little and transfer power well. And I really like the look too.
The downside? They took some breaking because the entire shoe – sole and upper were much stiffer than my old shoes.
I purchased my pair online in October for $207, a price comparable to other shoes that interested me. Since then I have found them online for as low as $150, including shipping. This is considered the company’s entry-level model. The top of the line shoe in this category, the ctt-one is a fully carbon shoe that costs about twice as much. I did not have to spend nearly that much and am quite pleased with the Bont ctt-three.
Wow! Chef Don takes his shoe cooking seriously, full kit and hat. Awesome review, not sure about the all black shoe though. Wouldn’t that be hot? I have no idea, mine are silver.
Tommy, I have a pair of all-black shoes. No issues.
The shoes are vented. They also come in white w/red stripes.
Glad to hear no issues with black shoes. I just retired my old silver shoes for new black ones.
Like the aero chef hat.
The more Aussie, the better!
Great shoes, great review. I’m glad you liked the self-moulding shoe and that it worked easily. I’ve been looking at getting a pair myself and am glad to know that the process is as simple as the shops say (which it rarely is).
The Chef hat is awesome.
My wife had ballet shoes that did the same thing.
I also ride in all-black shoes and have no heat issues either.
I am seriously considering this shoe and your review poked me even closer to the edge. Great photo too!