I also have some but changed fast back to my S-Works - mostely because the were just a bit too short. But last autumn I thought I should give them a go again. I have now backed them around 10 times - the fit gets better and better every time. And now they are actually not too short any more. I have manage to squize the toe section with the head of a screw driver so they have expanded enough. I actually believe your are able to expander these shoe up to half a number.

The inner sole is poor though. I use a Specialized inner which supports my arch much better and also make a world of difference to the comfort. But yes, they are stiff and you have to get use to them. I'll will be using these shoes this season - probably together with Fizik R1, Mavic Zxellium and Rapha/Giro

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Technical editor at Cykelmagasinet Denmark

My Simplon Pavo II

Giant DK- My wife has the exact same problem w/ hers (being a touch too short). So you just found a screwdriver the same length to jam in there after you re-heated them?

Yip, that's what I did a fex times. The shoe was mayby a fex mm too short and low around one of my toes. I simply heated them and pushed from inside with the head of a srewdriver to widen the toe section. After that I heated them again and wore a pair very thick wintersocks and put in the blue Specialized innersole (which is much thicker than the original). This was enough to widen them fit my feet perfectly.

Now with the normal Specialized inner sole and thin summer/race socks they fit perfectly. Out of the box I nearly couldn't get my feet into them and after the first heating I could only ride them for 10 min.

But after a lot of heating they now fit like they were molded on my feet. They are still not comfortable soft like my S-Works. I see them as a race shoe. They are like molded on your feet and effective as hell. No power gets lost. A little bit like a comparing normal car with a formula one car.

But I admit they require a lot of patience so for people that say they are crappy after one "heating session" I would advice them to be more patient.

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Technical editor at Cykelmagasinet Denmark

My Simplon Pavo II

At least in f1 there's a reason for being horribly uncomfortable with potentially the worst ride quality in motor racing... It comes with massive performance gain.

Shoes that feel horrible and you only want to ride them part time but that don't give you a measurable benefit are just bad shoes...

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charles@pezcyclingnews.com

To date I have tried a variety of Shimanos and the top of the line S-works and always had pain in the ball of my foot.
It's as if the issue is sole flex. With the Bonts I have completely cured the issue. They may not be the most confortable shoe but in comparison to pain I will take it.

Ok, mayby you misunderstood me. I could ride these Bont shoes day in and day out but like I said they are not comfortable soft like most other shoes. This means that if a shoes doesn't fit well it will feel uncomfortable because there are not much softness to make up a bad fit. But if they fit they feel crazy effective and comfy in the way that they fit your feet like a glove.

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Technical editor at Cykelmagasinet Denmark

My Simplon Pavo II

Probably all we are saying is feet are different, but I found the Bont really confortable even though its clear they are much firmer and more enveloping than others, fe the Shimno 300s and Sidis Ive had before
Think also molding is a great way of reliving a pressure point but dont assume it will make the shoe suddely fit totally differently..
Probably a dealers nightmare, but the CTT models (last years? 2010?) can be had from a chap in Hong Hong via "the auction site whos name shall never be spoken" for 75 to 150 Euros!

As you can see from the image below, I am at the limit of my Shimano cleat adjustability but need to move it further forward (probably by only a few mm).

Has anybody redrilled the cleat mounts on their Bonts? Were the cleat nuts/threads easy to remove and reposition?

Or should I look at doing something with the cleat itself eg. smaller headed bolts with a suitable washer?

Get new legs. Drilling the Bonts seems a bit drastic.

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2010 Bianchi 928 SL / SRAM Red, Easton EA90 SLX

Member of C.S. Grupetto

I drilled new holes in my Bonts to move them closer to the crank. I didn't encounter any problems -- I asked on a Bont forum and got an "OK" from Bont.

I drilled mine to put the aerolite cleats on. I just drilled directly into the carbon sole. I didn't bother removing the inserts.

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RUEGAMER 5.21kg, 11.48lbs

CRUMPTON 4.40kg, 9.70lbs

Do you mean you left the old inserts where they were and inserted another set in the new position?

Thanks. Very useful.

Yes and no. I left the old inserts where they were and just used a sharp screw and drilled it directly into the carbon sole. I didn't use an insert with the sharp screw. It holds perfectly.

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RUEGAMER 5.21kg, 11.48lbs

CRUMPTON 4.40kg, 9.70lbs

Ah right, cheers. But you got rid of your Bonts quite soon didn't you? I'm just wondering about the longer-term security of the method you used.