SPDs or Flats, Pick Your Poison with These New Shoes and Pedals from Shimano 14

Recognizing that 90% of Shimano's athletes ride clipless, Shimano decided it was time to make a clipless pedal within their Saint family of products. They've got a very thin pedal body to help you avoid as many rocks as possible, and adjustable pins on each side to allow you to customize the feel. They weigh in at 546 grams per pair and cost $159.99 USD.

On the flat pedal side, Shimano has made several key updates and is introducing a few new models. The Saint PD-M828 flat pedal gets a bit thinner for the new year thanks to a slimmer chromoly spindle with an 8mm hex wrench mount. They weigh in at 493 grams per pair, have 12 pins per side, and cost $179.99 USD.

Shimano's new XT flat pedal, the XT PD-M8040 comes in two different platform sizes so you can optimize the feel of the pedal in relation to the size of your foot. These concave pedals have 10 pins per side and ship with both long and short pins, they weigh in at 346 grams per pair and cost $99.99 USD regardless of the size selected.

The final update to the flat pedal line is the new PD-GR500 platform pedal, which at $79.99 USD is Shimano's budget offering. Having tested many pedals we know that this is an impressive price point to reach, especially considering that these pedals have a chromoly spindle and spin on sealed cartridge bearings. They come in two colors, silver and black, and weigh 533 grams per pair.

Finally, Shimano introduced us to a few pairs of new shoes where the rubber outsole has been developed in partnership with Michelin. The new GR9 is a flat pedal shoe aimed at the enduro/downhill market, with a Michelin outsole that aims to provide good grip both on and off the pedals. An armored lace shield and a reinforced toebox provide extra protection from the elements, while the materials used should ensure that the shoes does not take on excessive amounts of water during long and wet days out. The GR9 will retail for $150 USD.

The new GR7 is billed as an all-around SPD shoe for trail and enduro riding. A Michelin rubber outsole provides extra grip both on and off the bike, while the perforated synthetic upper helps with heat management. The GR7 weighs in at 366 grams and costs $130 USD.

The AM9 is Shimano's flagship enduro/downhill shoe. It features a "pedal channel" to help with stability even when not clipped in, an armored lace shield and toebox protection. The AM9 weighs in at 400 grams and retails for $160 USD. 

For more information, head on over to www.bike.shimano.com.