Ride Concepts Tallac Flat Pedal Shoe

Ever since the launch of the very first models in the fall of 2018, the Ride Concepts catalog has grown considerably and the company has established itself as one of the leading players in the mountain bike footwear market. Last year saw improvements made to the rubber compound which really placed the company’s flat pedal shoes among the top contenders. Today, the company announced its 2022 range and the main story here is the introduction of a brand new model, called the Tallac. We’ve had an early sample out on the trail already - keep reading to find out how we’ve been getting on.

Ride Concepts Tallac Flat Pedal Shoe Highlights

• MAX GRIP rubber outsole
• Lightweight bonded upper featuring Cordura® mesh for durability and breathability
• TPU toe and heel protection with reinforced anti-abrasion film
• TPU mud guard to protect against dirt, debris and rubbing
• Hexagon outsole featuring reverse hex traction pattern on toe and heel for hike-a-bike sections
• D3O® High Impact Zone Technology insole absorbs impact and reduces fatigue
• EVA midsole for extra cushion and support
• Heel pull tab for easy entry
• Women’s version available (“Flume”)
• MSRP: $160 USD (laces), $190 USD (BOA)

Initial Impressions

Pulling the Tallac out of the box, you’re met with a shoe that looks a bit different to previous Ride Concepts models. The thick sole and the aggressive tread pattern that wraps around the toe and heel areas give it a very deliberate pose, while the profile of the rest of the shoe remains fairly slim. The uppers are made from Cordura mesh, marking the first time the two companies collaborate.

The midsole features a thick EVA foam layer for extra cushion and support, while the insole sports the usual D3O inserts to further help with impact absorption and fatigue reduction. We tested the model with traditional laces, but a BOA version is also available which is another first for Ride Concepts. The toe and heel areas are protected by TPU guards, and there’s an elastic lace strap to help secure your laces in action.

Ride Concepts chose their stickiest rubber compound, “MAX GRIP”, for the Tallac. As previously mentioned, the outsole is more aggressive than previous models, with lugs that extend further along the sides and wrap up completely over the heel and toes areas. The hexagons are also bigger than on other Ride Concepts shoes.

On The Trail

The overall fit of the Tallac is ever so slightly more relaxed than the Hellion Elite, for example. The Cordura mesh uppers are more flexible than the synthetic leather used by the company in many of their other models, which provides a degree of extra comfort and makes the Tallac feel a bit more like a sneaker. The same comparison holds true against a Five Ten Freerider Pro. The generous cushioning of the sole further adds to the high level of comfort the Tallac, and we found it extremely easy to get along with from the very first ride.

On the bike, the grip delivered by the MAX GRIP rubber is great. Plenty of surface stickiness and plenty of lugs for your pedals to grab hold of. In our unscientific opinion, the larger lugs found on the Tallac sole work even better than those found on other models. The result is a shoe that delivers a fraction less grip than current market leaders Five Ten and Specialized, but it’s getting oh-so-close now. In very muddy conditions you might feel a little bit less connected with the Ride Concepts rubber, but not by a whole lot. The thick sole provides plenty of cushion as well, great for those harsh landings or foot-out, flat-out moments (if you're sensitive to pedal height in general, you might find these a bit tall for your liking though).

In action, the blend of comfort and stiffness provided by the Tallac is very functional. Power transfer is great, without having to resort to cranking down the laces too much, while the shoe remains super comfortable on the foot. It’s also quite breathable. Hiking performance is also very good, there’s enough compliance in the shoe to allow it to conform to the terrain and bend in the toe area as your foot pivots during the step. Protection is adequate thanks to the TPU reinforcements, although the Cordura mesh feels a bit less sturdy than some other synthetic leather type of materials, which may leave the top of the foot a bit more exposed to direct impact. We’d have no real qualms about using the Tallac for all kinds of riding though, up to and including the bike park.

What’s The Bottom Line?

We’ve been fans of Ride Concepts shoes ever since the brand was launched, and the new Tallac is a great addition to the range. Slightly more compliant and very comfortable on the foot, the Tallac provides grip and control for all kinds of riding. Opt for traditional laces or try the BOA version if you want a little more tech – there are also clipless models available if that’s how you roll.

More information at: www.rideconcepts.com (where you can also check out the rest of the 2022 range now).

About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord - Age: 48 // Years Riding MTB: 16 // Weight: 190-pounds (87-kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Photos by Johan Hjord