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Shoes
Chrome Riverton ShoeChrome Riverton shoe

Chrome Riverton Shoe

7
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Dec 24, 2011

5
£65.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Well made and comfy shoe for flat pedals. And just walking about in
Weight: 
1,099g
Contact: 
www.chromebags.com
How we test

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Chrome make some cycling-specific shoes, including an SPD version of the Kursk which we've tested on road.cc. The Riverton is more of a general purpose knocking about kind of a shoe, and it's nicely made and pretty comfy.

The Riverton is a mid-top pump with a full-grain leather upper and baseball-shoe-style rubber sole. You get a discreet(ish) Kursk logo on the side of the heel and two-hole lacing. The sole is red, with white trim. That's pretty much your lot.

So does it make a good all purpose shoe for cyclists? Yup. The sole isn't stiff and you won't want to do a club run in them, but it's supportive and grippy enough for knocking round town on flat pedals. Once you're off the bike they're well behaved and pretty comfy. I spent five days traipsing from one end of the Eurobike show to the other in them, and my feet didn't once complain.

The leather upper is wearing very well; they look better now with a few months put into them than they did new. There's a couple of chainring scuff marks on the right one but even accidentally kicking the chainring fairly hard didn't put a hole in them. The front of the side trim has separated a bit from the toe leather, but only a bit and it hasn't got any worse over time. The sole seems pretty hardy but not at the expense of grip.

All in all the Riverton is a likeable shoe. It's not massively cycling specific but it's just the thing if you ride on flats and need some good-looking pumps for all-day use.

Verdict

Well made and comfy shoe for flat pedals. And just walking about in.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Chrome Riverton Shoe

Size tested: Black - size 13

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Weight: 2.1 lb.

Fabric: Full-grain leather outer; blown rubber midsole wedge

Product Source: Guangzhou, China

Features:

* Full-grain leather

* Blown rubber midsole wedge for maximum comfort

* Understated leather punch eyelets

* Embossed Chrome logo on heel-side and tongue

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Nicely made.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

nice and grippy on flat pedals, nice and comfy about town

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

full leather tops are weearing well, sole too

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

not heavy shoes

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

comfy enough for a full day on your feet

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Good value for a general purpose shoe

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 190cm  Weight: 98kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with SRAM Apex

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

Chrome Riverton Shoe
Chrome
casual cycling shoe
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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5 comments

Avatar
WolfieSmith | 13 years ago
0 likes

Both.

Avatar
The _Kaner | 13 years ago
0 likes

Is that Rapha shave cream for the old pins or the mush!
2

Avatar
step-hent | 13 years ago
0 likes

Tbh, you could say that about most bags too, but I still find it useful to know what they're like to ride in if that's what I'm going to use them for. It's just a review of an all purpose item from a cyclists perspective. But if you liked this, you'll LOVE the Rapha shaving cream review... 4

Avatar
scotter | 13 years ago
0 likes

@mercuryone; give 'im a break- it's Xmas (slow news day...) 3

Avatar
WolfieSmith | 13 years ago
0 likes

How is this rather spooney looking flexible shoe being reviewed as a cycle shoe?? It's a shoe. I can give you 300 words on my blue all weather 'cycle crocs' if you want. They have grip. They're as stiff as these shoes and they have a 'cycle retainer strap' at the back. And they're more comfortable and look better.

You'll be reviewing the Viz handy bicycle puncture detection kit next: a tin bath full of water carried on the back rack 'so you can find punctures more easily...'

: D

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