Mavic Crossride Elite Shoe 2016
Reviews / Shoes
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At A Glance
Enduro colours are a clear giveaway for what these fancy numbers are all about. Although not quite as 'enduro' as the Crossmax, the Crossride shares much of the technology in a more affordable package. At first inspection they appear to be a classic Mavic shoe, with plenty of features one would expect, including the aforementioned colour scheme.
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Mavic aim this shoe at the rider who 'wants to hit the trails, stay comfortable and protected – and dig the laid back trainer look'. They do offer a non elite version of the shoe, but it is a little more muted and more casual. The Elites feature a fairly aggressive Contragrip sole for traction whilst walking, clearly suggesting you may spend time off the bike in the these shoes, either hiking, pushing or drinking. There is a full lace-up system with a Velcro cover strap to keep things neat and away from chainrings. There is heel and toe protection, but otherwise the uppers are thin and well vented. The insole is an Ergo Fit Otholite, designed to keep things comfortable under foot. The fit is claimed to be high volume, and the overall look is of a serious set of shoes
On The Trail
I've used these predominantly with the excellent Crank Bros Mallet E pedals and cleats, but have also used a standard SPD system as well and found both systems to work perfectly as you would expect. The fit is excellent and my size Euro 45s were spot on with standard socks, the high volume fit being good for my wide feet. The full lace system allows for a very snug, adjustable fit and the Velcro closure does it's job to not only tidy the laces, but further tighten up the shoe over the top of the foot. Over time I have found the laces to gradually stiffen due to mud and dirt, and due to the laces running through fabric loops rather than eyelets, friction has increased dramatically. It is worth remembering that these are a fairly lightweight set of shoes, and probably not intended for the quantity of rain and mud I have put them through. With such breathable uppers, waterproofing is non-existent, and although this means they are quick drying, they are probably more suited to a spring/summer shoe. Do not expect much heat retention either, these shoes really come into their own in the summer months. Although they suffered in the mud, a quick jet wash has returned them to a nearly new state, which was incredibly impressive, and with no colour fade. Other than wear on the sole and round the cleat, they have held up extremely well.
On the pedals they give excellent power transfer through the stiff - but not too stiff - sole. This is always a personal preference, but for my style of trails, I spend plenty of time on and off the bike, either through hiking up back country mountains, or even just drinking coffee in a cafe. This slight flex in the sole allows for a really versatile shoe, and coupled with the aggressive sole provide good grip on both the trail, and also on the pedals for those times you don't quite clip in perfectly.
The glued on sole has shown no signs of parting company with the uppers, and the whole package is solid and dependable, exactly what you want from a shoe which could take you a long way from home. The insole however, isn't quite the same, and I found it would easily move when sliding a foot in. Although it has a fancy name, it's essentially still just a foot shaped piece of foam and could be better swapped out for something more supportive.
Overall
Having used these shoes on my enduro bike, hardtail and cyclocross bike, they have never failed to miss a beat. The insole may not be as great as the rest of the package, but that's minor and can be easily resolved. Other than that they are a fine set of summer shoes. Stiff enough to put the power down whilst soft enough to hike-a-bike or hang out for apres bike activities. Durability is great and I expect the Crossride Elites to have a long life ahead of them.
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By Ewen Turner
Ewen Turner is a self-confessed bike geek from Kendal in the Lake District of England. He runs a coaching and guiding business up there and has a plethora of knowledge about bikes with an analytical approach to testing. His passion for bicycles is infectious, and he’s a ripper on the trails who prefers to fit his working life around his time on the bike.
