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Specialized
El Gato Sport
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Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$77.00 | | Purchased At: | D'Ornellas (1997) | | Strengths: | Better then using running shoes with platform pedals. Dual velcro, roomier then Euro makers, colour, price, hled up well to a little mud and a 10min rain soaking (as in no damage to suede) and great for cold winter rides with thicker socks on. | | Weaknesses: | In hot summer months with thin socks on it feels a little wide on my feet, not 3 velcro straps (but it's enrty level),
no toe spikes (El Gato - "the cat" needs teeth, no?). | | Similar Products Used: | None as these are my first clipless shoes, but I still have and use them today. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek Fuel 90 Disk, 1996 GT Ricochet. | | Bottom Line: | For the first set of clipless shoes ever they are great. The price was a bit steep at $100/CAN in 1997. But as I wanted to upgrade my stock pedals on my 1996 GT Ricochet (platform with cage and straps) to clipless and the mtb magazine ads for Airwalks were in a green colour (and I really liked them but could not afford)I got these. The width is great for thicker socks on cold weather rides. A bit wide for hot summer rides. Plenty of toe space, no heel cup, pity. Wide velcro straps in excellent condition today.
Held up great in a little mud and after being caught out in a "freak" 10 min rain. Wish they came with "El Gato fangs/toe spikes". Luckily I walk over very little painted/coated cement or concrete surfaces in the buildings I live in, but I have had a few minor slips on stairs.
Bottom Line: A great "entry level" clipless shoe. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a
from Jefferson City, MO
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Cheap, Functional, Bombproof | | Weaknesses: | I have no excuse to talk my wife into me getting a new pair. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Level Betty, Marzocchi Z1 CR, XTR, Race Face, blah, blah... what's this have to do with the shoes? | | Bottom Line: | I've had these shoes a long time! Stress on that long time portion. I've never had any kind of footwear last this long. I've been through countless creeks, sank into mud, you name it, these shoes have done it. The funny thing is, they still work and feel great! I highly recommend these shoes to anyone. Why spend more if you don't have to? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John G
a Cross Country Rider
from Greensburg
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Forbes State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good price. Look good. Mine are a subdued Grey, Black w/Red S. They seem to be lasting. No bad wear. | | Weaknesses: | Didn't fit quite out of the box. But, with a couple inserts, they are truly sweet. Bottom of my foot gets wet quite easily. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a. First set of clipless. | | Bike Setup: | 98 Trek 920 (steel is real), 98 Manitou SX-R, Nashbar pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I got my shoes from Nashbar with a set of Nashbar pedals for under $60 (to my door). If you are new to going clipless, look at this shoe from Nashbar & get their pedals too.
I have ridden about 500 miles offroad in these things. I have raced in them several times. No problems. Great bargain. (And you don't get arrested for wearing clown shoes.) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DaWobbler
a Downhiller
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This is soooo simple..
Attaches feet to pedal
Forget about feet
| | Weaknesses: | Wife wont let me wear em while we're doing it. | | Bottom Line: | Simply put, these shoes are an exceptional VALUE, note the value word. No, they dont have a heel cup, yes, the cleat area is slick (Buy a set of Times and/or stop missing the clip), yes there are stiffer soles available for substantially more money No, you can not run on asphalt in them, they are not track shoes and Yes they have that funny little metal thingy that refuses to grip on concrete. Gosh they only lasted Two seasons?!?!? Please.... These shoes work, period, you put them on, you ride, and then you throw them in the back of the truck. They fit well, even wide feet or big sock people, they last forever, want em tight? Yank on the laces. Want em loose? Throw the laces away. And on top of all that, they're ridiculously cheap and they're not painted in neon.
Go now and sin no more! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GirlOfDoom
a Cross-Country Rider
from Calgary AB
Date Reviewed: December 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Powderface | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
They work
Cheap | | Weaknesses: |
Velcro straps wore out after less than a year
They're SLIIIIIIIPPEERRYYYY!!! | | Similar Products Used: |
None (these are my first clipless shoes) | | Bike Setup: |
98 Fuji Thrill, alum. frame, Indy S shocks (I'm selling it by the way, it's a piece of junk) | | Bottom Line: | These shoes are sooooo slippery to walk in!!! They've dumped me on my butt more than once. Also after less than a year of use, the velcro straps are losing their power! I know I ride everything I own really hard, but jeez!!! I'll give them two stars tho, because they work and they're cheap. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Giordana
a Racer
from Texas
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Hill Country Natural Area | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
looks, stiffness, velcro straps | | Weaknesses: |
none yet | | Bike Setup: |
Bianchi Eros road bike, Wellgo clipless | | Bottom Line: | I use this shoe on my road bike in training and I like it. I got it at my LBS for 28 bucks--I believe they are the 96 version on a closeout. They fit very well and work good on my Wellgos. On the rare times I have to walk my bike, they walk just fine. I would recommend them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Chaprnka
a Cross-Country Rider
from E. Lansing MI
Date Reviewed: December 26, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
:Low cost
:Not to flashy | | Bottom Line: | I bought these as my intro pair of shoes. So, far, after two years, they still kick ass. Simple two strap design, nice stiff sole, cool looking. Great for beginers. I am moving to something with a little tighter fit. But i would recomend these beauties to everyone. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross-Country Rider
from Redford, NI
Date Reviewed: October 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Price ($50) | | Weaknesses: |
Color is OK | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Trek 930
Rock Shox Jett T2
Secialized Clipless
Bontrager, Seat Tires, and wheels/Hubs | | Bottom Line: | First pair of clipless shoes and I would have to say they are great no problems at all they have improved my riding tremendously. much better acceleration and climbing ability. Of course they are not walking shoes but the give good traction off the bike for walking in thr trails if need be, kinda ackward on real hard surfaces though. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross-Country Rider
from NB, CANADA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Rockwood Park Single Tracks | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Bottom Line: | I basically agree with everything most people are saying. Unless you get your foot properly aligned on the pedal, you will slip right off of it. Other than that, the shoes fit very well (I have wide feet and they adjusted nicely after a few rides), they are comfortable and have stood up to whatever I have thrown at them. I would recommend these shoes to anyone. They aren't hard on the $$ either! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT ROCK
a Cross-Country Rider
from Drumheller, AB
Date Reviewed: June 17, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Price
Looks
Fit
Durability
Lightweight | | Weaknesses: |
Slippery sole
Suede leather
Color (green - ugh!) | | Similar Products Used: |
Answer Accelerator, Diadora Jalapeno II | | Bottom Line: | Good shoes, but suede is not a good off-road shoe material - doesn't like water or mud. I have these shoes rigged for road use 'cause I can't stand pansy road shoes. Aren't many shoes out there that can match this shoe for the price. If they fit, buy 'em. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yummy
a Cross-Country Rider
from VA
Date Reviewed: June 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Price, they work just fine. | | Weaknesses: |
Slippery, tough to walk in. | | Similar Products Used: |
None. Never tried riding clipless on campus before! | | Bike Setup: |
GT Avalanche, Time ATAC Alium pedals. | | Bottom Line: | For someone who doesn't care too much for clipless pedals in the first place, these shoes do the job. But Paul from CO made a good point...they ARE slippery just around the cleat area. That is their only significant shortcoming. Thus, if you try to press down on the pedal and the front of your cleat isn't guided in properly, your foot will slide off the pedal as if it were oiled on the bottom. When wearing these shoes, you gotta make sure your cleat is properly placed/guided into the pedal before exerting force to click in. Then again, the velcro works just fine, the soul is stiff enough, and the shoe itself is comfortable; all for $60. Unless you're a racer, what more can you ask for in a shoe? 5 chilis. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DRay
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ellensburg, WA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Taneum | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Cheap! Comfortable! Easy in/Easy out! Great traction! | | Weaknesses: |
Compared to riding in hiking boots or BMX shoes, none. | | Bike Setup: |
Trek 7000, Manitou FS, Wellgo 96a pedals | | Bottom Line: | As my first pair of clipless biking shoes, these were not only the cheapest, but the most comfortable I tried in the sub-$90 range. Velcro and laces? Not sure why, but they seem to work great together. Maybe I'll take out the laces and see how it works. Stays on the pedals, makes climbing a breeze, and even grips great off the bike. If you're thinking about making the switch to clipless, this is the shoe to do it with. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ferday
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary,Alberta
Date Reviewed: April 25, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Velcro
(laces suck) | | Bottom Line: | Good shoes, stiff sole, hard to walk in. But I guess you're not walking in bike shoes.
comfortable and grippy off the bike.Would be nice to be able to use cleats though. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john walsh
a Cross-Country Rider
from maryland
Date Reviewed: April 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
wakefirnd trails | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
good price comfortable, especially in the toe bx | | Weaknesses: |
no laces | | Similar Products Used: |
el gato comp | | Bike Setup: |
stumpy hardtail, time pedals, marzocchi fork | | Bottom Line: | very good shoe for the dollar, that have taken loads of abuse and work well with a variety of pedals | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross-Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
balanced rock | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
comfortable
laces AND velcro!
look good
easy to walk in | | Weaknesses: |
hard to get on
slippery sole around cleat
velcro straps are too long
sole a bit too soft | | Bottom Line: | Good shoe. Comfortable. The sole is a bit soft, but the big problem is that if you step on your pedal and don't get clipped in right away, your shoe might slip off because the sole around the cleat is smooth as glass. They have good treads for walking otherwise, but this is dangerous. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a weekend warrior
from Colorado USA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
These shoes will work better than any others in the price category. Very roomy, and very comforatable-I feel like I could go anywhere with these shoes. On the other hand, I know that I am wearing them when it comes to the performance of my bike. This is kind of like an American $20k sports car- works and feels fine, but it wont give you the performance of Ferrari-like high end shoes will. Great for starting out, and I found they work well with most types of pedals. But I am going to have to buy more expensive shoes-I want that performance, even at the sacrifice of some comfort. 5 chilis cause you can't beat it for the $. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KP
a weekend warrior
from chico
Date Reviewed: February 16, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil M
a weekend warrior
from Pasadena, CA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
For the money, these shoes are untouchable. They're extremely comfortable, easy to forget about when you're riding (a good thing in a shoe), and the velcro seems to hold up reasonably well even when wet. The one thing I would have liked to see is a stiffer sole. Yes, the fancier Specialized shoes offer that, but they don't seem to fit as well. Go figure. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a racer
from san vito, italy
Date Reviewed: February 12, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
These are good shoes for the catagory they are sold under. If you think you are the next world champion even though you still race sport, then by all means you probably should buy a $200 pair of italian shoes. But if you are looking for a great deal on a good pair of shoes then these are for you. They have stiff soles, roomy toe box, and don't look like they came out of a Flash Gordon movie. The feature I like best about the shoes is the roomy toe box. In the winter you can fit a thicker pair of socks under and still have plenty of room down under for circulation. With the initial cost of Mt Biking so high a product this reasonable is a welcome sight for new bikers. Specialized makes a good product in general, so when my shoes started giving out they were the first shoe I looked to for the replacement. I just placed in a sport race for the first time, and these shoes were plenty good to get me there. On the way are the Specialized Ultimate Mountain Shoe, so we will see how they are. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a cross-country rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 10, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had the shoes for a few months now, I'm very happy with the fit, and they're very comfortable to ride in as the sole is so stiff. I find they're fine for the walking you have to do on rides. On the other hand, I really have trouble clipping in despite also having Specialized pedals. It seems that the tread is too lumpy, or maybe the space around the cleat isn't quite big enough. One of these days I'll have a look. The only other minor problem is they fill up with water on rainy days, but I suppose that's the price you pay for not wearing gumboots. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Breeezy Willis
a cross-country rider
from Westby, WI
Date Reviewed: February 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
These shoes are a killer deal. I have ridden mine for two years and they are still holding up fine. The only problem is when you are forced to hike your heel tends to come up out of the shoe just a little. They look cool, and I practically live in them each summer. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nate
a weekend warrior
from canada vic
Date Reviewed: January 28, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
shoe seem alright except clipping in and out compareded to my nike poo bahs is occward hade theses shoe for a week very nice after you get clipped in do not walk into a coffee shop with these on or you slip an brake your arss | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Douglas
a cross-country rider
from Scottsdale, Az.
Date Reviewed: January 27, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
These shoes are great! They seem to be the perfect mate with my Shimano
747 clipless pedals. I love the fact that they are stiff, it really helps to generate
good pedal strokes which equals SPEED.
Pros: Stiff, Great looking, fairly comfortable (I wouldn't run in them or anything),
Inexpensive
Cons: I, unlike a lot of reviewers have not had a problem with a lack of heel
cup, but I'm sure I'll find out.The best thing about my shoes are the fact that I have have big feet which
translated into me getting them for $29.00 through Cambriabike.com on sale.
Overall, highly recommended! 5 flaming turds, horses, or chilis (pick one) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a cross-country rider
from Bethlehem, PA
Date Reviewed: January 18, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I thought these shoes were pretty good until I cracked one of the soles right behind the cleat. I was jumping a set of stairs when I heard a crack right as I landed. They are pretty much useless now because the one shoe has no stiffness. It flexes when I pedal. I had them for about a year and a half. I think the extreme cold made the plastic brittle. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
madEG
a cross-country rider
from Philadelphia
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought these honestly because they didn't look as cheesy as mosy bike shoes do... Now that I have had them for a while I can (again) honestly say that they are pretty swell. The heel stays pretty well put, although some slippage does occur. They seem to be wearing well, and have no signs of meeting an early grave. There is something very attractive about a shoe that works well for so cheap...and that you dont worry about taking though mud, like a $200 pair of sidi's... They climb well when portaging, but I wish they had the laces that that the new (1999) brown ones accept... I will probably buy another pair once these die... Had them about a year now, and they are still intact, although it looks like the sole is cracking around the front near the toe. For the money (I paid $60ish) you cant beat 'em. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
promo9
a cross-country rider
from Pleasanton, CA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Just got the '99 model. Good shoe for the price, not much competition in the sub-$70 range. Sole is stiff. Heel cup still causes heel slippage when walking. Cleats are improved...decent in mud.
'99 models are larger than '98 in same size. Width's are larger, making it easier for those, like me, with wider feet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a cross-country rider
from Kansas City, KS
Date Reviewed: September 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These a probably the worst shoes I have ever worn. The lack of heel cup causes quite a bit of slippage. The soles are really hard so they don't allow any traction when walking. They don't come with or have the option of putting soccer style cleats in the front. They were inexpensive though. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
squish
a racer
from Redfield, South Dakota
Date Reviewed: August 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are my first set of clipless pedals and shoes. You definetly do not want to spend a lot of time walking in these things. But they grip good in mud, and the mud squish's out of the treads as you go but they still pack up nicely. They also fit my narrow feet real well. I use them with the Icon Soul Mates that came with me Big Sur and the pedals stinking rock although i don't have anything to compare them too i haven't had any trouble with them, in mub or other wise. This shoe is a good shoe for the money and for a begginer. I would also highly reccomend the Icon pedals to anyone who wants to go clipless.five flaming chillies | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jamie
a racer
from nova scotia
Date Reviewed: July 12, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just got these shoes and some norco axome pedals. FIrst thing: these shoes are not good for walking (stiff sole) but i did not buy them for that. Riding with shimano shoes you can feel the pedal a lot I hate that. With these shoes that never happenes. They also grip awasome in the mud. They look sort of like normal shoes too. They fit me good and feel fine. The metal plate where you put the cleat in is not the strongest though. I stripped one hole (like some one else in here) but just turned the plate around and every thing was fine. Tonight I ajusted the tension on my pedals and got my foot stuck in them. I could lift my bike up by the shoe. It took me and my friend to wrench it out of the pedal. The cleat was still fine! So far I love these shoes. 5 burning horses | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin S.
a cross-country rider
from Dallas, Tx
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are my first clipless shoes so I don't have much to compare to but they seem to be a good value. The only problems I have noticed so far is the lack of a heel cup. If I tighten the straps down so that my heel doesn't slosh around the metal strap loops dig into the top of my foot. They are very comfortable once you get used to the heel movement. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Heiko
a cross-country rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Hi, I got my Euro Sport (grey-red) together with Ritchey Clickies for about 110 $.
I wear size 11 and it's very easy for me to get into. they're comfortable, stiff and they give me a good performance. And at least, they don't look like a parrot.
The best combination for Clipless Beginner , Specialized & Ritchey. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Ro
a cross-country rider
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Bought these as my first pair of clipless, so I had no point of reference. But
after putting many miles on them, here's my verdict:
Pros: Great looking
Stiff sole
Inexpensive Cons: Not a great fit (ie. Lots of play)
Slick sole not good for walking.
They were fine for starting out. I recently bought a pair of
Shimano Terrazoids from REI. They are waaaaay better. But they also
cost me $100. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cjm
a cross-country rider
from Coquitlam, BC
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are some pretty good shoes for the price. However, they are in the lower end of the price spectrum so they could definitely use some improvements. Overall, if you plan to do serious riding, I would recommend trying to spend a little more for a better shoe.Strong points: comfortable shoe, stiff sole, look pretty good
Complaints: the heel gets mushy after some riding (there is no plastic cup around the heel), mediocre tread on the sole, material not very weather proof | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dewey
a cross-country rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: May 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This shoes have been working out great. They are very durable, and the tread on the sole works great for pushing up hills(of course I never have to do that..lol) The sizing is a little off... they are tighter near the front of the shoe than I would like, and are sometimes difficult to put on after they have air dried.All in all though, a great shoe for the price!Four chilis... five if they were a little less tight. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik van Lier
a cross-country rider
from Zeist, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Yep, here an other one who lost the cleats after installing. Simply buy original (shimano) cleats and go for it! Your bikedealer have to give new cleats!! I do have sleepy feet after a long ride, but I usually have that with any shoe, I think that´s my weight on my feet and the power in my legs ;))5 chili´s | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
red
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I would not recomment these shoes. Although they are super stiff, they don't appear to be durable. When I got them home and tried to put the cleats on them, one of the plates stripped without any significant pressure. Although extremely annoyed and dissappointed, I thought no big deal and turned the plate around to utilize the other pair of holes. The cleat went on fine. Now, after about 2 months use, the stitching is coming out on the sides.I owned a pair of Ground Controls a long time ago that lasted 3 years. I ended up getting rid of them just to have something new to look at. The stiches never even hinted at coming out. I figured that the Sports would last and I could save myself some money. Now I wish I had spent a little more, bought a more durable shoe, and saved money in the long run. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred Svinth
a cross-country rider
from Austin, Texas
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I thought these shoes were a good deal when I bought them, but within a year of purchase the sole has broken at the clip points and delaminated from the toe of the shoe. Though I am a large rider, I expected better. Also the traction on these shoes suck and in muddy conditions cliping in seemed a bit overly difficult even for SPD's). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Jautz
a weekend warrior
from Campbell, CA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are my first pair of cycling shoes and I'm generally happy with them. They are comfortable, priced reasonably, and I haven't had a problem with my heel lifting. I did have a problem with the bottom plate becoming loose when I was trying to disengage one shoe from stubborn clips. Now there is slop in the bottom plate on one shoe. The shoes work well, and are a good value for the price, but I'm sure there are better shoes if you'll pay the $$$$. 3 stars because they're cheap and comfortable, but still a loose plate after 2 rides. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mart Molnar
a weekend warrior
from Ortonville, Mi.
Date Reviewed: April 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are my 1st clipless shoes and I bought them because they were the most comfortable, not the lowest price, which was a bonus. I wanted to spend less than $100.00 since these are my first pair, and it just so happens that these had the best fit and comfort. I really like them so far, but they are not the best for walking or hiking, but I didn't buy them for that. If you like to get off the bike and walk or hike alot, look at a different shoe. I like to get off and walk a little now and then to loosen up and stretch out, and these shoes are fine for that. Most important, they are comfortable when riding and give good support, I hardly notice them, they fit like a glove. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
smarty
a cross-country rider
from bellingham wa
Date Reviewed: April 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, the shoes fit really well, other than that goofy tongue. I was really frustrated with the space between the sides of my cleats (Ritchey pedals) and the soles. After many pissed off rides of not being able to get into the pedals I hacked away at the sole the make more clearance around the sides. Maybe it helped, maybe it didn't (could've been mental) but it seems easier to get into the pedals. Hack away if you have'em, but they're decent shoes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Bridges
a weekend warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: April 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i thought these shoes performed well and they are a good deal to. The shoes are very comfortable. Only complaint i have is the space for the cleat was to small. Still i thought is was good. It is also sort of hard to clip in. The sole is ultra stiff so it is a very efficent shoe. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Lipari
a weekend warrior
from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Date Reviewed: April 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These were my 1st pair of cycling shoes and Im delighted with them...
In the beginning I found that you have to undo the velcro straps completely to slip into them easily. There comforatable and just a great deal.. I liked these shoes so much that I went a purchased the comp road version for which I'm also very happy....
For the price there 5 STAR | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vettmo
a cross-country rider
from Oakland, CA
Date Reviewed: April 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I find these to be not that great. I had read favorable reviews of them
in some of the magazines as being a good deal. I bought a pair. 1) They have
no laces, so the fit is sloppy on the foot. I don't care for that. You can
get the laces in the next model up (Comp), but they charge you more. 2) The
footbed is narrow, as someone else sez. Makes it tough to walk around in,
particularly inside the house to the front door and down stairs and over rocky
or scree terrain -- foots want to roll in them.
3) The tread or sole just stinks.
Where's the traction when shoving the bike uphill in the mud? None. Again,
you can go up in price to the Comp to get the soccer studs, but that's more
expensive, and how much could that help? 4) I find I don't get quick positive
cleat engagement for quick starts -- the sole doesn't have a well-designed
recess for the cleats which makes for easy mating to the pedal. I tend to
grind around on it to clip in more than my other shoes.
5) It's stiff. Oh, right, that's good. Good and stiff.
6) There's no heel cutout where your achilles tendon sits at the back,
so again, when you're off the bike, they f*ing hurt you in the heel.
Can I get a padded ankle collar along with snug heel cup?
7) I find the same problem noted below with the heel cup so that on standing
on uphill climbs or sprints, I slop out of the heel. Not good.
8) I think they look pretty cool. Good color scheme and straps.
9) I get a little toe numbness with them as they pinch the front of my
foot. That's not necessarily the shoe's fault, though.There must be other people out there like me who feel that biking shoes are
overpriced and most have lousy traction off the bike on real world trails
which contain slimy uphill mudslides, scree, boulder fields, death cookie patches, and so on. Overall, not as good a deal as I had hoped.
I think I paid $55 to $60 for them.The best pair of shoes I've had was the Nashbar MTB shoes. Butt-ugly, but
laces with cover, good stiff sole, comfy heel and the good heel fit laces get
you, good hiking traction, good cleat engagement, and cheap. Lasted about
1.5 to 2 seasons before I wore holes in the toes and wore down the soles too
far. Bit hot, though. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a cross-country rider
from Houston
Date Reviewed: April 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great shoes they are cheap, durable, and good looking. The only thing I might do is punch holes for laces as other readers have suggested. My heal only slips slightly. I'd buy another pair and would recomend them to my friends and anyone interested in a cheap durable shoe. Have fun . | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a weekend warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Thought they were a good deal, on the second ride was trying to unclip, stripped he shoe and fell. Not impressed. Seem like good shoes other than that but considering damage done to the bike and the fact that I was almost run over, have to give the shoes 1 chilie | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DonP
a cross-country rider
from Carlisle, PA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have been riding the Sports since later summer/early fall and here are my impressions of this affordable shoe:
1. Heel cup allows lots of heel slippage when walking, especially uphill.
2. Runs wide for my size 9 regular foot, and quickly stretched out even more -- but this made it a great winter shoe because I could wear thick socks with a comfy fit.
3. Sole is stiff for great pedal transfer and comfort standing on pedals, but it is quite narrow (almost like a road shoe) and lets the shoe roll over to the side easily when walking or stabbing a foot in technical situations. The sole is also slippery on rocks, logs etc., especially in the wet. I also had to trim quite a bit of the inner tread away before Shimano cleats would work properly.
4. I'm not sure exactly why, but is the most difficult shoe I've ever worn for getting clipped into the pedal in technical situations. Damned aggravating! Several of my riding buddies have the Comps (essentially same sole) and they have the same complaints with clipping in.
5. Cleat mounting plates in the sole stripped out before cleats could be secured sufficiently.
6. Seems well made and durable despite the above flaws, especially for the price.
7. Appearance is subjective, but these are a good looking shoe IMHO, in an earthy kinda way.
As a performance shoe I can only give em 3 chilies because of the heel cup slop and narrow, slippery sole, but they probably deserve 4 chilies when price is factored in. Not a good choice for racers or those who ride seriously in slippery, technical regions. Gonna try Diadora or Sidi next. Any input?
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron Adame
a weekend warrior
from Tumon, Guam
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great shoes, have them for about 8 months now of hard use, wet and dry, on just about any terrain. They even held up when I crashed hard and dislocated my elbow, even got some compliments from the pretty nurses at the hospital where I was taken to. It's inexpensive, durable and it's a good value. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a weekend warrior
from Mount Vernon, WA
Date Reviewed: February 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Bought these shoes last year. After a full season of hard riding, they've held up very well! This winter, I added a heel pad to reduce the slipping, and punched holes for laces. On my next ride, these shoes gripped my feet perfectly. Not a bad way to improve on an already affordable shoe. Four peppers for having to make the improvement myself. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alexei Pavlov
a cross-country rider
from Santa Ana, CA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got'em for 39.99 at a local bikeshop, The shoe seems litgh, and i like the stiff shoe, the OnlY weak points are. I wear size 12.51. Shoe seems hard to get in to.
2.My heel slipps .lask skdjkldj laskjdlaskjd laskjd alskjd alsjdalksjdlkasd dklasjklasd jlkdja ljas ask askjaskl jsa lksj dklas djaskljd aslkjdlksd ksl dlasjdlaskdkasljdalk ll[ laskjlkl alskjdl lkj lj lkj lkj lkjlas d | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yorgason
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: December 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the el gato sport. They are light(200g less than most MTB shoes), comfortable and perform well. My heel slips a little in the shoe when walking up hill.
If you don't have to look like a billboard when riding your bike, these are pretty damn good shoes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a weekend warrior
from Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, I got my El Gato Sport shoes in February to use on my road bike with new SPD road pedals. Since then, I've also been putting lots of miles on a MTB. These shoes have been through about 4 centuries, many 50-80 milers on the road,
as well as many 30+ mile off-road rides and 3 races including the Leadville 100. Toss in countless 20+ mile road and 15+ mile off-road workouts. I must say that I am pleased with the shoes thus far. I have had no problems with them whatsoever. They have been a good purchase for me, but of course YMMV.The only gripe I have is that for the times I've had to hike-a-bike up nasty terrain, they are not real nice because of the stiff sole. But then, I don't want a shoe that supple.I'm was going to give them four, but I can't think of any real negatives. They perform excellent for the price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a weekend warrior
from NY
Date Reviewed: November 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I just purchased the El Gato Sports and I use them with Scott Twin Cam pedels. They work great. The cleat was very easy to install and I hope the shoe holds up. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Flemming
a weekend warrior
from Yokohama
Date Reviewed: September 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
OK OK OK I know don`t by cheap, but I did think Specialized stood for quality! I WAS WRONG!
I bought my EL GATO sport less than a month ago and only used them three times
and what happens. While putting them on the shoe come apart. The rind the velcro strap goes through
simply breaks off! The shoes have never been wet or used off road! This is the worst shoes I have ever used and all I
can say is that if you by shoes DON`T BY SPECIALIZED! NO flames if I could!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a cross-country rider
from South Florida
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
El Gato SportFirst off, these are the first and only clipless shoes I have ever owned
and I am using them with Wellgo 800 pedals. I don't have anything to
compare this setup to but I am pretty impressed with the shoes. The are
very light and extremely comfortable. I also like the fact that the
bottoms are very rigid and I have no problem clipping in in a hurry.
I only have 2 complaints and they are minor at this point. First, the velcro
closures could be a little longer and secondly, the angle of the top
metal loops that the straps go through are a little out of whack. Of
course everyones feet are different and perhaps my insteps are out of
whack and not the shoes, I'm not sure which. For about $60.00, they
are very good shoes and I would recommend them! 4 peppers | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Collier
a weekend warrior
from Seattle,WA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
El GATO SPORT
I Like the shoe but am having a problem on long rides with my feet going to
sleep. I did not have this problem before. Any suggestions???? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jethro Q. Walrustitty
a cross-country rider
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I just bought the el gato sport yesterday... they're really comfortable
and quite stiff. I had no problem attaching the cleat or clipping in
to my 535's. For now, I'm very happy with them. I'll post a review
at a later date commenting on their durability... but for now, 5
chili's! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CJ
a downhiller
from MN
Date Reviewed: June 28, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I got my El gato Sports on sale and thought they were great, until I tried to clip out like the third time and they stripped out and i fell. I have now stripped every insert and got them warrantied. If you buy them replace the inserts in the shoes and save some skin. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a cross-country rider
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: January 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I recently bought the El Gato Sport Shoes and Nashbar pedals. A great combination for the price. They have an ultra-stiff sole. They have a velcro closure instead of laces, and that helps. But the cleat attachment thingy WAS too small to screw in the cleats. I just used the one from my pedals, so that was no problem. They seem fairly durable. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a weekend warrior
from Honolulu,HI
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I just bought the El Gato sport shoe. Wow I finally a shoe that doesn't have 15 different colors on it. The price was definitly one of the strong selling points to me. At about $60 retail, I couldn't find another shoe that looked as good or didn't have just laces. The velcro straps are a little thin for my tastes and if only it had replacable soccer style cleats. These are excellent shoes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a weekend warrior
from High Desert, California
Date Reviewed: November 11, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I recently purchased the '97 Specialized El Gato Sport shoe and the wonderful Nashbar clipless pedals. The El Gato Sport is an extremely comfortable, well made shoe. The only problem I have with this shoe is the cleat retention nut assembly in the sole that attaches to the cleat does not extend down far enough to adequately thread the cleat to. I highly suggest removing the insole and replacing the cleat retention nut assembly with the one packaged with the clipless pedals. Don't end up stripping out the assembly and nut 5 miles into a ride like I did! It's bad news. | | Overall Rating: |
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