The G.Inka looks like it belongs on the feet of Olympic athletes, with its white faux-leather outer, silver ratchets and audacious ‘G’ on the top foot strap.
There’s a lot of technology here, such as perforations to increase ventilation and a micro-adjustable ratchet, but most noticeable is the stability of your foot throughout the pedal stroke.
The sole is rigid, and the wide foot straps, spongy one-piece tongue and plastic reinforcement around the heel hold these shoes solidly in place. The durable, grippy rubber soles are real assets off the bike, too.
The rigidity makes it feel like no pedal power is wasted, and a combination of that neatly shaped toe box, sharp red detailing and snug fit make you feel as if you’re constantly chasing a podium.
The G.Inkas haven’t stood up well to abuse, though. The ‘leather’ round the sides of each foot showed signs of wear after just a few hike-a-bikes on rocky ground, and the edges of the tongues have shredded. Still, the overall solidity and shape remains sound.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.