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SubscribeLake CX401 Shoes
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 3:26pm by Andy Shen
Photographer:
Andy Shen I'd like to say I've been rockin' Lake's CX401's for the last ten months, but in reality all I've done is wear them while riding my bike, no rockin' included. And while I also failed to exhort anyone to hang loose with the clever use of hand gestures, I did manage to put in a fair bit of miles in all sorts of weather. In the interest of journalistic integrity I also threw in a couple of crashes.
I've only tried a few brands of shoes (Sidi, DMT, Diadora, Adidas, Spiuk), and I've never been in love with any of them. I decided the Lakes would be my ideal shoes because of its moldable sole and its 4 hole Speedplay driling, and they did not disappoint. (New to the U.S. Bonts share many of these same features).
The carbon fiber sole plate extends up and wraps around the heel. To mold the shoes simple toss one in a 400 degree oven, remove in 3-4 minutes when the temperature sensitive sticker turns black, put it on, and mold the shoe to your foot while wearing oven mitts. Lake suggests having an qualified shop employee do this, but I had to experience it for myself.
I prefer a good deal of arch support, so I worked that area of the sole up. I also pressed in the heel quite a bit, wrapping the sole tightly around my heel bone. Once i was done the shoe was about 3-4 mm narrower at the heel, and had a distinctively svelte shape. As molded, it takes a bit of effort to slip into the shoe. The tight heel cup keeps your foot from slipping on the upstroke, which eliminates the need to overtighten the closure.
After the first ride I decided I had been too aggressive with the left sole (it was biting into my arch), so back it went in the oven. One more ride and re-molding later I was satisfied. The instruction booklet says you can re-mold as many times as you like, but Lake's Chris Oloroso told me not to exceed eight trips to the oven. In the ten months since I've been conscious of discomfort on my feet on only two or three rides. You can't ask for much more from your shoes than blissful ignorance.
More of the Good
The insides of these shoes are clean and finished, so you can go without insoles if you choose for an even lower stack height.
These are one of the few shoes that offer Speedplay drilling. Speedplay lovers can lose the adapter plate and lower their saddles 2-3 milllmeters. And if you believe this, these shoes will bring you another step towards going backwards in time on a bike.
The Boa lacing system is simply wonderful. One knob tightens the whole shoe, and the pulley system distributes tension to ease hot spots. It's very easy to reach down and cinch it up a couple of clicks. The smooth upper makes these really easy to slip into shoe covers and booties.
Crashing
My main concern with these shoes was all that exposed carbon. Ten months later those doubts were put to rest. Normal wear will scuff up the soles, but the damage was purely cosmetic. I did, however, drag one shoe on the pavement pretty badly in a crash, leaving deeper scratches and separating a 1" piece of the upper from the sole. The scratches were painted over with nail polish and haven't worsened. The upper was reglued with 5 minute epoxy and has held fast since.
The Bad
At 325 grams per shoe they're light (size 45.5), but a far cry from the claimed 235 grams.
Due to the thickness of the soles, Speedplay's standard 11mm bolts are too short for these shoes. You'll need to use 15-6mm bolts or your cleats will not hold fast. Unfortunately Lake doesn't tell you about this, so I only figured it out after stripping out a few screws. You can pick up longer screws from your bike shop at an exhorbitant price as part of Speedplay's shim kit, or you can order them on the internets. Lake should ship these shoes with the necessary screws to save their customers the frustration. I was lucky that it was the screws and not the mounting plate that stripped.
Oh, and another thing. These babies will set you back $490, and apparently we're in a recession or something.
So...
These shoes are tight where they need to be, roomy where they don't. They're light, stiff, and pretty. They're the most comfortable shoes I've owned, and they can take a beating. $490 is a heckuva lot of money, but if you think of it as years of pain free riding, it's an investment that's easier to justify.
The Boa lacing system is fantastic. One knob tightens everything with no pressure points.
4 hole drilling means no adapter plate and low stack height.
Low stack height, narrow Q factor.
Molding can crack the clear coat a bit, revealing the texture of the carbon weave.
Once molded, the Lake's heel has a distinct 'V' shape, compared to a more typical 'U' shape.
The insides of the Lakes are finished, so you can go without the insoles if you want.
A crash separated the upper from the sole. It was reglued with 5 minute epoxy and has held fast.
The heel got scuffed up in the same crash. The scratches were painted over with nail polish.
The liner is coming unglued on one shoe, though that has no bearing on performance.
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Comments
Add a commentdo they fit a wide foot?
If you REALLY want to be sure you can come try mine.
Hah! 45.5 it is then!
I'd go 45.5, since my US size is 10 1/2. Confusing enough?
I wear a 43 in NW aerlite, nike poggio, and bont a1's. I tried on the lakes today and the closest fit was a 44.
So if my U.S. size is 11, the 45's s/b OK?
Thanks.
Why are Look Keo cleat screws made out of recycled beer cans or some other such soft material?
I'm 45, those 45.5's are a tad big. So I'm guessing the sizing is accurate.
Andy, how is the sizing of the Lakes - I hear they run small(?) You have 45.5's, what is your U.S. shoe size?
I'm thinking of getting the new CX236 model from the gettin' place...
Thanks!
If you want to sell shoes in this price you have to compete with BONT. The lakes dont even come close!
Hey Yellow shoe guy, one thing I do to my white shoes is spray some gore-tec protection spray on them when they're new. There are other similar type sprays to protect items from water, etc. (Scotch guard). Use it on your next pair of shoes no matter the maker, keeps them looking good longer.
Folks might also want to check out the Lake CX330C. They are a great pair of shoes. From my experience the shoes have been quite comfortable and stiff. The BOA closure, which wraps around the top of the foot and back of the heel, has a very uniform and firm feel. Pressure is evenly distributed over the top and back of the shoes, minimizing any heel and upper foot movement. At the same time, unlike other shoes I have owned, it allows considerable wiggle room around the toe box area. They are, without trying to sound like a cliche, unlike any other shoes I have owned. (Just as an aside, over the past 20+ years I have owned road and mtb shoes from Nike, Sidi, Specialized, DMT, Duegi, Lotto, Diadora, Shimano, Northwave, Avocet, Detto Pietro, Adidas and Look.) Oh, and they were on sale at Coloradocyclist.com and Nashbar.com for under $150 a pair not too long ago. They may not be as bling as Sidi or DMT, but who can argue with great fit and value?
My white CX330's, the predecessor to this shoe, turned yellow after my first ride in them. I called the company and they seemed to know what I was talking about and said it could happen if you leave the shoes out in the sun too long (?!)
Per their instructions I emailed them pictures, but they never responded and won't return my more recent calls. I'm not too impressed.
NORTHWAVE RULES LAKE DROOLS EMPIRE CYCLING TEAM YEAH!!
shoe review...how about a sock review? Then you can ...
Moved to Off Topic
Wow, that's how you write up a real shoe review. After you've used them so much they are a bit beat up, by then you get the real decider on if they are good or not. Too bad they'll probably change them one way or another for next year.
Moved to Off Topic
Moved to Off Topic
Once I switched to the longer screws the cleats haven't slipped once.
The rear third of the shoe is moldable from about half-way through the arch to the heel and up to the base of the achilles. As for the laces breaking, yes they can break though not typically with any more frequency than traditional laces. There was an issue with the '07 and '08 S-Works shoe where the cable routing took too sharp an angle running from one side of the upper to another and consequently had to much friction created, leading to the lace failure. We haven't actually had any instances of premature lace failure on the CX401 and the shoes that we have experienced this on were from our previous production facility. All of those shoes have since been replaced with newer production and has not been an issue any more than jammed Sidi buckles or worn out velcro. Furthermore, BOA has announced that they will warranty all of their parts for life. If there is an issue with any part that is not sewn into the shoe, individuals can contact BOA (www.boatechnology.com) directly for free replacement parts.
Chris, What part of the shoe is moldable? Is it from the arch to the heel or does the front part of the shoe mold as well?
the string will break. Ask anyone with the specialized boa. Lake and boa say they should outlast the shoe. Reality is they will break. You can get a new one but that will break too. Another major issue is that even with the longer screws you cannot tighten the cleat enough to prevent cleat movement without hindering engagement/release tension. Also, look at colo cyclist and current pics of sponsored riders. the "new" shoe has a velcro closure to supplement this previously adequate system. The shoe would be awesome if it weighed what they claim, had 3 bolts, three velcro straps, and cost 300 dollars!!!!!
While Andy has had good experiences in molding the shoes himself, we do recommend that you opt for the help of a second set of hands (if not an actual fitter) while the bike is in a training stand so the shape of your foot while in your riding position is accommodated. I wouldn't call it a weighted or unweighted position per se, as your metatarsals won't spread completely as though they are fully loaded, but they wont be entirely prone either.
The arch was a bit thicker, a bit harder to move, but no big deal.
Is it just common sense to mold or did you have trouble moving the arch?
I dunno, you want me to measure them? I think they're just normal.
do you have fat or narrow feet?
Nope, no guidance on that. The arch is right on the edge of the moldable zone, but I went for it so I could ditch my Sole insoles. Just did it by trial and error 'til it was comfortable.
Great review.
Did they give any guidance as to how to mold the arch up against your foot? For example, do they recommend weighted or non-weighted molding of the arch support? Podiatrists who work with cyclists seem to be in disagreement about this issue.
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