Ride Concept Livewire Review
Over the years Five Ten have cornered the market when it comes to mountain bike shoes. They have probably produced the most popular, grippiest, shoe ever with regards to the Freerider and its Stealth rubber sole. But is it a coincidence since Adidas got involved that the quality of product has been found wanting?
My last few pairs have had the durability of wet toilet roll. Which has lead me to find an alternative.
Is it possible that Ride Concept have produced a viable option?
The Ride Concept Livewire are my first mountain bike shoe away from the gold standard Five Ten Freerider that are seen aboard the feet of the most ardent mountain biker. But how do they compare to what is the gold standard?
Rice Concept label the Livewire as the ultimate everyday, wear everywhere bike shoe, that’s as suited for a big day on mountainous single track as it is throwing down in the mosh pit with your favourite band (Their quote not mine!). They also say the Livewire exceeds the technical demands of the trail without compromising style.
I opted for the stealthy looking Black/Charcoal colour option and up on opening up the packaging they certainly looked the part. Two months in my feeling is that Ride Concept have summed up the shoe near enough perfectly. They are holding up well, no tears or rips, and once cleaned look as good as new. Where as my last pair of Freeriders started to look a bit battered and worn down after barely a months use.
On paper the Ride Concept Livewire has some great features.
Rubber Kinetics DST 6.0 High Grip Rubber Outsole
Durable, synthetic upper with anti-abrasion mesh for breathability
Custom molded toe and heel guard protection
EVA midsole provides support and shock absorption
D3O High Impact Zone Insole Technology absorbs impact and reduces fatigue
Fully gusseted tongue prohibits intake of dirt and debris
Elastic lace tuck
I particularly like the gusseted tongue and elasticated lace tuck which helps to keep all the mud and loam out, whilst also keeping the laces out of the way. Something that used to frustrate me with my Freeriders.
But the most important tech on a flat pedal shoe is without doubt the grip. So how does the rubber sole on the Ride Concept measure up?
The Livewire features the Rubber Kinetics DST 6.0 High Grip rubber that Ride Concept say provides the optimum combination of grip and durability. So far I’m finding the compound really grippy, and the hexagon style tread pattern seems to hold my feet securely on the pedals.
It may be pure luck but the pins on my Hope F20’s seem to fit perfectly in-between the hexagons helping to lock my feet in place. So far, I’ve not had to add in any extra shin destroying pins, which is awesome. Even though the compound doesn’t feel quite as grippy on the pedals as Five Tens Stealth rubber there’s honestly not much in it. On hike-a-bike sections I’ve found that the Livewire do offer slightly better grip due the style of tread pattern, but on really slippy, wet and muddy sections they’re equally as bad as the Five Ten Freerider.
The fit of the Livewire is relatively narrow and snug, but they feel comfortable enough even for my wide feet. The sole doesn’t feel to stiff which has meant I’ve had zero issues walking around in them, and they don’t actually feel or look too different to a typical skate style shoe. My only slight gripe is the lack of half sizes in the UK. I’m an 8.5 in most shoes and trainers but had to go for a 9 here. For me the narrow fit in a size 8 would make the shoe feel excruciatingly painful, and would definitely constrict my feet. Obviously a size 9 is a fraction too big for me, but I believe this helps with my wider feet. So far, even on the gnarliest and longest rides, the longest being 8.5 hours, I’ve experienced no movement, aches, pains, or felt the slightest bit of constriction on my feet.
As of yet I’ve not noticed any benefit with regard to the D30 insole, and I can’t really tell any difference between my other insoles and the supposed benefit of the D30. Will they help absorb any impact from a big stack? I don’t intend to find out, but if they do it will certainly be a welcome feature if I happen to land on my feet, which lets face it, is probably unlikely.
Aside from the lack of half sizes, my only slight issue, which happens with most mountain bike specific shoes, and particularly with the later edition Freerider, is that on particularly wet and muddy days they seem to take an eternity to dry out. So if you are hitting the trails a few days on the bounce and the weather is particularly bad prepare to don a slightly damp pair of shoes the next day, or just purchase a shoe dryer.
Even so, on days where I’ve been out in some grim weather, and with soaking wet socks, the Ride Concept Livewire have still kept my feet relatively warm, and even on the warmer days I haven’t noticed any excessive sweating so the breathability of the shoe is proving to be, in my opinion, superior to the Five Ten Freerider.
VERDICT
Great value and comfy even with all the added protection. They feel tough as nails, and are showing no sign of wear as of yet. I’m interested to see how they last long-term. Currently I would say they are comparable to my past earlier edition Freeriders in almost every way.
If you can get a pair of original Freeriders (pre-adidas), they are still probably numero uno. But as long as Adidas have a say the quality of Five Ten in my opinion will continue to drop, and Ride Concept will be there to takeover the reins as Kings of the flat pedal shoe.
Overall an excellent shoe. But please bring half sizes over to the UK.
