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.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
~Veggie Powered Athlete~
Location – Lancaster, PA
Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900
Dream Bike – I’ll tell you when they make it
Discipline – Cyclocross, gravel, road and duathlons (ride/run)
Favorite Rides – Quiet country roads of Amish Country, some of the best roads around.
Food of Choice – Sweet potato roll
Beer of Choice – Unibroue Grand Reserve 17, aged four years
Bourbon of Choice – Widow Jane 10 Year