Fresh off their release of The Road Shoe, Adidas quietly rolls out another iconic shoe, the Velosamba. This time, the brand straight up crossed over their classic indoor soccer shoe, the Samba, with an SPD-compatible sole. While many sizes are already sold out in the US, we hope they get restocked soon!
Adidas is making a calculated move back into cycling. So far, with two shoe launches, they have dropped a great-looking and functional road shoe that performs well above its $150 price point. The new Velosamba hits the commuter market with a full-length nylon plate for stiffness, yet is still flexible enough to walk in. The gum-rubber outsole keeps the look of the Samba, while hiding what is inside, an integrated SPD mount. It‘s a true stealth shoe that will transition from the bike to the cafe and even a more casual work environment.
The upper looks just like a traditional Samba, with a leather upper and suede toe cap. The tongue is a little different from the traditional Samba Classic or the Samba K, but adds functionality with a loop to hold your laces in place. The leather is coated to provide protection in cold, damp conditions, making it a year-round shoe. The three stripes on either side of the shoe and the heel cap are all reflective to add visibility when riding at night.
While the US only gets the black version, other markets will also get a cream/white, yellow/white, and a navy version, but all keep the same gum rubber sole. At $120, they are a bit pricier than original Samba Classics at $70, but still pretty reasonable for a commuter shoe, especially one that looks this good.
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.
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