Sometimes, even a 10-minute bike adjustment can feel like a chore. I’m talking about swapping out pedals, a fairly simple task that can quickly feel unnecessary — and I should know. Despite having an extra set of “normal” flat pedals, I’ve been using a pair of SPD-SL pedals (clipless road bike pedals) for two years.
And most of the time, I don’t even use the clipless pedals. I like to keep them on for those rare weekends when I head out to the Silver Comet trail west of Atlanta and go for epic, all-day rides of 60+ miles. But I have to admit that I’m a bit lazy about trading out pedals (I feel like I’d never put the SPD-SLs back on once they’re off).
That’s why I’m so stoked about the Mousetrap pedal adapters that Redshift released this year. Various pedal adapters have been around for years. But Redshift has come up with a design that is as effective as it is easy to install, and they’ve been a joy to use on my Specialized Allez.
In short: It’s hard to imagine a better pedal adaptor than this one. They feel great while riding, require no gear to install, and pop off as easily as they clip on. If you’re a cyclist that likes to switch between long rides with clip-on bike shoes and shorter, casual ones with sneakers, why ever change out pedals again? Just use the Redshift Mousetrap. They even come in bright, funky colors to make your bike look cooler than ever.
(Photo/Redshift)
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comfortable platform
- Super easy install
- Affordable
Cons
- Flips over pedal
Redshift Mousetrap Pedal Review
There’s a reason pedal adapters are more helpful than you might think. Even a casual bike ride often requires a long checklist: helmet, bike lock, front and rear lights, pumping up tires, water, snacks, etc. Spending extra time swapping out pedals is simply not something most of us are going to do.
Of course, you can just use your sneakers on a pair of clipless SPD-SL pedals — that’s what I’ve been doing for the last year and a half. I’ll use my bike shoes once a blue moon, then spend the rest of my cycling days using trail runners on the same clipless pedals. It works. But until I got the Mousetrap, I had forgotten how much better it feels to ride when I’ve got a nice flat surface for my sneakered feet. (Who knew?)
So yes, these pedal adapters are far from necessary. But if you’re like me, and love multiple kinds of cycling, the Redshift Mousetrap Pedals are ingenious and very affordable (especially compared to most bike gear).
Several Pedal Options
So Redshift actually released the first Mousetrap adapter back in March. But at the time, it was just for SPD pedals — the kind used by mountain bikes. This week, the brand expanded the Mousetrap to include versions for SPD-SL and LOOK Keo: two of the most popular forms of clipless road bike pedals.
Although I love cycling on road, gravel, and mountain trails, I still often find myself bewildered by the deep history and complex terminology of cycling gear. So I was pleased to see that my colleagues at BikeRumor were just as stoked about the Mousetrap as me. I can’t summarize what makes this adapter special better than BikeRumor’s Editor-in-Chief Zach Overholt.
“Tool-free, incredibly quick to install and uninstall, impossible to release accidentally, low profile, high grip, and easy to transport with magnets that hold the pair together. It really is a near-perfect design,” he wrote Thursday on BikeRumor.
Install and Downside
The install of these adapters literally could not be easier. I barely even looked at the instructions. You simply push out the inner piece, slip it on the pedal, push the magnetic lock back down — and you’re done. Takes literally 5 seconds, and they haven’t come off after 100 miles of riding, mostly on social bike rides and Atlanta’s PATH trails.
The only downside to the adapters, as far as I can tell, is that they always end up on the literal downside. The weight of the adapter flips the whole pedal upside down when it’s at rest (thanks, physics!). But because the platform extends farther forward, it’s enough to flip them back over with your feet when you start pedaling.
You can get a similar adapter, like the Fly Pedals V2, for $40. But the install doesn’t look nearly as easy as the Mousetrap.
Pricing & Availability
The Mousetrap is also quite affordable, especially right now. Though the adapters have an MSRP of $60, Redshift is selling these brand-new designs for $45 right now as part of an early Black Friday sale.
You can even snag them in multiple colors. The black/grey version is what I have, but I’m already feeling a bit envious of those who choose the purple/black, teal/pink, and blue/orange options.
Shipping for the new SPD-SP and LOOK Keo versions is expected in mid-December.
