We have to admit that the blue and orange of our test Mavic Crossrides wouldn't be our first choice – but thankfully other options are available. Beneath the colourful exterior is a sturdy trail shoe that works well on the bike and makes light work of hike-a-bike sections.
The sole is stiff, meaning there’s little loss of power thanks to fore-aft or torsional flex, but it’s not so stiff that it’s hard to walk in. The sole has an aggressive Contragrip tread that works well in most conditions, and with an open-ended cleat channel, clipping in with this shoe is nice and easy.
The upper is light and flexible, with a wide tongue and decent spacing between lace loops. Getting them on and off is a mostly faff-free experience – this is also aided by handy heel and tongue loops. The Velcro strap adds security and keeps the laces in check easily, though laces are annoyingly prone to catching on the Velcro.
Inside there’s an orthotic insole, which offers reasonable arch support, but we found the lump at the outside of the foot a bit weird, especially off the bike. Heel hold is reasonable, if not great, but tighter laces help. Toe protection is again good, if not amazing.
