Shimano PD-7810 Road Pedal

One of the best things about my job is that I get to test bikes and bike gear all year round. And after years of that, I've never found a pedal I liked as much as Shimano's Dura-Ace PD-7800. The reassuring click as the cleats engage, the firm hold, the effortless unclipping, the adjustable tension, the broad platform for increased stability: all perfect. I put more than 10,000 miles on my most recent pair and could have kept going. But I suddenly had a reason to swap them out: the new-and-improved Dura-Ace pedal, the PD-7810. (Why, Shimano, with all those R&D dollars, are you still naming your products with all the creativity of a government file clerk?).

See, for all its superiority, the old model had one fundamental flaw: The body cover—a removable panel that spans the width of the pedal where the cleat engages—was made of plastic. As a result, it would wear down rather easily, which resulted in unwanted lateral play in the pedal. The cover could be replaced pretty easily, but at a Dura-Ace price point, you shouldn't have to do that. Evidently, Shimano has finally come around to that fact, because the cover on the new model is made of stainless steel. This might seem like a minor detail, but it's an improvement in durability, stability, and aesthetics. Nothing minor about it.

The 7810 is also wider than its predecessor, the platform elegantly flaring out underfoot for even better cleat engagement and stability. And at 278 grams a pair, they're also three grams lighter. So the best pedal I've ever ridden has gotten better. And that's saying a lot. $250; shimano.com

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