After a summer of exclusive testing, GearJunkie got a sneak peek at a wild new clipless pedal design for road bikes.
When I opened the email titled “Patented Bike Pedal,” I was surprised and a little skeptical of the author’s credentials. A cabinet-maker by trade, Mike Lohmeyer said he and his “partner in crime, Frank,” had developed a clipless road pedal and cleat that could make waves in the cycling industry.
But as a staunch commuter and road cyclist, I responded, curious what innovation a cabinet-maker — Mike Lohmeyer — could provide an industry plagued by stagnation. Turns out, Lohmeyer and “Frank” engineered — and possibly perfected — a modern take on the AeroLite pedal that dates back to the ’70s.
A single stainless steel bar, the pedals offer the most basic clip-in platform possible. Paired with the patented hook-like cleats, Lohmeyer’s system, dubbed “Pitbull Pedals,” touts itself as the quickest-to-engage clipless setup out there, and one that addresses concerns over similar designs of the past.
In short: The Pitbull pedals and cleats will immediately conjure visions of the AeroLites. While Lohmeyer and his partner have worked to address issues those pedals faced, it’s still the same principle. But these pedals lived up to their hype — near instant engagement, strong grip, and ease of use. It may not be for the Tour de France, but the Pitbull Pedal system provides a simple, reliable option new riders and weekend warriors.
Pitbull Clipless Pedals
Right off the bat, you need to know there is no price for these pedals. This was a full-on prototype test. But if he can find seed funding, Lohmeyer plans to scale up the Pitbull system into production.