Price Paid:
$104.00
at gottaridebikes.com Favorite Ride:
up and down and all around Bike Setup:
BMC Streetfire-SRAM RIVAL (2009), Xero Wheels, 3T cockpit/seatpost, Speedplay pedals, Aspide saddle, VDO 1.0+ computer, Jagwire cables. Summary:
I was mildly hesitant about this shoe. For about 5 or 6 years, I have been riding Diadors shoes exclusively. I've narrow feet and a high arch. My Diadora have always fit pretty perfect. But I wanted something new, inexpensive, nice looking, breathable, good fit, stiff, and quality construction. That is a very lethal combination to "inexpensive" in the world of cycling shoes. Can I get an 'Amen!'?
I tried a high end pair of TIME shoes before the Mavic's. If you have narrow feet, stay away from TIME! If you have feet shaped liked overstuffed snausages, buy TIME.
Anyway, I stumbled across a review of the Mavic's. It was a decent review. What drew me in (other than the national color of those involved in overt attempts to be stylish in cycling, white)was the talk arrow narrow profile. Sweet heaven! These shoes are a godsend for those of us with narrow feet. The shoes are snug but not binding. As always, for me, a 2 velcro strap/ratchet buckle are an excellent retention combo to measure out a personalized fit level. Considering my high arch, the velcro straps are indespinsable in relieving a top foot, hot spot on long rides.
The ratchet helps immensely in securing the heel (this is a true necessity for this shoe's low profile). I have not experienced any slippage on: hot days, long rides, out of the saddle climbing.
The sole is stiff. I didn't experience any real flex or perceived loss of power. But I believe a thicker/stiffer sole lends more to comfort. I may not feel power loss in transferring power to the pedal. My gauge is a quicker feeling of foot fatigue over time. It's negligible at worst. The Avenir is a comfortable shoe in the hottest of weather. I was concerned that the lack of obvious venting (compared to Diadora) would work against me in 97F degree weather at about 70% humidity. The Avenir provides good air flow. The keys here are the synthetic/mesh material upper combined with sole venting. It performs nicely.
The ability to clean up this shoe is a GREAT bonus. It's white (MAVIC offers a black, also) so cleaning is a concern. I have been caught out in the rain twice and ridden in some wet conditions. In all instances, the shoe cleaned up beautifully with warm, soapy water. By comparison, the very first time my white Diadoras got dirty; I couldn't return the luster. This is a solid shoe. If you want ultra light weight, exotic materials, or show off status, look elsewhere. If you want a great looking, good fitting, stiff, quality shoe for not a lot of dough, buy this shoe. I will be ordering the black pair for winter riding. Strengths:
They are true to size, if not, a tad long. The combination of good charateristics and an affordable price make this shoe unbeatable in my book. Weaknesses:
Perhaps a stronger heel cup to increase the feel of connectivity. Maybe a thicker/stiffer sole? Similar Products Used:
Diadora, Specialized, TIME 
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