Cycling doesn’t often get new cleat designs. Shimano’s SPD system has gone largely untouched for 30 years, and with good reason: it works. So when Shimano announced a fresh cleat, the MT001, aimed at making clipping in easier for racers and beginners, I was curious to find out just how it would feel out on the trails.
However, with the launch of the new XTR-M9220 trail pedal came the announcement of a new cleat design. The MT001 is claimed to offer multidirectional engagement, meaning that you no longer have to slide your foot forward to locate the cleat on the pedal and press it into place, toe first. Instead, Shimano says that the MT001 cleat can engage in a pedal heel-first, toe-first or even just a vertical stomp on the pedal.
Shimano claims the result is a cleat better suited to racers who need to get into the pedal in the blink of an eye, as well as beginners learning to ride with clipless pedals, taking some of the precision required out of the equation.
Dave Rome
Having used the new cleats for every single ride for over a month now, I feel like I’m in a position to comment on whether these are revolutionary or just a product to inject some life into a 30-year-old system.
Highs: Backwards-compatible with all Shimano SPD pedals. The rounded front makes walking quieter, and the force required to clip in is lighter than with an SH51
Lows: For experienced SPD users, the use cases for the additional engagement motions will be limited. Beginners might find clipping in easier, but clipping out remains the same as the SH51 rather than offering multidirectional release like the SH56.
Pricing: £20 / €15 / $23
The changes are subtle, but Shimano says they matter
Unless you have an SH51 and an MT001 cleat sitting next to each other, the only way you’ll be able to tell which one you are looking at is by the model number stamped on the cleat body.
Although the silhouette may be nearly identical, the key difference between the two cleats is found at the front. Where the SH51 has a more angular design, the MT001 has a more rounded, less angular taper. There’s also a new central groove, possibly a centring aid for future pedals, though its purpose is unclear and Shimano is being its usual silent self.
On the underside of the cleat, everything remains the same; this means that once you are clipped into the pedal, you experience the same security as with an SH51 cleat, the level of float and the resistance are comparable, and the method and tension of release are unchanged.
Mounting the cleats is also unchanged, with the system simply bolting to any two-bolt cleat interface. Like other Shimano cleats, these include a silver ring that’s used as a cleat spacer if the tread on your shoe protrudes too much to inhibit cleat engagement – you don’t use this part if you don’t need to.
It's a subtle change, but based on Shimano’s claims, I was eager to put them to the test. Iain Treloar has also used the new cleats and provided some impressions.
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