Both as a product development test rider and a curious rider in general I often wonder just what goes on during a lot of companies' test protocols/ development cycles: shoes with too high ankle protection; the upper/ inner lace anchor in too high a position (on a $300 shoe); too much heel drop to allow for any kind of walking (on a $600 shoe); shorts or trousers in size 34/36 that do not scale for the reasonably common longer legs for cyclist type bodies; the same clothing items without left hand phone pockets; phone pockets on the front of the thigh; belt loops that are so thick that they dig in if one is wearing a hip or back pack; any kind of clothing item that does not incorporate a hanging loop but has a label so large and scratchy that it will cause a minor wound; helmets that don't work with the same company's sunglasses etc etc.
I am not commenting personally on these shoes as I have not tried them and nor are they a 'type' that would appeal to me and my kind of riding, however the comments from Tim do cause one to ask the question?
I have to wonder who actually rode proper trails for a decent length of time with a lot of kit in the industry and then went back to the office and told some product development manager (or worse a committee) that said product was "good to go" on production.
Jan. 4, 2025, 8:39 a.m. - AndrewR
Both as a product development test rider and a curious rider in general I often wonder just what goes on during a lot of companies' test protocols/ development cycles: shoes with too high ankle protection; the upper/ inner lace anchor in too high a position (on a $300 shoe); too much heel drop to allow for any kind of walking (on a $600 shoe); shorts or trousers in size 34/36 that do not scale for the reasonably common longer legs for cyclist type bodies; the same clothing items without left hand phone pockets; phone pockets on the front of the thigh; belt loops that are so thick that they dig in if one is wearing a hip or back pack; any kind of clothing item that does not incorporate a hanging loop but has a label so large and scratchy that it will cause a minor wound; helmets that don't work with the same company's sunglasses etc etc. I am not commenting personally on these shoes as I have not tried them and nor are they a 'type' that would appeal to me and my kind of riding, however the comments from Tim do cause one to ask the question? I have to wonder who actually rode proper trails for a decent length of time with a lot of kit in the industry and then went back to the office and told some product development manager (or worse a committee) that said product was "good to go" on production.