Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Shoes
Specialized BG Stumpy trainer shoeSpecialized Stumpy trainers

Specialized BG Stumpy trainer shoe

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published May 23, 2009

0
£49.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Stylish, comfortable trainers, would look good on a podium too
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.specializeduk.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Specialized’s Stumpy are basically old school trainers given the body geometry treatment and would suit those who find conventional designs offering insufficient support. Marketed as a “Podium shoe” these crisp looking retro shoes feature supple leather uppers which are ideal for day long mooching and offer surprisingly good ventilation-my feet remained dry and odour free despite several hours worn with nylon socks (nice - ed).

As with most leisure footwear, the grippy EVA soles lack sufficient rigidity for turning pedals in anger but are narrow enough for nylon mtb clips and straps-jut right for social occasions or those quick hops to the shops.

Setting them apart from the crowd are the BG foot beds taken straight from their race shoes. Foot beds are anatomic insoles designed to provide greater support for the arch based upon the shape of your feet. A complete BG fit some twelve months back revealed my legs were of equal length but my left tibia shorter than my right, explaining my tendency to lean to the left aboard the bike. Introducing foot beds corrected this, markedly improving my posture aboard the bike. Similarly these provided markedly improved support over longer periods compared with conventional pumps.

Their only downside is colour. White looks razor sharp in the shop but isn’t the most practical for day-to-day duties. Mercifully they’re also available in black and relative to other fashion footwear, change from £50 seems very reasonable.

Shaun Audane

Verdict: 7 Stylish, comfortable casual trainers with a twist

www.specializeduk.com

Verdict

Verdict: 7 Stylish, comfortable casual trainers with a twist.

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Specialized BG Stumpy trainer shoe

Size tested: 44

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

These are described by Specialized as Podium shoes- old school trainers with no cycling pretentions but featuring the BG footbeds for additional support and ultimately comfort.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Suede/Leather uppers mated to EVA sole foot beds isoles straight from their race shoes.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Better made than many leisure shoes.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Very comfortable for prolonged use and just slender enough for short commutes in clips and straps.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Good standards of workmanship but white doesn't stay white for long...

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

680g pair

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Competitive given the price of trainers.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Extremely comfortable for prolonged periods and with better ventilation than many I've used.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Sharp detailing, light weight, great soles and foot-beds tick all the boxes for me.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

White can tire quickly.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Trainer shoe
Specialized BG Stumpy trainer
Podium shoe
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

Latest Comments