Over the past decade, Specialized has succeeded where many other bicycle brands have failed: marketing a successful line of shoes under the same brand name as their bikes. But Specialized didn’t just stamp their name on a shoe merely to expand their floor space at bike shops; rather, they created a new shoe from the sole up. Investing heavily in the “Body Geometry” fit, Specialized designed a line of shoes that’s become one of the premier names on the market.

The S-Works shoe is built on a solid foundation, a FACT (Functional Advanced Composite Technology) highmodulus carbon sole that boasts a unique Body Geometry feature. After conducting studies across the country on forefoot angulation, Specialized found that 88 percent of people have a varus angulation to their feet. To improve knee and ankle alignment, Specialized added a varus wedge to the sole. The angle of the wedge puts the big toe 1.5mm higher than the small toe in order to create a more natural pedal stroke. For the 12 percent that don’t need a varus wedge, Specialized offers an insert that goes under the insole to cancel out the 1.5mm angle.

The shoe features a Micromatrix synthetic upper that is pliable, comfortable, and, equally as important, easy to keep clean and looking good. The uppers and tongue are ventilated with metal mesh vents that look, and keep your feet, cool. For those who have a bit of girth to their feet, the S-Works toe box is on the roomy side, keeping things from being too cramped.

One of the premier features of the shoe is the Boa retention system (found on other brands as well). Two Boa dials use a braided steel wire to provide an even pressure across the entire top of your foot. The top Boa keeps your heel locked into the padded heel cup while the lower Boa pulls the braided wire through a figure-eight guide, comfortably locking your foot in place while distributing the pressure evenly.

We had been so focused on the S-Works Body Geometry features and Boa dials that we almost forgot about their weight. At 540 grams, they aren’t the lightest on the market; but are still on the light side, something we appreciated each and every pedal stroke. The Boa dials made mid-ride adjustments easy, enabling us to crank them down leading into the much-coveted townsign sprint. The only complaint with the Boa dials was when we got caught out in the rain. Once wet, the pliable rubber grip on the dials became slippery, making for a tough time trying to loosen themespecially with cold fingers.

The FACT carbon soles were stiff enough to give a good feel of power transfer during our hardest efforts, but they still kept our feet from suffering the dreaded hot spots on long rides. The shoe’s ample vents ensured enough breathability on our warmest spring days, but should still be able to keep our feet as comfortable as can be expected when the temps hit the triple digits.

The S-Works shoes are hard to beat when you compare weight, price, fit and performance (the Boa family starts at $150 for the Comp model). The Body Geometry feature is not a marketing gimmick, but a well-designed approach to a better-functioning and fitting shoe. Unless you’re stuck on having custom or European shoes, the S-Works should be one of the first shoes you consider when looking for your next pair of pedal pushers.

• The Boa provides a snug fit without pressure spots

• Boa dials can be hard to keep a grip on when wet

• Body Geometry features set the S-Works apart from other shoe brands

Price: $350

Weight: 540 grams (size 44)

Sizes: 38-48 (41.5-46.5 half sizes)

For more info: SPECIALIZED