An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure including a flexure zone (201, 202) extending substantially across a forefoot region of the sole structure, the flexure zone forming a region of the sole structure more flexible than adjacent regions of the sole structure, a first ridge traction element, the first ridge traction element including a first peripheral segment (301, 308, 315, 322, 329, 338) proximate and generally parallel to one of a medial or lateral edge of the sole structure in the forefoot region, the first peripheral segment having a substantially constant height along its length, the first ridge traction element including a first transverse segment (302, 309, 316, 323, 331, 339, 340) extending across the sole structure away from and at an angle to the first peripheral segment and surrounded on both sides by adjacent portions of the sole structure, the first transverse segment joining the first peripheral segment at an end of the first peripheral segment, the first transverse segment terminating in a first free end (303, 310, 317, 325, 332, 333, 341, 342) without reaching the other of the medial or lateral edge, the first transverse segment having a height that decreases along its length as it extends away from the first peripheral segment, no portion of the first transverse segment having a height greater than the height of the first peripheral segment, and a second ridge traction element, the second ridge traction element including a second peripheral segment (301, 308, 315, 322, 329, 338) proximate and generally parallel to the one of the medial or lateral edge of the sole structure in the forefoot region, the second peripheral segment located forward of the first peripheral segment, the second peripheral segment having a substantially constant height along its length, the second ridge traction element including a second transverse segment (302, 309, 316, 323, 331, 339, 340) extending away from and at an angle to the second peripheral segment and surrounded on both sides by adjacent portions of sole structure, the second transverse segment joining the second peripheral segment at an end of the second peripheral segment, the second transverse segment terminating in a second free end (303, 310, 317, 325, 332, 333, 341, 342) without reaching the other of the medial or lateral edge, the second transverse segment having a height that decreases along its length as it extends away from the second peripheral segment, no portion of the second transverse segment having a height greater than the height of the second peripheral segment, the flexure zone being a transverse flexure zone, the first and second ridge traction elements being separated by the flexure zone. a sole structure including a flexure zone (201, 202) extending substantially across a forefoot region of the sole structure, the flexure zone forming a region of the sole structure more flexible than adjacent regions of the sole structure, a first ridge traction element, the first ridge traction element including a first peripheral segment (301, 308, 315, 322, 329, 338) proximate and generally parallel to one of a medial or lateral edge of the sole structure in the forefoot region, the first peripheral segment having a substantially constant height along its length, the first ridge traction element including a first transverse segment (302, 309, 316, 323, 331, 339, 340) extending across the sole structure away from and at an angle to the first peripheral segment and surrounded on both sides by adjacent portions of the sole structure, the first transverse segment joining the first peripheral segment at an end of the first peripheral segment, the first transverse segment terminating in a first free end (303, 310, 317, 325, 332, 333, 341, 342) without reaching the other of the medial or lateral edge, the first transverse segment having a height that decreases along its length as it extends away from the first peripheral segment, no portion of the first transverse segment having a height greater than the height of the first peripheral segment, and a second ridge traction element, the second ridge traction element including a second peripheral segment (301, 308, 315, 322, 329, 338) proximate and generally parallel to the one of the medial or lateral edge of the sole structure in the forefoot region, the second peripheral segment located forward of the first peripheral segment, the second peripheral segment having a substantially constant height along its length, the second ridge traction element including a second transverse segment (302, 309, 316, 323, 331, 339, 340) extending away from and at an angle to the second peripheral segment and surrounded on both sides by adjacent portions of sole structure, the second transverse segment joining the second peripheral segment at an end of the second peripheral segment, the second transverse segment terminating in a second free end (303, 310, 317, 325, 332, 333, 341, 342) without reaching the other of the medial or lateral edge, the second transverse segment having a height that decreases along its length as it extends away from the second peripheral segment, no portion of the second transverse segment having a height greater than the height of the second peripheral segment, the flexure zone being a transverse flexure zone, the first and second ridge traction elements being separated by the flexure zone.