TIME OSMOS 12 PRO

During hard, out-of-the-saddle efforts, the shoes had a minimal amount of flex, but not so much as to be a deal-breaker. On hot days, airflow throughout the Time shoe is noticeable, and the venting is well-designed. A vent in the front of the shoe to increase airflow would be our only addition to the shoe we’d like to see. Northwave does offer replacement dials if this occurs.ĭuring our warmer rides we did notice the lack of ventilation, the tops of our feet would overheat, but for lower-temperature night rides, the shoes felt fine.

Even after a good washing, the shoes struggled with the precise fit. We did notice that after a couple of dusty rides that the SLW2 dial began to feel a bit crunchy, especially when clicking down for the micro adjustments on the road. Most stiff soles tend to cause wear on riders during longer outings, but the Northwave soles didn’t cause issues on even our longest rides. Out-of-the-saddle efforts were complemented by the design and reminded us that these were built to perform at the highest level. The overlapping closure system with the SLW2 dials created a snug, even fit without hot spots. They are responsive, with a minimal amount of flex in the sole or in the upper material. Out on the road, these shoes make you want to go fast, and the wide, stiff soles almost demand more power. Two vents on the tongue increase airflow from the vents on the side and toe box of the shoe. As usual, the Boa dials twist clockwise to tighten and pop up to release. The upper is supportive, but struggles to mold to fit until it’s broken in. Time opted for a thick synthetic upper and a thin tongue, which is secured by two plastic Boa dials.

The sole is relatively slim, especially in the toe box, and has scattered holes for ventilation. While it is compatible with other three-bolt cleats, the carbon sole design was optimized for the Time Xpresso cleat. With all the technology Time has devoted to crafting the ideal road pedal, the idea behind the Osmos line is focused on a high-performance sole that mates to their pedal system. The fiber orientation of this material allows for easy entry, but also holds the heel in place. The Northwave also uses a reinforced heel cup with gripping material. If you pull the lever up, it quickly and easily releases completely. If you push on the release lever, it loosens by one click at a time, but it tends to stick when it gets dirty. The SLW2 dial is easily tightened with a twist, then features a two-way release. Two of Northwave’s own SLW2 dials pull the upper to overlap the tongue and secure the shoe. The sole is drilled for both three-bolt cleats and a Speedplay configuration. The wider sole is partly to blame for some of the extra grams, but the added power transfer that results is noticeable. Northwave uses their stiffest unidirectional carbon sole in the Extreme Pro. The upper is made with a supple and thin microfiber material. For 2019 the N-Wave team has picked it apart and began the process of shaving grams and increasing sole stiffness.Ī pair of size-44 Extreme Pros weighed in at 585 grams-certainly not the lightest, but still respectable. The original Extreme model is now more than five years old, and it was intended to be a lightweight race shoe.

TIME OSMOS 12 PRO

First made famous on the feet of Mario Cipollini, Northwave has been designing shoes there for over 30 years and currently sponsors the Astana Pro Team for 2019. Northwave is based in the part of northern Italy (Montebelluna) that could accurately be described as “shoe alley” given the close proximity of every other major Italian brand nearby. The French brand is best known for its pedals, as well as their line of carbon bikes. While both brands have been in the industry for years, Time’s release marks their return to the shoe game since their last go back in 2013. With so many shoe options on the market today, we decided to shine some light on the two latest releases from faraway Euro brands Northwave and Time, which might fly low on your radar.

Time osmos 12