At the sharp end of pro racing, you can’t put a price on marginal gains. The tools and methods that help you squeeze out every last drop of your potential and reach your true physiological ceiling, they can often be the difference between being immortalised forever or quickly forgotten in the cut-and-thrust nature of the WorldTour and Women’s WorldTour.
It’s in this environment that Specialized developed its updated S-Works Ares 2. Ridden by the likes of Primož Roglič, Tim Merlier and Demi Vollering, it’s described as the pinnacle of race footwear, and is the rouleur workhorse ready for battle in all environments compared to the Torch – the lightweight grimpeur in the S-Works shoe stable.
Owning Specialized’s peak of performance comes with a steep price tag if you're not a sponsored pro – launching at £479, albeit now reduced to a slightly less eye-watering £399. But can these shoes justify this cost outside of the professional peloton?
Fit-first vision
The headline update to the Ares 2 is Specialized’s all-new Body Geometry last which it says is part of “a complete suite of ergonomically designed, scientifically proven Body Geometry innovations”. First initiated almost 30 years ago to solve the problem of erectile dysfunction in male cyclists via an ergonomically-designed saddle, the Body Geometry approach has been rolled out to other contact points ever since. By incorporating this fit-first vision, Specialized claims the shoe is a lot more comfortable and ‘locked in’ than its predecessor.
The new last widens the toe box, allowing the toes to splay, which Specialized claims reduces forefoot pressure by 44%. There is also the addition of a varus wedge (a 1.5mm built-in insert that tilts the forefoot slightly outwards to improve stability), a ‘metatarsal button’ that is a slight mound in the middle of the insole intended to help prevent pain and numbness caused by nerve impingement, and a longitudinal arch – rigid support on the outsole that prevents arch collapse.
The brand says that all of this additional comfort helps to unlock a seven-watt increase presumably over the original Ares – a significant gain from simply switching shoes.
Ride impressions
The reality however wasn’t as clear cut. Dialling in the shoes for the first time, it’s evident that they are wider than your average race shoe. I have broad, bunionette-toting feet, and they were able to spread right up to the edge of the toe box rather than feel pinched up the upper. The metatarsal button felt a bit odd initially, but its presence is soon forgotten, while my heels felt firmly locked in place and unlikely to slip during sudden surges.
It wasn’t quite perfect though. Securing the top BOA dial ensures a snug fit and forms the new longitudinal arch feature, but the lower BOA dial over the toe box was hard to finesse. The stitched join where the tongue is secured to the upper created a lump on the inside of the shoe that rested on the top of my big toe. Located beneath the retention system’s loop, this lump prevented me from being able to fully tighten the lower half of the shoe without causing discomfort and pressure – something Specialized were trying to eliminate from the design. The only way to resolve this was to keep it fairly slack, which for me left a bit too much movement in the toe box.
When it came to actually riding with the shoes, again, issues started to arise. The cleat placement is very forward-dominant, favouring those who place the ball of the foot directly over the axle. While it’s possible to prise the sliding bolts back slightly, there’s not as much adjustment as I’d like.
While I didn’t experience any pain or discomfort in the forefoot arising from fit during my outdoor and indoor testing, the carbon outsole’s rigidity did cause fatigue on rides over an hour. The contours of the upper weren't ideal for me either – the firm, high heel cup constantly rubbing on the tip of the fibula.
The claimed watt increase is difficult to ascertain. I didn’t feel noticeably more powerful or redraw my curve while shod in the S-Works Ares 2. But I’m not really living the controlled, monk-like existence of a professional cyclist to benefit from this level of marginal gain; my performance is more likely to be affected by the realities of real life – my one-year-old keeping me up all night teething or my terrible turbo-training fan – rather than what I’m wearing on my feet.
On the plus side, the breathability was good – a single vent under the toes providing enough ventilation for even all-out indoor trainer sessions. And it’s hard to think of a more visually appealing pair of shoes; the perforated leather upper particularly eye-catching in bright white – a much needed antidote to the grim UK winter on outdoor rides when they weren’t hidden beneath a pair of waterproof overshoes.
Verdict
Sure, you’re paying for the claimed performance benefits, and if those claimed extra watts are worth £399 to you, the S-Works Ares 2 could be the answer to your ongoing pursuit of realising your true potential.
They are certainly at the more comfortable end of the racing shoe scale, but for me they didn't work flawlessly – which is also a good example of how expensive doesn't equal guaranteed superior performance for every rider. And that's something important to remember at the premium end of an already costly sport.
Visit Specialized's website to see all the details, specs and colour options.
