While clipless pedals are a must-have accessory for cyclists, they can be painful and difficult to use with normal street shoes. That’s why Redshift has come out with the new Mousetrap Pedal Adapters which can convert any SPD pedal to a flat pedal within a few seconds. It’s a simple yet clever way to temporarily convert any SPD pedal to a flat pedal without having to swap pedals out or use heavier hybrid style pedals. The current retail price for a pair of pedals is $59.99 with multiple color options available. Each pedal has a generous 80 x 105mm platform and a thin 10mm thickness. The pedals are constructed from a durable composite glass-filled nylon and have integrated magnets to hold them together for storage or travel.
The Redshift Mousetrap pedal adapters are a simple yet cleverly designed flat pedal adapter than can convert any SPD pedal in seconds.
| Retail Price | $59.99 |
| Rating | 9.5 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 173 |
| Likes | + Clever design that works seamlessly + Integrated magnets make it easy to store or travel with pedal adapters + Spring retention system is easy to install and remove compared to other adapters that use SPD cleats |
| Dislikes | – Costs as much as flat pedals – Adapters may flip upside down due to gravity |
| Where to Buy (US) | Redshift |
UNBOXING
The Redshift Mousetrap pedal adapters come in a small cardboard box with Redshift branding printed on it. Inside the box you’ll find the pair of pedal adapters and a quick start guide that shows how to install and remove them. This is a tool-free design so no additional accessories are needed.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the Redshift Mousetrap Adapters do actually look like a mouse trap with the flat design and pivoting clip mechanism. Instead of a wood base like a traditional mouse trap, the Redshift Mousetrap has a 10mm thick composite glass-filled nylon construction. The material is similar to what you’d find on composite pedals and feels stiff and durable. It has a large rectangular profile that is 80 x 105mm with beveled corners with a diamond like texture for grip. The center of the platforms have cutouts that allow the adapters to sit flat against pedals with a center hinged piece in a contrasting color.
Redshift currently offers the pedal in four color variations: black/gray, blue/orange, purple/black and the teal/pink we have here. It’s a fun retro-color scheme that makes the pedals hard to miss. At this time, there are no optional pins or cleats for mountain bike use as Redshift markets these adapters for road or commuters instead of a gravel or off-road flat pedal. For more extreme riding you’d be better off with dedicated flat pedals as these are optimized for convenience and ease of use. Branding on the pedals is limited to Redshift on the pivoting arm top and on the bottom of the pedal.
What makes the Redshift Mousetrap Adapters unique compared to other pedal adapters is the attachment mechanism. Instead of using a SPD cleat integrated into the adapter or having bolts to attach your own cleat, the adapters have a spring loaded latching mechanism. That means you do not have to do an awkward twisting motion to pry the adapters off the pedal. Instead, Redshift has a hook on the front that slides into the pedal and a spring loaded pivoting arm.As you close the pivoting arm a rear hook rotates from a vertical position to horizontal to secure it against the pedal. The most difficult part about this design is that it takes a little force to pull the adapter up to release the adapter, otherwise it’s simple and secure.
ON THE ROAD
If you’ve ever tried to ride a SPD pedals with normal street shoes, you’ll know that even a ride around the block can be painful. One of the key features of SPD pedals is their small size and lightweight, particularly compared to Shimano SPD-SL or Look Keo pedals. Without proper a proper reinforced SPD cycling shoe or commuter specific SPD shoes, that small size creates a pressure point that make it difficult to pedal. Obviously, you could simply swap out the pedals for flat pedals or use a heavier hybrid pedals with a flat surface on one side or SPD on the other, but that has drawbacks if you want to quickly switch between bikes or do a short ride. That’s where the Redshift Mousetrap shine, installation and removal is within seconds and the pedal adapters are thin and small so you can easily tuck them away or travel with them.
Redshift has utilized a simple spring retention system instead of simply grafting on an actual SPD cleat onto a flat pedal. While this makes the pedal a lot more expensive than other adapters on the market, some even have bolt holes for you to attach your own SPD cleats which make them even cheaper to produce, it’s far easier to install and remove as you do not have to compress the stiffer spring inside the SPD pedal itself. Once the adapters are on the bike, they feel stable and natural thanks to the textured surface and thin profile. Small details like the built in magnets are also nice touches as it securely holds the two pedals together for storage or travel.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Redshift Mousetrap SPD flat pedal adapters to have a clever and user friendly design. Redshift has used their own spring retention system instead of just adding SPD cleats to flat pedals. That makes the Mousetrap easy to install and remove from any SPD pedal as you don’t have any awkward rotational motion to remove them or a stiff pedal spring to install them. The flip-up handle give the adapters the mousetrap appearance and helps the pedals maintain a thin profile. We were impressed with the wide platform and attention to detail with magnets and front direction label printed on the pedal. The only downside of these pedals is that they cost as much as quality flat pedals so their more useful for situations where you want to do quick swaps or switch between bikes. That said, the Redshift Mousetrap are portable and well crafted flat pedal adapters.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Redshift. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.