Shimano PD-M785 XT Trail Pedal
While lightness is always a good thing, there are a few places on the bike that deserve a look at function first. Perhaps you like more surface area than the standard XT pedals offer. These Shimano XT PD-M785 Pedals have an integral cage that gives you a greater area to hit when you have to "stab" at them in the heat of the moment. You'll also be able to count on more support for your foot as you pedal. If you ride in anything softer than uber-stiff carbon soled shoes, this is where you'll notice the greatest benefit. As usual, the workhorse XT parts get some trickledown from Shimano's flagship XTR line. The shape of the cage is very similar to the more expensive XTR parts; and at a glance, they look identical. The retention mechanism functions exactly the same. For your hard-earned dollars, there is no comparison for XT pedals. They'll always give you the best performance-per-dollar. The key difference is seen on the gram scale. XTR is significantly lighter thanks to their use of higher grade materials and subtle trimming of excess fat. And for this caged version, you'll gain about 30 grams per pedal over the standard-sized XT PD-M780 Pedals. Like all other Shimano SPD pedals, it's a two-sided design so you can have easy access with the stomp of your foot. The two-bolt SH-51 cleats (included) have 4 degrees of float to allow some movement in your ankle as you pedal. The Shimano XT PD-M785 Pedals are Dark Grey and have an aluminum body that relies on sealed cartridge bearings to spin on a plated chromoly axle. The retention mechanism can be adjusted on both sides to accommodate your preferred release tension.