Specialized Trivent TERRA. Finally! They are here!* Now you too can wear the Caveman’s custom XTERRA specific shoe. Over the past 5 years or so, I have been lucky enough to have Specialized shoe engineer John Figueiredo build me custom shoes for XTERRA use. Basically we needed a Trivent triathlon shoe for quick transitions, but married with a mountain bike sole for those hike a bike sections and also strutting around coffee shops without falling on your backside.

* If I could have $5 from every person who asked me “When will the shoe be production?” Now is your chance to geddum.

Here are a few specific design changes we made, aside from the original S works shoes’ BG features  and FACT carbon midsole with 11.0 Stiffness Index:

– Lengthened velcro strap for easier foot entry on the fly

– Thin, super breathable mesh upper. Doesnt get too heavy when wet, cool in hot climates, lets water through. (See ITU Cross Tri Worlds report)

– Thin neoprene liner in heel cup and strap for comfortable sock less wear. Also its thin and doesnt absorb water or sweat. No extra weight or smells…

– Huge heel tab for numb dumb fingers after those cold swims.

– The “piece de resistance”: the Easy arch fixing point for flying starts: See pic below. Its basically a little plastic nub on the inside of the heel/arch area. The production nub may look a little different, (more sturdy) because mine is an early prototype:

How the thing works: You attach your thin elastic rubber band to the fixing point and on your Specialized Brain adjuster knob (sorry non Specialized riders!) in order to keep your shoes horizontal while sprinting out of T1. With a bit of T1 practice, you’ll be pedaling with your feet in your shoes within 5 meters.

Note the huge entry hole- enough to swallow a Caveman foot without the usual squeezing or even aiming…

The replaceable green insole is the Specialized BG+++ foot bed for extra high arches. The stock insole may be the BG+ for “normal feet”, but the front half of the stock Trivent insole is completely riddled with big holes for ventilation and drainage.

Read here about my Specialized Trivent TERRA shoes in action at ITU Cross Tri Worlds 2011.

XTERRA Knysna