MX 241 ENDURANCE- FINAL SALE

I have big bunions and a lot of Odin in my feet 27/7. These shoes have only been worn inside on the trainer this winter but I expect them to perform just as well this summer.

My only concern is that the boa system is either broke or is made differently than my other shoes, it can be rotated CCW (loosened). So far it hasn’t backed off on its own but it’s still a concern I have for future dependability.

5 star shoe otherwise, I knocked of a star because if this boa system is actually by design I didn’t see anything about it in the description (maybe I miss edit?)

I would defiantly purchase another pair but would get this question answered first.

I have "normal" D width feet, and have been an active year round cyclist for over 50 years (now in Maine winters too). Until 3-4 years ago I never had any foot issues whatsoever during any activity. Since 2018 I have experienced increasing numbness and pain in the metatarsal area, and the formation of a small painful bunion on the right foot. None of my conventional cycling shoes became wearable, and I took the "drastic" step of first slicing open the sides of my cycling shoes, then finally installing flat pedals on my road and mountain bikes. For flat pedal footwear, I resorted to a pair of not wide FiveTen shoes with 1/2" x 2" cutouts made on either side of the forefoot area, and cycled with my arch more or less centered over the pedal axle. This arrangement I used exclusively over this past summer (actually works quite well and respectably efficient). With the exception of residual metatarsal numbness, which I expect will never go away, my feet are now pain free and the bunion almost non-existent. I also resorted to upgrading all my other walking and running shoes to extra wide EE sizing and installed gel insoles in all.

As a "last ditch" effort to return to cleated shoes and conventional forefoot pedaling, I purchased a pair of Lake MX241 "wide" cycling shoes. These sat unused over the summer while I rode with my butchered FiveTens until my feet recovered. I did not want to use the MX241 cleat-less, nor did I want to drill out the soles for mid-foot cleat placement. Finally, a few weeks ago, I felt ready to try the MX241's with cleats. The dual BOA arrangement is precisely what was needed. I snug up the rear BOA comfortably, and leave the front BOA almost entirely loose. After several dozen rides now (1-3 hours duration), I can definitively say these shoes seem to be an excellent solution. No pain, and the residual numbness I have is no worse than end of summer with my flat pedal setup. I don't expect that numbness to ever go away entirely, no matter what the activity, or the shoe type - the damage has been done. Absence of pain is all that I require.

The MX241 "wide" is an excellent shoe, albeit rather heavy compared to my light "road" shoes, but I'm past caring too much about that, and no longer want shoes I can't walk in for any distance, even if almost all my riding is on the road. Having communicated extensively with Lake during purchase, I will offer that I disagree with their contention that their sizing cannot be numerically related to conventional shoes. Perhaps you can go a half EU size smaller than your other cycling shoes, but measurements they had me make yielded sizing at least a full size smaller, which absolutely did not work for me. All my other cycling shoes (which I won't wear now) are a 43-43.5. The Lake size I settled on is a 43.5. I could probably get away with a 43, but the 43.5 gave me a slightly wider toe box, and I am now a firm believer that you can "never" have a too wide toe box, as long as the heel and arch area are not a sloppy fit.

While I rode for decades with a broad range of makes and types of road and mountain bike shoes without issue, if I had one piece of hindsight advice to offer to my long past 20 year old self, or any young cyclist starting out - absolutely purchase shoes with a wide toe box from the get-go, and install gel forefoot padding, perhaps with a metatarsal "bump". There is no performance disadvantage in doing this, no matter how competitive you are. Had I done this 50+ years ago, I'm convinced the issues I experienced would likely never have occurred. This wide recommendation goes for all types of shoes too, running, hiking, walking - all should have a very roomy toe box, and that can be surprisingly challenging to find.

I believe cycling to be the most stressful activity for the metatarsal area of your feet. That constant forefoot pressure is a repetitive stress that is entirely unnatural in an evolutionary sense. I ran marathons for years with never a foot issue, and even now, on days when the weather is too foul for riding, and I opt for a run instead, this never bothers my feet or aggravates the residual metatarsal issues I have. I believe particular care should be exercised when fitting cycling shoes, and it may well be for some, that a locked in cleated forefoot position on a pedal will never be satisfactory. Do not dismiss the option of flat pedals that allow varying foot position if you must. That saved my cycling over the summer, and were efficient far beyond my conventional expectation, although I don't think anyone makes a cleatless type shoe that is really stiff enough to completely prevent uneven pressure from the pedals (nor are any wide enough). As a cleated cycle shoe option though, I don't think you can do better than the MX241 "wide". I'm happy.

I was at my local bike shop having my Madone serviced. While speaking with one of the techs, he mentioned Lake Shoes and how great they were. After contemplating the cost, I can honestly say it was money well spent, and I will spend the money again. The 241 is exceptionally comfortable and made well.

Yep, love the Lake MX241 Endurance Shoe!
Bought one for myself and then one pair for my wife and we couldn’t be happier.
This shoe is comfortable, stiff, stylish and very adjustable.
I’m giving two thumbs up 👍🏾👍🏾
RT