Nipping out to the bakery or heading for a quick drink with friends is exactly what gravel bikes were made for. That is, until you look down at your pedals and realise you have to lace up your stiff carbon clipless shoes just to ride a couple of miles. No one wants to do that. This is exactly where Redshift Sports come in with their Mousetrap pedal adapters. The American component manufacturers have already made a name for themselves with their suspension stems and illuminated pedals. Now, driven by a team of engineers, triathletes and cyclists, the brand promise to turn your SPD clipless pedals into flat pedals. Even better, they claim the process is completely tool-free and lightning-fast. Naturally, we had to take a closer look.
As soon as you unbox them, the name becomes clear, as the spring-loaded bar used to clamp the adapters in place looks just like a classic mouse trap. Made from robust glass-fibre reinforced nylon, the adapters feel high quality, even if they are undeniably plastic.
What Can the Redshift Mousetrap Pedal Adapters Do?
The design concept behind the Mousetraps becomes clear as soon as you install them. Unlike many other adapters, Redshift use an integrated lever system to lock them securely onto the pedal. You simply insert the adapter into the SPD pedal just like a normal cleat, and flipping the distinctive lever clamps the “mousetrap” rock-solid into the clipless mechanism.
Due to their design, it is practically impossible to accidentally release the Mousetraps by twisting your foot. They come out just as fast as they go in: flip the lever up, pull the adapter out, and you’re done.
The adapters provide an 80 x 105 mm platform, which is large enough to offer a secure footing, even with chunky trainers or flip-flops. To help with traction, Redshift have covered the top of the pedals with rows of small plastic pyramids. This provides plenty of grip for a trip to the ice cream parlour or your daily commute to the office. However, as soon as things get rough or wet, these plastic pyramids reach their limits. They simply cannot replace real metal pins, and anyone steering onto a singletrack trail risks painful slips – you should really put your cycling shoes on for that sort of thing.
Despite its limitations, the flat pedal adaptor has some clever design features. Thanks to the minimal 10 mm stack height, the adapters sit almost level with an SPD cleat. This means you will not have to adjust your carefully optimised saddle height by a few millimetres when riding in trainers. You can head off straight after fitting the adapters, without getting any nasty feedback from your knees.
For gadget fans, the real highlight comes when you are not actually using the Mousetraps. They contain small magnets which allow the pedals to click together face-to-face. This makes the whole package compact enough to slip easily into a jersey pocket without ruining the fabric, which is exactly what you would worry about if you were carrying a set of flat pedals. The pedal adapters will also fit into a large trouser pocket with room to spare.
Who Are the Redshift Mousetrap Pedal Adapters For?
The Redshift Mousetraps deliver exactly what they promise, transforming a sporty performance bike into a practical city commuter in a matter of seconds. The workmanship is flawless, and the mechanical locking system is a prime example of functional product design. Bright colours are also available, so you will be well catered for if you like to add a splash of colour to your ride. Furthermore, additional pedal platforms are currently in development.
Who are these pedal adapters actually for? The perfect scenario is a holiday, or a short urban commute. Just picture the scene: you arrive at your accommodation in the Italian mountains, exhausted after an epic gravel ride. After a quick shower, you want to head down into the valley for a pizza. You could not fit your city bike into the car, so you just click the Mousetraps onto your gravel bike, slip on your trainers, and roll down to dinner in total comfort. This is exactly the kind of balancing act between sports machine and everyday workhorse that these adapters were made for.
Conclusion: Would We Buy the Redshift Mousetrap?
Yes. Looking at it objectively, €65 for two pieces of glass-fibre reinforced plastic is a pretty steep price. For the same money, you could easily buy a decent pair of standard flat pedals. However, if you want to avoid the hassle of constantly swapping pedals with a spanner, and you appreciate a mechanically flawless gadget, you cannot go wrong here. The Mousetraps might be a bit of a luxury for everyday riding, but they are an incredibly clever and well-thought-out one.
Tops
- Simple and secure installation concept
- Low stack height
- Magnetic storage feature
Flops
Find out more on redshiftsports.com
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Words: Christoph Staudinger Photos: Jan Fock