Trivent Sport- Women's

Review by Jen Hamilton

The Details     •    Stiff injection-molded and glass-reinforced sole with generous vent ports at   the front and rear: 5.0 stiffness index     •    Performance-enhancing BG features in the outsole and footbed     •    Large heel pull for easy entry and faster shoe changes in transitions     •    Arch-mounted webbing loop facilitates pre-mounting shoes in pedals with rubber bands (holding crank arms parallel to ground and shoes flat) for faster transitions     •    Tri-specific 2-strap closure with open tongue for ventilation     •    Open-air mesh for maximum ventilation     •    Fits 2-bolt SPD and 3-bolt cleat systems     •    Approximate weight: 295g (1/2 pair size 42) Retail $100

The Experience
Fast on, fast off. These cycling shoes are meant for speed all around. The loop facilities made the 'rubber band trick' a lot easier to utilize. I've seen other cycling shoes that have made small adjustments to accommodate triathlon, but the Trivent makes it clear that the designers began the process at the drawing board with triathletes in mind. The five prominent drains on the bottom, combined with the open air mesh on the upper and drains throughout, provide fantastic Ventilation. So good, in fact that I completely forgot to notice when my feet dried out during my last race. In my early season races, I did have to employ the use of toe warmers to keep from freezing my toes, but the comfort level of the shoe made it worth my while.

I was slightly concerned that the over-sized heel pull loop would cause rubbing, but I had no problems at all. They've done a good job of finding a material that is stiff enough to be useful in transition, but soft enough to keep from being an irritation while cycling. In fact, all the seams and edges that come in contact with your bare foot, have been covered well to prevent irritation of any kind.

The feel of the shoe was light and stiff, providing a good, strong platform for my foot. They run a bit more narrow than my other cycling shoes, so make sure you're paying attention to any numbness in your toes. Loosening the straps was all I needed to fix the issue for me, but if you're going to purchase a high-end cycling shoe like the Trivent, I would make sure to try it on before you purchase. Overall, the Trivent is a superb choice; I highly recommend this shoe to anyone looking for a tri-specific shoe.

(Click to enlarge photos)

Trivent Expert- Men's

Review by Gelder Lewis

The Details     •    Ergonomic BG footbed is fully perforated for ventilation and drainage     •    Shoehorn-style heel pull and ultra wide main strap for fast shoe changes in transitions     •    Arch mounted webbing loop facilitates pre-mounting shoes into pedals     •    Replaceable heel tread with internally recessed bolts     •    3-bolt cleat pattern fits Shimano SPD-SL, Look, Time and Speedplay Retail $170

The Experience
In just 2 events this shoe has given me the fastest transitions I have ever had.  This shoe is exactly what you want for your next event. At first glance I thought that surely these shoes would be lacking in support and structure because they are so light.  It only took a couple rides to feel really good about these shoes. The build out has 2 Velcro straps (a big strap around the ankle and the small strap around the toe). The big strap can be left open with the strap pulled all the way to the end. There is a stop at the end of the strap leaving a nice piece to grab for quick adjustments.  The whole strap rests securely leaving fine tuning in the toe box.  The adjustments around the toe are really easy because the fit is so good.  The fit of the shoe is so secure that I released the Velcro and was still able to hustle through transition and pull them off without running barefoot through the area. There is no tongue in the shoe. This is the way that it vents  the shoe on top. Because there is no tongue it is easy to pull the shoe from the heel with one hand and then pull the strap with the same hand.  On the bottom there is a vent that allows drainage in the toe in front of the cleat.  This vent system keeps the shoe dry and light.  The Trivent expert has loops on the back that make slipping your heel in easy.  This is quick whether you start with your shoes clipped into your  bike or step in and run with the shoes on to the mount area.  There are small loops for putting elastics in the heel to hold the shoe in place by the chain stay.  This shoe air conditions very well with mesh layers through the shoe.  I personally have a wide foot.  My width is size E. This show feels like it was made custom for me.

For more information about Specialized products go to: www.specialized.com