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TECH NEWS

Nike step back into cycling with “visually stunning” SuperRep spin bike shoes

Could this be a hint at Nike's return to the world of road cycling?

Designed for indoor use, Nike's SuperRep shoes are designed for “stability and breathability on and off the bike”.

If you were a fan of pro cycling back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, you’ll remember that Nike was rather popular with their shoes being worn by a certain American. Nike left cycling around 2008 but the likes of Mark Cavendish, Adam Blythe and Dani Rowe still wear ‘Nike’ shoes.

These designs are not publicly available and seem to be re-badged shoes from a popular Italian manufacturer. The new shoes though, seem to be a tentative first step back into cycling for the footwear giant.

Nike SuperRep Spin Shoes-2

The SuperRep spin shoes are designed for spin bike riders. The shoes can be used with either two or three-bolt cleats and feature a “translucid mesh on the upper, coupled with a perforated sock liner and vents through the bottom of the plate to enable better airflow around the toes.”

Check out Cav's Tour de France shoes inspired by Brazil football legend Ronaldo

Nike says that “to better address the needs of riders’ lateral and out-of-seat movements, a support arc on the shoe’s medial side.” This, they say, “helps keep feet secured during "Figure 8s" or other side-to-side combinations out of the saddle.”

Nike SuperRep Spin Shoes-1

Nike has used a split sole design, that will be a familiar sight if you’re a fan of their football boots. We’re not sure what material has been used for the two sole pieces, but it looks to be a stiffened nylon rather than the carbon sole we’d expect to see on a road cycling shoe.

The sole is finished with low profile rubber studs and a textured pattern to “provide traction while walking to and from the bike.”

Nike SuperRep Spin Shoes 5

Two large velcro straps provide a simple closure system. Could we see Nike make a return to road cycling?

We've got no pricing information yet, but on their UK website Nike say the shoes will be available to buy in June. 

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25 comments

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cbrndc | 4 years ago
1 like

Spinning is a registered trade mark of Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc. Cal and should not be used in relation to indoor cycle exercise without permission.

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Neil69cyclist | 4 years ago
1 like

Also if it was to be a Spinning shoe then it would need a more mtb sole because the majority of studio bikes run spd cleats not spd sl (and actually no studio bikes run spd-sl as they dont licence them, they are nearly always a look cleat) and running and spd cleat with no leteral support is not good ! 

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fukawitribe replied to Neil69cyclist | 4 years ago
0 likes
Neil69cyclist wrote:

Also if it was to be a Spinning shoe then it would need a more mtb sole because the majority of studio bikes run spd cleats not spd sl (and actually no studio bikes run spd-sl as they dont licence them, they are nearly always a look cleat) and running and spd cleat with no leteral support is not good ! 

To be fair, it's built to use either and doesn't actually say what type of 3-bolt cleat they would take

FTA

Quote:

The shoes can be used with either two or three-bolt cleats

..and the sole tread looks it's been designed with 2-bolt cleats in mind (yeah, SPD-SL/Look + shallow sole wouldn't be that stable i'd guess...)

Quote:

The sole is finished with low profile rubber studs and a textured pattern to “provide traction while walking to and from the bike.”

 

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nortonp | 4 years ago
2 likes

Spin shoes..... What nonsense.

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fukawitribe replied to nortonp | 4 years ago
0 likes

Why ?

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werics replied to fukawitribe | 4 years ago
0 likes

It's the word before shoes that's the nonsense... did that really require explanation?

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fukawitribe replied to werics | 4 years ago
2 likes
werics wrote:

It's the word before shoes that's the nonsense... did that really require explanation?

Yes. The activity is known as 'spinning', in 'spin classes' on a 'spin bike' - these have design features that the manufacturer thinks will make them more suitable in that environment than regular cycling shoes - seems appropriate as brief, descriptive name, c.f. road shoes, MTB shoes, tri shoes.

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brooksby replied to fukawitribe | 4 years ago
0 likes

Never entirely understood the purpose of spin classes.

Would make more sense to ride a bike to wherever your spin class is held, then turn around and cycle home again (cutting out the whole fee-paying spin class bit in the middle)  3

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fukawitribe replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes

 1 Not my thing either - but Bertie Bassett and all that...

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Jetmans Dad replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like
brooksby wrote:

Never entirely understood the purpose of spin classes.

Would make more sense to ride a bike to wherever your spin class is held, then turn around and cycle home again (cutting out the whole fee-paying spin class bit in the middle)  3

Surely the same argument can be made for turbo trainers?

I haven't done a spin class for a long time, but they are generally very different to riding on the road (no stopping and starting in traffic, navigating junctions or dealing with other vehicles, just being the obvious differences). 

Like a spin class, I also ride very differently on the turbo, in particular I push myself a lot harder, partly because of those things I mention above, but also because if I push myself too hard, I can just get off, grab a drink and a sandwich and jump straight in the shower. Can't do that if I run out of "gas" 15 miles from home. 

I love riding outside, and do it as much as I can, but I also love riding the turbo (and know others who love spin classes) and both have a different impact on my riding. 

All that said (and getting back on topic), I have never quite understood the current fashion for specific indoor clothing. I just use my tatty, but still usable shoes on the turbo, and would do the same if I did a spin class. Why buy something new, and expensive? Maybe the answer is ... people do it because they can, and they like it. Fair play if so. 

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jollygoodvelo replied to Jetmans Dad | 4 years ago
1 like
Jetmans Dad wrote:

I have never quite understood the current fashion for specific indoor clothing. I just use my tatty, but still usable shoes on the turbo, and would do the same if I did a spin class. Why buy something new, and expensive? Maybe the answer is ... people do it because they can, and they like it. Fair play if so. 

Funny thing - perhaps because the conditions in the room I ride my turbo in are more consistent than outside, over the last couple of months I've really noticed the difference between different jerseys (yes, I wear a jersey on the trainer, it feels right).  My favourite outdoor ones get me too hot, whereas a really thin summer dhb one is the most comfortable.  Maybe there's something in it.

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MrGear replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
2 likes
brooksby wrote:

Never entirely understood the purpose of spin classes.

Would make more sense to ride a bike to wherever your spin class is held, then turn around and cycle home again (cutting out the whole fee-paying spin class bit in the middle)  3

I've never done a spin class, but my friend (who lives in New Zealand) is a spin class instructor. She's never rides an actual bike as she's terrified of traffic.

She loves spinning, and literally does it as a full time job.

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Municipal Waste replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like

I've been to some that are closer to group HIIT training, which is much easier/safer to do when nobody can crash into each other/get hit by a car.

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chadders replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like

Funnily enough I cycle to a spin class do 45 mins of highly intensive training then tootle home again (12 miles each way)and it suits me.

on a side note I also have a pair of Nike Ventoux cycling shoes in maroon they are years old but far more comfortable than any shoe I have looked at replacing them with.

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peted76 | 4 years ago
2 likes

They look 'different' in a good way.. these are clearly not for the road.. but I'd very much welcome Nike's R&D budget being pumped into cycling shoes!

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CygnusX1 replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes

I agree, at least the black version. Not so keen on the red colourway, but I suspect I'm not in the target market for that one.

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mdavidford replied to CygnusX1 | 4 years ago
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Condemning someone for mentioning triathlon, and then using the non-word 'colourway'? The hypocrisy is astounding!

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slappop replied to mdavidford | 4 years ago
1 like

'Colourway' has been a term in the fabric industry for ages and is certainly older than 'triathlon' which only dates back to the 1970s.

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mdavidford replied to slappop | 4 years ago
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Doesn't mean I have to like it.

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slappop replied to mdavidford | 4 years ago
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That's a different matter. I'm merely here when there's "something wrong on the internet"[1]. My job is done and I can change back into my normal clothes. If only phone booths were still a thing...

[1] https://xkcd.com/386/

(And, of course, the really nasty tracking that happens when you click on comment links here is another reason to use an ad blocker. Better to cut and past it into your browser.)

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RobD | 4 years ago
0 likes

In a weird way that I'm slightly ashamed of, I quite like those shoes of Adam Blythe.

The new indoor ones might be a good idea if they're not too expensive, although the indoor cycling market seems to have a lot of people who are willing to spend a whole lot on equipment, even more so than outdoor cyclists, so who knows.

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jackseph | 4 years ago
2 likes

I've had a pair of Nike Poggio's for over a decade. Still wear them about once a week. They are starting to show their age, but are stupidly light and very comfortable. Great shoes.

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Kendalred | 4 years ago
2 likes

That would make a great triathlon shoe if the sole were more orthodox - good ventilation, a rear loop and a speedy velcro closure.

Sorry, yes, I said the T word...I'll get me wetsuit...

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CygnusX1 replied to Kendalred | 4 years ago
0 likes

Off with his head!

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slappop replied to Kendalred | 4 years ago
1 like

Flippers with cleats. You heard it here first.

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