Test: The young brand Ride Concepts from California made its debut with sporty cycling shoes last year. After the debut works, the Vice series was recently presented. We took the shoe with us on a few rides and say it's also a cool bike shoe, but not only that...
With the Vice, the Ride Concepts makers want to have a shoe in their range specially developed by and for dirt jump, slopestyle and BMX riders! They themselves say that with the usual durable materials and a brand new RC Fuzion outsole, this shoe should become an absolute must-have! So we took a look at the Ride Concepts Vice...
Ride Concepts also summarizes all important features in this video:
Ride Concepts Vice – also in the Signature Edition!
The new shoe comes in three models for men, women and kids, each with two styles. For men, the Kyle Strait Signature model is another design that should benefit from the popularity of the signature godfather. We like the look of it very much.
The sole features an inverted hex pattern with a diameter of 9mm in the toe box at the heel, and 7mm at the pedal contact area. The hexagonal indentations in the sole allow the pedal to tilt in the shoe, which means that the Fuzion sole offers optimal grip - no matter how dirty it is.
Ride Concepts Vice – tried it!
Visually and haptically, the Vice make a pretty solid impression. There is nothing to complain about. They lace up quite well, which is also thanks to the eyelet holes for the laces, at least I guess. My feet are neither on the very wide nor very narrow side and it's the same with the Vice, you don't have to advise anyone with a halfway normal foot shape from the shoe, the size 45 is also what you would expect. Experience has shown that with one or the other click shoe you have to go for a larger size... not here.
Try it out, that's done first at the office. You quickly forget the shoe, which speaks in its favour, as many new shoes are very “present” when you first wear them because something pinches or pinches somewhere. What I missed out of habit is a way to "stow" the laces. I know that from MTB shoes, there is such a thing. But the Vice is aimed at the much more urban-oriented fraction of BMX, slopestyle and dirt fans who won't miss it. Because style simply counts more here, so I let my colleagues teach me who are often on the road.
You will also look in vain for features that protect the foot in the upper area of the Vice. But that's ok, because it's not intended for enduro and downhill use, that's what models like the Powerline or Transition from Ride Concepts are for. But then they would not be as comfortable to wear all day long. the Vice keeps up with many favorite sneakers!
The Vice sits securely and comfortably on the foot, that's clear, but how does the sole do? Clearly: the grip is great. I've tried different pedals and the grip has always been really good. Sure, there may be models from competitors that are even softer, I don't want to dispute that. Since the Ride Concepts target group with the Vice also has its sights set on getting away from the pedal and the function of the shoe in the city, that's ok. Incidentally, it is noticeable that the sole wears little even with pedals with hollow and long pins. I literally “punched out” the soles of other bike shoes for the pins. So a clear "thumbs up" for that!
The insole of the Vice has two pads made of D3O. The foam-like material is known from protectors, it is elastic and becomes hard in the event of impacts or sudden loads. For our test shoes, it's designed to provide the comfort they undoubtedly have, while also supporting the feet during hard impacts. Frankly, I couldn't really feel it. I even replaced the insoles in the hope that there would be an aha effect, but unfortunately none. Either I'm too gross motor skills or the effect is manageable. So I would advise you to rather larger flat pedals unless your arch is made of adamantium.
What I did notice is that it's easier to push yourself actively into the pedal with the Vice than with other shoes with a harder sole. This should please active drivers who often take their foot off the pedal. The shoe does what you want and doesn't hold you down...
The Vice is available in sizes 7-15 in half sizes. The price is between 80 and 100 euros depending on the size and version.
Our conclusion: The Ride Concepts Vice is a great bike shoe for platform pedals. Rich grip and high wearing comfort characterize it. It is more suitable for riding in an urban environment or on landscaped routes than for riding through the terrain with a downhiller or freeride bike.