First Look: Ritchey WCS XC Clipless Pedal: Wider & Lower | Spd Pedals

Shimano’s existing Trail pedals are already one of our favourite clip-in pedals, and the Saints build on that with a broader body and adjustable pins that favour aggressive riding. They’re short of being the grippiest on test, but the familiar SPD mechanism provides smooth and positive engagement that is usefully audible and secure while riding down noisy descents. Along with that wider platform, there are no doubts that the Saints are some of the most reassuring pedals we’ve ever used.

We still wanted to challenge our habits. For one week in December, some editors, reporters and producers agreed to leave their car at home and try a carless commute for a day into our downtown Phoenix newsroom, near Second and Van Buren streets.

So it’s important not to get your left and right pedals mixed up. With many clipless pedal systems, such as those from Shimano and Look, it’s pretty obvious which way round they go as the pedal has a definite front and rear.

ION RAID Amp II The RAID Amp II has extra padding at the ankle for rowdier days. Claimed weight 400g in size 42. $129 USD.

Want to know more about all the other pedals on test? You can get your hands on the full feature from Issue #117 of Singletrack Magazine, which includes all reviews of the winning pedals along with a guide on what goes into making a high performance clip-in pedal. Head here to get a preview of the magazine, then get it shipped right to your door!

Granted, there are caveats. That stability and rotation performance are heavily dependent on how well the shoes interface with the pedal, and perhaps not surprisingly, shoes designed for cross-country MTB racing work best in that situation given they’re usually made with fairly hard tread blocks and stiff carbon fiber soles that provide added support.

The bad news is that very few models of Shimano pedals come with multi-release cleats, so probably you’ll have to buy them in addition to the pedals. The good news is that basic SPD pedals are very cheap but really durable, so buying extra cleats isn’t a big financial burden.

The Shimano M530 SPD pedals are an old favourite and such good value, we put another pair to the test to make sure Shimano are still on the right tracks where these budget busting workhorses are concerned. We’ve used both the M530′s and the more expensive XT SPD’s and we’d be lying if I told you we could tell the difference between the two without looking down. This test set have been used them on average five times a week, in all conditions, the sealed bearings have kept their promise and barred entry of water and mud, providing me with a durable pedal you can rely on. 

Watch the video below to learn our mechanic Al’s top tips on clipless pedal installation and removal.

Ostensibly, this allows riders to engage more naturally, pushing the foot forward with the pedal stroke and engaging at the same time.

However, this can’t be achieved with a simple adjustment — it requires different cleats altogether. Lohmeyer said once scaled to production, riders will choose either adjustable-float cleats or no-float cleats.

I generally have Shimano M540 or Ultegra SPD-SL – I favour Shimano as they’re cheap, reliable, pretty much fool proof and fully servicable.