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| The Redshift Sports Mousetrap Pedal Adapter in the wild |
Redshift Sports sent over a pair of Mousetrap Pedal Adapters at no charge to Guitar Ted Productions. Guitar Ted was not bribed, nor paid, for this review. All images and opinions are Guitar Ted's unless otherwise noted.
I have several bicycles. Some of them have flat pedals installed and some do not. Maybe it is just me, but there are days I'd like to ride the bikes without flat pedals and well...... Riding in street shoes on SPD's is not only uncomfortable, but likely dangerous.
Most likely....
But I would do the deed on street shoes and SPD's at times because I am just in a hurry or I really want to test ride that bike NOW! Going up to slide into SPD compatible shoes is just going to take time and energy.
Now what if there were a product you could install in seconds which would convert your clipless pedals into flats, look good doing it, and perform well? Now you might call something like this a "better mousetrap. And you know what? This is exactly what Redshift Sports has done.
The Mousetrap Pedal Adapter:
The Mousetrap Pedal Adapter is a Nylon composite device with a magnet which attaches to the interface of your SPD type pedal, giving it a flat platform which you then can safely and comfortably pedal on.
Measuring a healthy 80mm x 105mm, there is plenty of space for most feet. The surface is textured to provide some grip for street shoes. (With a rubber soul, don't-cha know ) The stack height of the Mousetraps is 10mm, which should be nearly imperceptible and according to Redshift, make a saddle height adjustment unnecessary.
Redshift Sports claims a pair of Mousetrap Pedal Adapters weighs about 176 grams. I didn't weigh the pair I have until after they had gotten dirty and they weighed 165 grams. So, that's nice. You can obtain a set of Mousetrap Pedal Adapters now for a price of $59.99/pair. Oh.....and they come in Black/Grey, but there are some limited edition colors too.
Currently the Mousetrap Pedal Adapters are only compatible with SPD type pedals. However; Redshift Sports says SPD-SL, Look Keo, and Crank Brothers compatible variants will be coming Fall 2026.
How The Mousetrap Works:
So, I don't think these could be any easier to use. I was a bit skeptical when I was pitched the idea for the review. I've seen pedal adapters before. You might recall those Shimano "test ride" inserts. I know lots of bicycles are running around with those on one side of a set of SPD pedals, and once they are in there they are nearly impossible to remove. Was the Mousetrap going to use a similar retention idea?
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| The Mousetrap Pedal Adapter showing the tab which interfaces with the SPD pedal |
Thankfully the Mousetrap does not work like those old Shimano test flats. The Mousetrap has an inner, hinged rectangular part, (on my samples it is the light grey colored bit), which when the front tab is pulled up, the pedal is adapter is ready to be installed, as shown above. Next.....
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| Place the tab into the leading retention clip on the SPD pedal |
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| Then fold over the open part of the Mousetrap Pedal Adapter |
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| And........DONE! Ready to ride! |
As I stated above, I don't think this could be done any easier. I installed the adapter with one hand as I took the above images. The Mousetrap comes off just as easily. Well, when you want it to come off. When installed the Mousetrap Pedal Adapter stays put quite nicely.
Part of the stability of the Mousetrap Pedal Adapters is the magnets embedded into the glass-fiber infused Nylon body. Near as I can tell, there are two magnets in each adapter which land right above the back end of the pedal body. So besides the mechanical connection there is a magnetic one as well.
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| Black and grey Mousetraps along with the Limited Edition colors. (Image courtesy of Redshift Sports) |
Riding Impressions:
I've already given it away, but the Mousetrap Pedal Adapter does ride very well. It isn't loose or noisy. It feels pretty secure, although I maybe wouldn't take to doing stunts with these on a bike. No, these adapters are not going to replace your flat pedals, but what they could do for you is open up many options. I'll get to those ideas in a minute.
I've had the Mousetrap Pedal Adapters for about a month now. I used them for commutes, for the most part, along with some errand riding, and just for bombing around the neighborhood. Again, these adapters feel good, they feel pretty secure, and the diamond pattern molded into the pedal adapter platform is grippy enough for casual pedaling around and maybe a spirited sprint now and then. Rubber soled shoes work best, naturally. I used my PF Flyers, a pair of Keen hiking boots, and a pair of Giant branded MTB shoes with an SPD interface and a rubber sole.
I have just a couple of nits. One is that the adapters make your pedals hang the Mousetraps face down to the ground. This is a bit of a kludge when the ride requires a lot of stopping and starting. You could buy two sets of Mousetraps and have double-sided platforms. So, if this is really an issue, there is this remedy. Secondly, while Redshift designed these so you wouldn't have to change your saddle height, I think it is a bit noticeable that you have something a bit different going on with regard to leg extension. Now granted, this may be due to shoes. I understand this. I also know I have a sensitivity to saddle height, an almost "Princess and the Pea" level of sensitivity to saddle height changes. So this could be chalked up to Guitar Ted's weirdness.
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| I used the Mousetrap Pedal Adapters on a recent gravel ride. |
I even did a gravel ride with the Mousetraps on the bike, using the adapters for about half the ride, and the clipless side for the other half. The Mousetraps stayed in place without any noises or issues at all. I was pretty impressed.
Comments:
I could see how the Mousetrap Pedal Adapters could be used as a way to make it fun and attractive to use your race bike at a venue to get around with. I know many times big events have a day, or maybe two days, ahead of the event with expos, food, and music. You can easily pop in these adapters and go run about wherever without worrying about slipping off the clipless pedal or fatiguing your feet. Plus you won't have to clomp around in stiff riding shoes.
Obviously commuting, errands, or fun rides on your SPD equipped bike can now happen for you anytime without the hassle of finding your cycling shoes and putting them on. The Mousetraps are small enough to fit into your pocket, and can be installed and removed in seconds. So, it is something you might even want on a touring bike or bike packing trip for short excursions to the showers in your flip-flops, or for that beer run into town and back.
Conclusions:
The Mousetrap Pedal Adapters are a very clever idea which was implemented excellently. They are easy to use, effective at what they were designed to do, and they could be applied to many different situations. I found them to be very impressive and useful. They opened up an easy way for me to grab any bike in my stable and ride it in my street shoes.
It is hard to find anything not to like here. So, I will quit trying and just enjoy them. I'd recommend these to anyone who has a bicycle with a clipless Shimano style pedal who could use a platform pedal now and again.
Check these adapters out HERE and the other great products Redshift Sports offers at Redshift Sports .
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