Stick Pedals Clip into Shoes, Lightest ever Built

Touting the lightest clipless bike pedal ever made, today Ultralite Sports LLC of Colorado announced its to-be-released namesake Ultralite pedal system.

They are manufactured in Colorado. Including pedals and cleats, the set weighs just 112 grams — over 100 grams lighter than other pedal systems on the market, the brand touts.

Instead of exposed clip-in areas, these pedals have a one-piece spindle design with independent barrels that secure the cleat. The cleats, which bolt to the bottom of a bike shoe, are made of a lightweight, durable nylon.

With most pedals you step down and press, listening for a click. These pedals are different: You slide the cleat in from the side to attach to the pedal; a spring-loaded barrel snaps to hold it in place.

A company founder noted that in general clipless pedal design has not changed substantially in decades. The rod-like Ultralite pedals are a vast design departure.

There’s no “platform” at all for a shoe to sit on. But the company says this does not matter. “Today’s rigid road shoes allowed us to develop a pedal system that is much more minimalist and lightweight while delivering maximum power and efficiency for everyone from the pros to recreational riders,” said company president and founder Bill Emerson, who is a competitive cyclist.

The pedals are made of anodized aluminum and will cost $315 to $450, depending on the model. (Model specs outlined below.) On display at the Interbike trade show later this month. Available for purchase in November. We can’t wait to take them for a ride!

—Stephen Regenold

Ultralite Pedal Specifications:

Cirrus TI model
> Price: $450
> System Weight: 112g (pedals 72g, cleats 40g)
> Spindle: Titanium (6al/4v)
> Pedal Barrel: Anodized Aluminum
> Plunger: Anodized Aluminum
> Spring: Light and Heavy options available
> Cleat: 4degrees float and 0degrees float options available
> Cleat screws: 3mm hex (M5×8)
> Maximum rider weight: 200 lbs

Nimbus STL
> Price: $315
> System Weight: 146g (pedals 106g, cleats 40g)
> Spindle: Tempered Steel
> Pedal Barrel: Anodized Aluminum
> Plunger: Anodized Aluminum
> Spring: Light and Heavy options available
> Cleat: 4degrees float and 0degrees float options available
> Cleat screws: 3mm hex (M5×8)
> Maximum rider weight: 300 lbs