Bont Cycling, the little Aussie company with a big name on the global cycling scene, has released a new premium-level shoe, the Helix.
Bicycling Australia recently made the trip to EuroBike, the world’s biggest annual bike show held in Germany, where they caught up with Steven Nemeth of Bont Cycling.
A valued supporting partner of the Bowral Classic, it was fascinating to listen to Steven as he explained all that goes into a new cycling shoe, especially one so innovative and advanced as the Helix.
From Dream To Reality
âWeâve been working on this project for around 9 months and are very happy with how itâs turned out,â he said.
âFor us integration with the shoe is the big thing,â he continued. âWe wanted to put a shoe together that really could become a part of the riders’ foot. In most traditional types of shoes youâll have a ratchet system that essentially pulls the upper tight, across the top. What we wanted to do was get something that would work around the whole foot and basically pull the shoe around it rather than just applying localised tension.â
Wire cabling from a single BOA dial routes rearward, down the side of the shoe and into a tube where itâs guided around the carbon soul before making the return loop the the closure. Itâs one of those design concepts that make you think âwhy wasn’t this done earlier?â But, as Steven explained, turning the design concept into reality was both challenging and complicated.
âThe footâs not the easiest shape to shape to work around,â he said. âEspecially with the various bone structures. But we managed to get around it and it now works quite nicely. What it does is spread the load across the foot in a thorough way. Thereâs no spot tension, itâs a very gradual and very comfortable pull. It makes you feel even more part of the shoe than ever before.â
How Much Do They Weigh?
In size 46.5 the Bont Helix on display weighed 265grams.
âMost shoes around that size are up around the 300 + grams,â said Steven. âWe are very happy with the finished product – particularly the weight.â
Aimed at the high end of the market, Steven said the Helix was for the elite road rider wanting the best.
âItâs for riders who want that extra step,â he said. âYou could be an average person who wants a high-performance shoe ⊠you could be a racer who wants something unique and something to be closely connected to – the Helix is for anyone who wants extra quality and extra innovation.â
Fantastic Feedback
Launched to a global audience at EuroBike 2017, Steven said the reception and public perception had been âawesomeâ.
âWhen people turn the shoe over and see the cable integration they are really blown away,” he said. “Then when they put it on and tension it up they really understand what the shoe is about – the feedback here has been phenomenal.â
âIt really is nice to have a small Aussie company to be able to produce something thatâs been so well received at the worldâs biggest bike show,â he added.
The Bont Helix will be available in black, white, red, blue and green – each colour featuring eye-catching 3D printed upper design highlights. According to Bont Cycling the Helix will be similarly priced to the companyâs VayporS at around $450 to $480.