This one is for those riders out there who ride their bike to the office. Or really anyone who is looking for a cycling shoe that pulls double duty as a classy casual shoe as well. The work of Velo-Replublique, the Streamline Cycling shoe is the result of years of development by founder Warland Wight. While working in Shanghai, Warland realized that he wished that there was a leather cycling shoe that was comfortable and stylish both on the bike, and off.
That desire gave rise to the prototypes for the Streamline shoe. After moving back to Seattle, Warland’s shoes went through years of testing and more than 20,000 miles on a single pair. Now, he’s ready to release them into the wild.
This isn’t the first shoe that has tried to blend on/off bike performance, but there is a lot that makes the Streamline unique. Starting with a genuine perforated black leather leather upper, the shoe is designed to wear in, and mold to your feet over time. Inside, you’ll find a liner made from synthetic mesh that promotes breathability. And outside, there is 3M Sctochlite fabric behind the perforated leather which causes the shoes to light up with reflectivity at night.
Using a stiff rubber outsole with a recessed cleat pocket, the shoe is designed so that you can walk around comfortably without annoying clicking from the cleats hitting the floor (or worse, scratching the floor). While the sole is stiff for riding, it’s also flexible in the right spots for walking. And unlike other shoes that may angle your feet for better pedaling, the Streamline features a flat footbed to ensure all day comfort when on your feet but off the bike.
Warland also claims that they created a patent pending method of attaching the upper leather to the sole for increased durability.
Currently offered through Kickstarter, the first 100 White Jersey backers will receive their shoes within a week of the campaign ending. The rest of the backers will have their shoes delivered shortly after, with October 2018 the goal. To get in on a pair, prices start at $188 which also includes a t-shirt, and a few other bits. The first 100 backers also get free shipping, while the rest of the backers will have to pay $9.26 for shipping inside of the U.S. Check out the Kickstarter for more info.
