Sunday 24 November 2013

Salomon X ULTRA MID GTX Boots; first ride and thoughts...

I have got a pair of Salomon boots sent  to test and review for beach riding by www.completeoutdoors.co.uk 



Most walking boots soles tend to not work very well on flat pedals, they tend to float about a bit.
My KEEN boots which have seen better days after 5 years tended to do this.
I chose these boots as the soles look like they they will grip ok, similar to my summer wet boots, the Five Ten Canyoneers...


The boots reviews all say they grip well on wet rocks, that's another reason to choose them for the coast, not to mention the Gore Tex lining.
Paired up with my Inov-8 DebrisGator 32  Gators to keep the sand out, the pair are a comfortable set up.
I reckon i am onto something here already with these boots for coastal cycling as i cycled to the coast today on the Big Surly Moonlander.
Despite the bike having plastic pedals the soles did not move about much. The soles are more than firm enough for cycling as cycling shoes are in the mid sole.
Dry feet too with the Gore Tex lining, as i mooched around off the bike and walked through some rock pools. Good grip walking on the wet rocks too!, and despite wearing thin wool socks my feet were warm.
A note on wearing these for severe low temperatures-colder than what we expect here in the UK except Munro stuff,
The size does come up a little bit small. If i was going to wear two pairs of socks i would go up a half size than i usually wear in boots. But i tend to have warm feet when cycling, perhaps because i am used to working outdoors and sitting on golf course machinery in cold weather year round.
I will next try them with alloy flat pedals that should be even better than the plastic pedals that if wet are a little bit squirmy in grip...


On with this mornings ride to Tyninghame woods and beach...
Roll the pics!...


The Moonlander is my `Treat Bike`  bought out of lust for bigger and fatter, it is the only bicycle i have payed up with a loan, the lust for one when they were announced was just to much...
"The Power of the `Fat`side is irresistible"...



Where rear mechs go to die, that's Alfine IGH (Internal Gear Hub) or single speed territory...


Off to the coast...


Worlds biggest Midge nets? lol....



Green ferns here...


Dead ferns here around the colour...



Lovely old Oak trees here...


And then Beech trees...


With Scots Pines, my three favourite trees are all here at Mosshouse Point...




Around the salt marsh...





Sunshine glitter space paint...





Boots are real comfy...


Human footprints, 5" tyres on 4" rims footprint. Nuff said...


Although even the mighty Moonlander can get bogged down. I was heading to a pebble area where washed out sand had exposed an area to have a look around to see if anything was exposed by the moving sands and mud...


Maybe is just an old car oil filter, maybe it is something from WW2?


I pushed it back into the mud just in case...


Broken glass, something else to watch out for as you walk or cycle around the coast...






The coast is always moving. Last time here their was exposed rocks, now covered with shingle after recent strong winds and surf...


Ahead a Moonlander playground, open twice a day, every day, 365 days a year...












Onto St Baldreds Cradle and along the beach at Peffersands before heading for home...



Lovely light on the wet sand...



Back through the woods near home. I love where i live for what is on my doorstep...


These Salomon boots are real good, need to see how they last using them for cycling but will continue to review them cycling here on the coast, and also on a few xc rides over this winter...


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