When you are looking for pedals for a triathlon, clipless pedals directly strike into our minds. These types of pedals are modern, they are sport dependent, and most of all, they provide a way more power for pedaling than the regular pedals. What actually happens with these types of pedals is that a cleat attaches to your shoe-sole for keeping your foot securely on the pedal. Of course, it is not possible if you are wearing regular shoes. You will need some cleat compatible shoes in order to use such pedals. Although there are some ups and downs with some models, most manufacturers follow the same mechanism and materials for building these pedals. This can make it difficult for choosing the right set of pedals that one is looking for.
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After exclusive research for relentless hours, we have come up with a list of the top pedals that we believe to be perfect for triathlon type cycling. Our list is entirely based on user intents and our pedals are the righteous choice for different aspects. We like to designate the Shimano Ultegra PD R8000 as our “Overall Best Choice” among all the pedals because we really think it fulfills the requirements to be the perfect triathlon pedal.
Pro performance | Overall Best Choice
The SHIMANO Ultegra PD R8000 is an ultimate set of pedals where there is nothing to dislike. These pedals feature extra-wide platforms for sufficient power transfer for each stroke. So, you are getting a clipless pedal with a wide surface that also makes pedaling easy and comfortable. The cleats that come with these pedals are 3-bolt designed SPD-SL cleats. These cleats will keep your feet firmly in place. These pedals have an outstanding build quality and they are made of carbon composite materials. They have a low profile design and they are extremely lightweight. They offer the option to replace the built-in sealed bearings with wide bearings for more stability. They come with a longer axle unit. If it doesn’t fit your bike, you can switch it with a 4 mm long spindle axle.
- Type: Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat)
- Platform Dimension: 8.7” x 4.7” x 2.4”
- Weight: 0.55 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Carbon Composite
- Included Cleat: SM-SH11
- Optional Cleat: SM-SH10, SM-SH12
- Axle Material: Chromoly Steel
- Bearing Type: 3 Sealed Cartridge
In the following table, we’ve listed the best pedals in the market for triathlon bikes:
| Pedals | Why we recommend this |
|---|---|
| SHIMANO Ultegra PD R8000 | Pro performance | Overall Best Triathlon Bike Pedal |
| Shimano 105 PD R7000 SPD | Wide & Light carbon body. Perfect for triathlon riding. |
| SHIMANO Ultegra PD-6800 SPD SL | Extra-wide platform |
| SHIMANO PD R-540 | The large binding target for rapid engagement |
| SHIMANO Dura-Ace PD-9000 SPD-SL | Extra-wide platform with Carbon composite body |
| Speedplay Zero | Dual Sided Entry with Zero Locking Mechanism |
| LOOK KEO 2 Max | Adjustable spring tension release for better engagement of feet |
| Time Xpresso 4 | Allow natural movements |
| SHIMANO PD-M540 SPD | Smooth performance and long life |
| SHIMANO PD-A5300 | Attractive look with Multipurpose Use |
10 best pedals you can buy today for triathlon bikes
Based on various user intents, we have classified different pedals in different categories. Our list includes the following pedals.
Like always, we have prepared a comparison table of all the pedals that have been selected on our list especially for those who are limited with their time. But we highly recommend you to go through the whole post for getting an in-depth detail for each product.
| Pedal | Preview | Type | Spindle Diameter | Platform Dimension (inch) | Weight (Pair) | Body Material | Axle Material | Road Clearance | Bearing Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHIMANO Ultegra PD R8000 | Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat) | 9/16” | 8.7” x 4.7” x 2.4” | 0.55 lbs | Carbon Composite | Chromoly Steel | 33° | 3 Sealed Cartridge | |
| Shimano 105 PD R7000 | Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat) | 9/16” | 6.7” x 5.9” x 2” | 0..58 lbs | Carbon Composite | Chromoly Steel | 31° | Sealed Cartridge | |
| SHIMANO Ultegra PD-6800 | Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat) | 9/16” | 8.5” x 4.5” x 2.5” | 0.62 lbs | Carbon & Aluminum | Chromoly Steel | 32° | Sealed Cartridge | |
| SHIMANO PD R-540 | Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat) | 9/16” | 6.6” x 6.3” x 1.9” | 0.727 lbs | Aluminum | Chromoly Steel | 34° | Sealed Cartridge | |
| SHIMANO Dura-Ace PD-9000 | Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat) | 9/16” | 7.9” x 3.2” x 1.6” | 0.55 lbs | Carbon | Chromoly Steel | 35° | 2 (Ball) + 1 (Roller) | |
| Speedplay Zero | Double-Sided Clipless | 9/16” | 6.2” x 6.3” x 2” | 0.48 lbs | Chrome-Moly/Stainless/Titanium | Chrome-Moly/Stainless/Titanium | - | Sealed Cartridge | |
| LOOK KEO 2 Max | Single-Sided Clipless | 9/16” | 0.33” x 2.36” | 0.57 lbs | Composite | Chromoly + | - | 2 (Ball) + 1 (Roller) | |
| Time Xpresso 4 | Single-Sided Clipless | 9/16” - 20” | 7.5” x 5.2” x 2.5” | 0.507 lbs | Glass-Filled & Stainless Steel | Hollow Steel | 15° | Steel | |
| SHIMANO PD-M540 | Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat) | 9/16” | 6.3” x 4.9” x 2.2” | 0.776 lbs | Aluminum | Chromoly | - | Sealed Cartridge | |
| SHIMANO PD-A530 | Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat) | 9/16” | 0.55” x 0.55” x 0.35” | 0.844 lbs | Aluminum | Steel (Cr-Mo) | - | Sealed Cartridge |
# Shimano Pedals (Clipless SPD-SL)
1. SHIMANO Ultegra PD R8000: Pro performance | Overall Best Choice
- Type: Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat)
- Platform Dimension: 8.7” x 4.7” x 2.4”
- Weight: 0.55 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Carbon Composite
- Included Cleat: SM-SH11
- Optional Cleat: SM-SH10, SM-SH12
- Axle Material: Chromoly Steel
- Bearing Type: 3 Sealed Cartridge
- Extra-wide Platform: The wide platforms of these pedals are the mentionable features as you can stroke these pedals with efficient power transfer.
- Compatibility: A ultimate set of pedals for road, triathlon, and time trial type cycling.
- Wide Bearing: They come with 3 sealed cartridge bearings and you can replace them with wide bearings for more stability and to distribute the load equally.
- SPD-SL Cleat: Supports 3-bolt designed shoes with SPD-SL 3-hole designed cleats.
- Adjustable Tension System: These pedals come with an adjustable spring tension system so, you can dial in the feel of entering and exiting the pedal
- Replaceable Wear Plate: The pedal features a replaceable stainless steel wear plate which prevents any kind of abrasion directly to the carbon body from the cleat.
- Longer Axle: There are 4 mm longer axles available for these pedals.
- Build Quality: These pedals use a carbon boy construction which is very rigid for efficient power transfer and also for keeping the weight down.
- Low Profile Design: These pedals promote an overall low profile design to increase cornering clearance.
- Lightweight: Extremely lightweight for their carbon-composite body that enables effortless pedaling.
- Available Reflector: Compatible reflector (SM-PD63) is available that needs to be bought separately.
- Installation: Easy installation and like most Shimano pedals, this pedal also requires an 8 mm wrench. These pedals are backed by a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
- May have to tighten the cleats repeatedly, but it can happen if you do aggressive cycling.
- These pedals are more superior for long road cycling compared to short road cycling.
The Ultegra PD R8000 is a pedal that has all the great features that you can expect from a high-quality Shimano pedal. The aesthetic has also been updated to match the new 6811-speed group. These pedals are for professional cyclists or ultimate cycling enthusiasts. Each pedal is extremely light yet strong for long-lasting service. Also, the bearings are sealed and lubricated for a smooth feeling while pedaling. Check out this video for a quick overview and installation of these pedals –
The height from the axle center to the cleat contact area is around 10 mm. The build quality of these pedals offers a notable road clearance which is 33° and 6° float SPD-SL cleats allow you to freely move your feet on the pedals. SM-SH11 cleats are included with these pedals and you can install either SM-SH10 or SM-SH12 cleats as alternatives. This set of pedals is the true successor of the flagship model which is the Shimano Dura-Ace PD-9100.
SHIMANO Ultegra PD R8000
2. Shimano 105 PD R7000 SPD: Wide & Light carbon body
- Type: Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat)
- Platform Dimension: 6.7” x 5.9” x 2”
- Weight: 0.58 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Carbon Composite
- Included Cleat: SM-SH11
- Optional Cleat: SM-SH10, SM-SH12
- Axle Material: Chromoly Steel
- Bearing Type: Sealed Cartridge
- Better Pedal Contact: These pedals offer wider cleats and excellent binding mechanisms for better pedal contact than traditional SPD pedals.
- SPD-SL Cleat: You can wear 3-bolt SPD compatible shoes for the 3-hole designed SPD-SL cleats.
- Wide Bearing: For effective transmission of power, these pedals have extra-wide bearings.
- Equal Weight Load: For a uniform distribution of pedal load, wider spacing is ensured between each bearing.
- Adjustable Tension System: Offer an adjustable tension system for comfortable entry and release.
- Build Quality: The body is made from the combination of durable stainless steel and carbon composites, which makes these pedals resistant to wear and torsion.
- Durability: The strong and sturdy body of this pedal decreases pedal-body wear and flex.
- Available Reflector: For enhanced visibility, an optional reflector (SM-PD65) is available for these pedals.
- Installation: An 8 mm wrench will make the installation process quite easy.
- Lightweight: The carbon-composite body makes each pedal very light so that you don’t have to sacrifice a lot of strength while pedaling.
- Shimano will offer a 3-year warranty for this product.
- These pedals may not suit well with tall people for their correspondingly large foot distances.
- After using for a significant period of time, the pedals may come off their axles.
The Shimano 105 PD-R7000 pedals were engineered in such a way that they could cope up with the 105 11-speed groups. These pedals will promise you to provide a balanced ride with their large shoe-contact areas and binding mechanisms yet they maintain a low profile design. While you are cycling with the pedals, you can input pressure not just only in the contact area in the center. These pedals have wide surface areas that distribute the load to every corner, not just in the center.
There are 3 different options for these pedals. The SM-SH11 are the cleats that come with the package itself. You can also go for the SM-SH10 and SM-SH12 cleats if you feel like trying out a different set of cleats. No matter which cleats you choose, they all offer 3° float in all directions. Also, utilize clear cornering as these pedals have 31° of road clearance. These pedals are paired with wide sealed cartridge axles, which need low maintenance.
Shimano 105 PD R7000
3. SHIMANO Ultegra PD-6800 SPD SL: Extra-wide platform
- Type: Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat)
- Platform Dimension: 8.5” x 4.5” x 2.5”
- Weight: 0.62 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Carbon + Aluminum
- Included Cleat: SM-SH11
- Optional Cleat: SM-SH10, SM-SH12
- Axle Material: Chromoly Steel
- Bearing Type: Sealed Cartridge
- Extra Wide Platform: Their wide surfaces allow you to pedal in an efficient way for more power transfer.
- Wide Bearing: These pedals feature sealed cartridge bearings that are replaceable with wide bearings if you want more load distribution and stability while pedaling.
- Steel Plate: Durable stainless steel plates sit on top of the pedals for reducing flex and pedal body wear.
- Axle Unit: These pedals offer high-end axle units that can be maintained with a minimum arrangement.
- Power Transfer: The extra-wide surfaces of these pedals will be responsible for more power transfer in order to have maximum efficiency.
- Adjustable Tension System: You can dial the adjustable spring tension system to adjust the flexibility of entering and exiting the pedal.
- SPD-SL Cleats: As usual, these pedals support SPD-SL cleats that are made of Aluminum to provide decent performance while you are wearing SPD compatible shoes.
- Longer Axle: If you want, you can get a 4 mm longer axle for these pedals.
- Build Quality: The carbon composite body makes them very strong and rigid at the same time, makes them very light.
- Lightweight: For an ultra-durable construction of carbon composite, these pedals are extremely light.
- Low Profile Design: Get a smooth clearance while cornering for their low profile design.
- Available Reflector: A pair of reflectors (SM-PD63) is available for these pedals for enhancing visibility.
- A 3-year product warranty will be offered when you purchase these pedals.
- The cleats make walking a little bit difficult as they tend to keep your feet angled to the front.
- Some faced difficulties for releasing their feet from the cleats.
- Sadly, their build quality has failed to satisfy some people.
The Ultegra PD-6800 is at the pinnacle of lightweight pedals for their high-end carbon body and the added steel plates increase the durability to the next level. These plates protect the pedals from any flex and bodywear. So, these pedals will look good as new after using them for decades. This guy in the video gives a crystal clear overview of this product. So take a look-
These SPD-SL designed pedals were successful enough to prove their versatility and durability in various Pro Tour racing. A low profile pedal where the distance from the axle to the shoe-sole remains 14.5 mm. These sleek pedals offer smoothness while cornering with their 32° road clearance and you can move your feet freely as the SPD-SL cleats offer a 3° float. Like most Shimano pedals, they engage with your feet with the SM-S11 cleats.
SHIMANO Ultegra PD-6800
4. SHIMANO PD R-540: Large binding target for rapid engagement
- Type: Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat)
- Platform Dimension: 6.6” x 6.3” x 1.9”
- Weight: 0.727 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Aluminum
- Included Cleat: SM-SH11
- Optional Cleat: SM-SH10, SM-SH12
- Axle Material: Chromoly Steel
- Bearing Type: Sealed Cartridge
- 2-Way Platform: One side of the pedal is Shimano SPD type where you will need some compatible shoes to adjust the cleats and the other side works like a typical flat pedal.
- Wide Platform: Wide pedal surface area to adjust your feet with superior stability.
- Wide Bearing: For a uniform load apportions and stable performance, you can arrange wide bearings.
- Axle Unit: Comes with a low maintenance durable axle unit for loading sealed cartridge bearings.
- SPD-SL Cleat: 3-hold design SPD-SL cleats will come with these pedals that work with 3-bolt SPD-SL shoes for better engagement.
- Adjustable Tension System: Adjustable entry and exit of your feet from the pedals with this tension system and now makes it easier with indicators.
- Better Foot-Contact: Large and clear binding mechanism makes better contact with your feet than traditional pedals.
- Quick Engagement: The large binding sections also enable quick engagement of your foot with the pedal.
- Power Transfer: The wide platform surface and binding areas make power transit more efficient.
- Build Quality: Made of high-quality Aluminum and Chromoly steel was used to make the spindle axle.
- Colors: If you want to buy these pedals, you can choose from Silver, Black or White color that matches the best with your bike’s paint.
- Available Reflector: An optional reflector part SM-PD58 is available if you want to intensify the visibility.
- A limited warranty for 3 years will be provided with these pedals.
- If you want to take out these pedals for mountain biking, your feet may slip off the pedals frequently.
- Some suggest that these pedals are not great for long term usage and they have a poor lifespan.
- For poor workmanship, you may get squeaks from friction.
The Shimano PD-R540 pedals are the entry-level road pedals and part of the successful and long-running Shimano Tiagra 4700 series. The pedals from this series are all proven to be of high-quality through intensive race-courses. That also goes the same for this pedal. Except for the lighter, exotic material; these pedals work exactly in the same way as the company’s pricier models and it is proven to be true by Shimano’s ethos.
You can make excellent cornering with these pedals as they offer a road clearance of 34° and they come with 3-hole designed SPD-SL cleats that offer a 5° float for better foot adjustment. So, these pedals are great options where you will be able to get the same dynamics as the pro-level Shimano pedals.
SHIMANO PD R-540
5. SHIMANO Dura-Ace PD-9000 SPD-SL: Extra-wide platform with Carbon composite body
- Type: Multi-Purpose (SPD/Flat)
- Platform Dimension: 7.9” x 3.2” x 1.6”
- Weight: 0.55 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Carbon
- Included Cleat: SM-SH12
- Optional Cleat: SM-SH11, SM-SH10
- Axle Material: Chromoly Steel
- Bearing Type: 2 (Ball) + 1 (Roller)
- Extra Wide Platform: These pedals are extra wide, which is better for easy and quick foot adjustment and for distributing the load pressure equally to every corner.
- 3-Bearing Axle: Spinning the crank axles will be smoother than ever for the 3-earing axle system where 2 ball bearings and a roller bearing is attached.
- Power Transfer: The wide surfaces of these pedals deliver better stability that increases the power transfer.
- Steel Plate: To improve the longevity of these pedals, there are stainless steel protector plates covering the surfaces and these plates are replaceable.
- SPD-SL Cleat: These pedals include 3-hole designed SPD-SL cleats with blue side-edges and they are front-center-pivoting.
- Adjustable Tension System: The adjustable tension system allows you to customize the required amount of force for releasing your feet from the pedals.
- Longer Axle: If the included axle doesn’t work for you, then you can go for the 4 mm longer axle.
- Available Reflector: An optional SM-PD63 reflector is available for better visibility.
- Build Quality: Outstanding build quality where the body is made of injection-molded carbon composites and Chromoly steel was used to build the axle.
- Colors: You can buy these pedals either in Black or Grey color.
- Package: The package includes a pair of pedals, a pair of cleats and all mounting hardware.
- Shimano will humbly offer a 3-year limited warranty with these pedals.
- These pedals have open cage bearings that might make the servicing of these pedals a nightmare.
- In today’s industry, Shimano should have used sealed bearings instead of cage bearings for such high-quality pedals.
The Shimano Dura-Ace PD-9000 pedals are undoubtedly some of the top-of-the-line performance pedals available in the market today. When you are looking for nothing but absolute performance, these are just the right pedals that you can pick with blindfolded eyes. Thanks to its high build quality and wide surface, you will get enough power for pedaling as you have wished for. The platform surface is so wide that you don’t have to look down and locate the pedal. This ensures better engagement between the pedal and your foot.
These are SPD-SL LS road pedals where LS stands for “Long Spindle”. As a result, they come with the spindle axles that are longer than 4 mm axles. This for those who want a wider Q-factor. However, you can certainly switch to a standard 4 mm spindle axle as they are available for these pedals. These pedals offer 35° of road clearance for better traction and the cleats offer 1° float.
SHIMANO Dura-Ace PD-9000
# Speedplay pedal for triathlon
6. Speedplay Zero: Dual Sided Entry with Zero Locking Mechanism
- Type: Double-Sided Clipless
- Platform Dimension: 6.2” x 6.3” x 2”
- Weight: 0.48 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Chrome-Moly/Stainless/Titanium
- Included Cleat: Zero Cleat
- Optional Cleat: Compatible Aftermarket Cleat
- Axle Material: Chrome-Moly/Stainless/Titanium
- Bearing Type: Sealed Cartridge
- Unique Design: These pedals are some of the unique designed lollypop looking pedals.
- Dual Sided Entry: This is a valuable feature of these pedals. Dual-sided entry means you can quickly engage your foot on the pedal no matter which side is attached below your shoe-sole.
- Adjustable Foot Position: This another exciting feature of these pedals. These pedals offer a three-way adjustment where you can adjust the cleat’s side-to-side, front and rear positions individually.
- Phenomenal Lightweight: No matter what type of material you choose for these pedals, all of them are lightweight and weigh close to one other.
- Zero Locking Mechanism: Unlike the spring tension system, these pedals offer zero locking mechanisms where entering and exiting becomes much easier.
- Zero Cleat: These pedals come with “Zero” cleats and these cleats support both 3-bolt or 4-bolt designed shoes.
- Cleat Cover: They include high grip rubberized cleats that will make getting off the pedals less dangerous.
- Power for Cornering: These sleek profile pedals will help you to power through corners while you are competing with your rival.
- Built-in Grease Port: You don’t have to take apart these pedals for servicing them, there are built-in grease ports to lubricate the bearings easily.
- Build Quality: You have the option to go for a Chrome-Moly, Stainless, or Titanium spindle axle for these pedals.
- A 2-year warranty will be provided for these pedals against any defect in material and workmanship.
- Some users might find these pedals to be a little fiddly to adjust them.
- The installation instructions are not so helpful.
- The spring may be tight and the cap screws may be small that can make the clip-in process difficult.
- Not a good set of pedals for relatively small riders.
For every aspiring and entry-level cyclist, the Speedplay Zero pedals offer a professional level of comfort for pedaling while maintaining optimum strength and durability. These pedals can be adjusted according to your own preferences. One major advantage of these pedals is the 0-15 of float. While cycling, you will feel no strain on your knees as the float of these pedals can be fine-tuned. These pedals are phenomenal lightweight. The economical version of these pedals can be selected in three different spindle materials and all of their weights are very close –
- Chrome-Moly pedal pair- 216 gm / each – 108 gm
- Stainless steel pedal pair – 206 gm / each – 103 gm
- Titanium pedal pair – 168 gm / each – 82 gm
“These pedals come with Zero Aero walkable cleats, which are not compatible with Speedplay Ultra Light Action and X-series cleats, but compatible with Speedplay Zero pedals.”
Process for Combining Cleats with Pedals:
- After aligning the inside of the pedals, apply pressure to the outside.
- Then apply pressure on the side to ensure their adjustments.
- It is not appropriate to apply pressure from top to bottom of the cleats.
- Make sure the stack height is 11.5 mm for 3-hole mounting and 8.5 mm for 4-hole mounting.
Speedplay Zero
# Look pedal for triathlon
7. LOOK KEO 2 Max: Adjustable spring tension release for better engagement of feet
- Type: Single-Sided Clipless
- Platform Dimension: 0.33” x 2.36”
- Weight: 0.57 lbs (Pair)
- Spindle Diameter: 9/16”
- Body Material: Composite
- Included Cleat: Keo Grip
- Optional Cleat: Same
- Axle Material: Chromoly +
- Bearing Type: 2 (Ball) + 1 (Roller)
- Optimized Contact Area: Experience improved performance and stability through each pedal stroke as the symbolical surface area of these pedals increase the contact points.
- Adjustable Tension Release: Adjustable spring tension release for better engagement of feet while entering and exiting the pedals. You can adjust the tension of the spring from 8Nm up to 12Nm.
- Bearing: The spindle axle consists of 2 ball bearings and a needle roller bearing.
- Float Range: Look offers 3 float options where you can choose from 0° up to 9° float angle.
- Keo Grip Cleats: These pedals come with a pair of gray Keo Grip cleats, which have a floating angle of 4.5°.
- Build Quality: Excellent build quality where the body of the pedal is made of composites and the platform is made of stainless steel.
- Lightweight: Unbelievably lightweight pedals, you will barely feel anything under your feet while pedaling.
- Color: These pedals are available in Balck and White color affirming their style.
- Against any defects and nonconformities, you will get a 2-year warranty from the date of purchase and you can extend your warranty from 2 to 3 years by registering your
