DURRES (Albania) – Sitting on the steps of the bus one hour before the start of the Giro d'Italia, Filippo Fiorelli he agreed to tell us one aspect of its technical equipment: the insoleThe topic is often underestimated. Little is said about the foot, but anyone who has been on a bicycle for more than six hours knows that foot pain is one of the worstAnd while the relief of taking off your boots is a nice feeling, there's clearly a problem that needs to be addressed.
Perfect fit
La VF Group-Bardiani have used the BMZ insole of which Adriano Malori has long been a staunch supporter. The reason for this interest stems from the fact that the aim of the Japanese company that produces them is to put one's foot in the position of working in freedom, creating the natural arch of the foot thanks to the pressure exerted between the cuboid bone and the heel. Without constriction of the blood vessels. The toes are thus relieved of excess pressure and the leg muscles have better activation.
«I tried it for the first time last year – says Fiorelli – when we met in the Reggio area, near the team headquarters. There was also Malori and they explained to us how it worksSince I wasn't using anything special, but kept the insoles from my shoes, I tried them on and found them to be good. The sensation is that it fills your foot, They're not custom-made insoles, but they fit everyone, with the sole adhering perfectly to the foot. Is this an advantage? Of course. If you think your foot might rest on an uneven surface, Maybe you don't notice it at the moment, but after riding for hours it can cause some discomfort.».
Intrigued by Fiorelli's story, who added that he changes the insole during the season when he changes his shoes, we turned to Filippo Agnetti, CEO of BMZ EuropeWhat intrigued us was the universality of their product, compared to companies that produce custom shoes starting from the cast of the foot.
How does BMZ work with the Reverberi family team?
After meeting Roberto Reverberi, who we had try the insole, We met the athletes and asked to know which insoles they used. Then we started to supply him with the various products that we had in production here in Italy and We asked many of them to also test the carbon one that comes directly from Japan. Then we waited for their feedback to see which one they wanted: the softer double Eva one we make here or the harder one.
Which direction did the choice go in?
They all opted for the stiffest models with carbon insert or double reinforced EVA, while for everyday use we provided it with a Ccomfort insole. The concept of resting on the cuboid and unloading the toes is also relevant when it comes to walking or running. So we provided insoles for everyday life, as well as for the gym.
Before providing the insoles, did you check that the riders' feet did not have any problems?
Let's say that the difference between our insoles, which for some is an advantage and for others perhaps a defect, is that they adapt to 99,9% of feet. Not having the support of the arch, but being practically an almost flat insole, with only the protuberance in the position of the cuboid, the foot is freeUnlike a custom-made insole or almost all insoles that come in some shoes, which restrict the foot, as the arch created by the sole compresses the foot. Our insole keeps the foot free, creating the arch in a natural way.
In what way?
It is urged the part between the cuboid and the heel, which is studied with this patentIt is the only point of the foot that, when stressed, allows you to create the arch naturally. It feels like being barefoot: the toes spread and the foot curls. Therefore there is no need to check or take a footprint.
And is it good for everyone?
Of course there can be those who prefer arch support, it is not a given that our product is appreciated by everyone, because in any case it gives a very different feeling from everyone else.
Fiorelli says he changes his insoles every time he changes his shoes.
It depends on the use. If we're talking about an insole for running, there have been athletes who do OCR, or obstacle course racing, who change them every two months. However, for a cyclist, who subjects it to a more homogeneous crushing, it could last much longer, even 6-7 months.However, there is no way to establish a uniform duration for everyone.
Are you in direct contact with the athletes?
Yes, because there are those who need something more or different. For example Tarozzi wanted another pair of insoles for the spare shoesThese are individual needs, but what matters most is having their feedback that allows us to improve further.
Don't you think that generally there is little attention paid to the foot?
In Europe it is like this, to the point that Shoes costing several hundred euros come with thin, almost non-existent insoles, which riders replace with custom-made orthotics.I can understand this on inexpensive products, but on the very high-end ones, I find it incomprehensible. These products were created in Japan 15-20 years ago for everyday use. The president worked in the ski industry and made custom boots.Then he worked in cycling companies and saw how little interest there was in insoles. For this reason he began to study and created the patent, for sport, but also for the army.
Ultimately it's a simple reasoning...
This insole allows you to use your toes and therefore activate all your muscles, starting right from the fingers and involving muscles that we never move because often our foot is… dead inside the shoe. The toes are narrow, and only recently have they begun making shoes wider at the front. Before, it was more about the look, and the foot was narrow, as if it were on a board.
Quite uncomfortable…
It's one thing to stand with a board under your foot, another stand with fingers spread, using all the musclesThe benefits extend to the back and joints. That's why it's worth considering.
