The BONT Riot sets the standard for road shoes in the sub £200 arena. Fully heat mouldable with excellent comfort, support and unmatched stiffness at the price, the Bont Riot is exceptionally capable and a serious performer - arguably the best choice for the cyclist on a budget.

The original Bont Riot, when it was released in 2014, was an absolute giant killer of a product. It rapidly became our biggest selling sub £200 shoe thanks to the incredible technology offered at such an appealing price. Granted, the price has increased for this latest revision, but the Riot remains an incredible shoe for the money. I cannot overstate just how impressive this shoe is.

The original Riot featured a strap / buckle closure and was available in just 2 colours; black and white, yet it was laden with the trickle-down technology of the company's flagship heat-moldable race shoes.

Ultimately, little has changed in the construction. The Riot's chassis is constructed from a carbon-fibreglass matrix that, while not as stiff as the Vaypor S and Vaypor +, is unmatched by traditional shoes with nylon/carbon soles that you will find on shoes at this price. The most noticable changes to the Riot are the replacement of the old ratchet closure with the ubiquitous Boa IP1 dial closure, which offers a more even distribution of retention forces across the top of the foot, and the aesthetic. Not only has the styling of the shoe changed, with numerous colours to suit all tastes, but on closer inspection it is immediately evident that the finish of the shoes is markedly better than the original version - which could be a tad scrappy.

The main selling point of the Riot however is that which makes Bont so special regardless of price point : Firstly they use proprietary lasts that are shaped like a human foot and designed specifically for cycling. As a result, fit is uncompromisingly accurate. Secondly is the incredible stiffness they are able to build into their shoes and this stems from their use of in-house resins - something that BONT claim no-one else does. BONT have been developing resin technology for 39 years. The resins used in their shoes enable them to be heat-molded repeatedly by the rider at relatively low temperatures. Usually this would be to the detriment of the structure of the shoe but BONT's rapid curing resin means that your shoes will harden quickly without compromising fit or comfort. Ultimately, you can put your shoes in the oven at 70oC for 20 minutes and then strap them on your feet, allow them to cool and have a shoe that is totally tailored to your foot.

Despite this stiffness they are remarkably comfortable thanks to the sensible shape of the Last and the relatively open toe-box. The ability to repeatedly mold the shoe and 'work-out' (with the blunt end of a screwdriver) any areas that cause pressure or discomfort means that you will be able to perfect the fit if you don't get it right straight away or if your feet change. 

It is really important to stress here that most other manufacturers offer you a heat-moldable sole, what BONT offer is a heat-moldable CHASSIS so you are getting a far more tailored fit. Not only that but at a fraction of the price of many other heat-moldable shoes out there these represent real value for money and are ideal for the cyclist looking to improve and compete. They come complete with shoe bag to keep them in top condition. 

l:The Riot combines Bont's pro series technical features including power transfer platform and anatomical shaping with competition grade materials to create the most technically advanced entry level road cycling shoe.

The base of the shoe is moldable which means all stiff areas of the shoe can be molded in a standard oven. You do not need to mold your shoes if they fit you straight out of the box. To mold your shoes, remove any cleats, laces or cleat mounting screws and innersole before molding. Failure to remove the innersole can result in it becoming deformed by the heat.

Pre heat the oven to 70oC/160F. Place the shoe in the oven for 20 minutes. Higher temperatures will void your warranty and may damage your shoe.

Caution: Do not place your feet in the hot shoes immediately or you may burn your feet. Let them cool a little and test the shoe temperature with your hand before placing your feet in the shoes. Tighten the straps and allow to cool. If you have any lumps or bunions on your feet or if there are any areas causing discomfort, while the shoe is hot you can use the round end of a screwdriver to press out any part of the boot.

You can heat mold the shoes as many times as you like.