Renthal Revo-TRC Clipless Pedals

The Renthal Revo-TRC Trail Clip Pedals have taken their sweet time in actually reaching the shops, but for the most part it’s been worth the wait. Thanks to a tweaked mechansim design it’s one of the easiest pedals to clip into I’ve used, and they’re reasonably light and proper durable, too. There are compromises though – I can’t help think Renthal is aiming for too broad a market with one pedal.

Renthal Revo-TRC Trail Clip Pedals Technical details

With these pedals Renthal is aiming to please BMXers, trail and enduro riders, as well as those who prefer life on gravel. In order to hit all of those marks, the pedal uses a forged, then CNC-machined body (to shave off weight, literally) combined with a cromoly axle.

Upon that axle is an Igus bushing sat inboard and sporting a full-contact wiper seal. Additionally, there are three cartridge bearings mounted centrally on the axle, in line with pedalling forces, for a boost in durability. An o-ring-equipped end cap finishes off the sealing.

The axle is partially hollowed out to reduce weight. Renthal claims that a pair of Revo-TRCs weighs 394g.

As these use the same system found on the Revo-F flat pedal, the bushes and bearings can be replaced and the whole thing serviced in the comfort of your own home. You need nothing but allen keys ( 6 and 8mm) and a mallet.

Although the binding doesn’t look all that different to run-of-the-mill SPD systems, it’s got a neat trick up its sleeve. When engaging with a cleat, the rear part moves backwards and downwards. As a result it requires less force to engage the cleat across the range of spring tensions, says Renthal.

Speaking of tension, each side is adjustable, as you would expect, and the brand promises a fairly wide tension range.

Despite Renthal changing the mechanism design a bit, these pedals still work with regular SPD cleats. I tested them with both the Renthal cleats provided and Shimano’s updated MT001 cleats.

These pedals are available in Renthal’s classic colours – AluGold or Black

Renthal Revo-TRC Trail Clip Pedals Performance

We see brands tweak Shimano’s well known SPD mechanism every now and then, but perhaps not quite to the degree seen here. And impressively, that mechanism is the Revo-TRC’s ace in the hole. It’s probably the easiest pedal I’ve clipped into, yet it still gives that familiar SPD snap upon engagement, and when you’re in, you’re definitely in.

The pedal’s tension adjustment range lives up to the claims, too. I like to run as little tension as possible, and that setting here takes very little effort to disengage. Wind it on a bit more and the firmer hold still doesn’t sacrifice that easy clip-in.

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Although clipping out is so easy, it’s very good at letting you know when you’re about to disengage. There’s a clear and defined touch of resistance as the cleat reaches unclipping. This feedback is very handy when getting extra rowdy over the bike.

Speaking of float, Renthal doesn’t provide any numbers for its own cleats or whether a, say, six degree-float Shimano cleat would still give six degrees here, but to me these feel pretty similar to regular SPDs.

Despite the face of the pedal being cut with grip-enhancing grooves, there’s not much mechanical traction on the pedal, so the float is very free, without much in the way of resistance. That could have been solved by adding a couple of pins, and those on the trail and enduro side might have appreciated the ability to do that.

I’ve ridden this pedal with a few shoes – the Shimano GE900 GTXs, Giro’s Chamber IIIs and Leatt’s ProClip 5.0s. With the stiffer-soled Giros I’ve been very happy with the support from the Revo-TRCs, but with the more compliant Leatt and Shimano shoes I’ve found myself wanting a bigger platform. For trail and more aggressive rides, where flexier shoes can wrap around the pedal a touch, these got a bit uncomfortable, introducing a touch of fatigue into long and rough descents.

Yes, you could opt for the downhill-focused Revo-DHC pedals instead, but their platform isn’t just a bit bigger, it’s very large – and heavier too. I would like to see a model that bridges the gap, one that’s a little larger and has a few pins to slow down the feel of the float a touch.

Durability is very impressive. I’ve not been kind to these pedals, and they’re showing signs of it, but those signs are merely cosmetic. Internally they’re spinning beautifully smoothly, and the mechanism is working just as well as when I pulled the pedals from the box, despite them being thrashed through the UK’s rather miserable winter.

Renthal Revo-TRC Trail Clip Pedals – Verdict

With an asking price of £164, the Revo-TRCs are up there with the likes of Hope’s Union TCs at £160. Those use Hope’s own cleat design instead of Shimano’s, which won’t suit everybody, but they do offer a larger, pin-equipped platform if that’s what you’re after.

There are some strong contenders out there for a little bit less. OneUp Components’ £143 Clip Pedals also use a slightly tweaked SPD mechanism, but were strongly rated by our Ty. These also feature a larger platform and pins.

It’s hard to overlook Shimano’s XTR SPD M9120 Trail clipless pedals. They’re £140, have that classic Shimano feel and are overall mighty similar to the Renthals.

If it’s easy clip-ins, simple servicing and good looks you’re after, the Renthal Revo-TRC pedals offer all of that by the shedload. They’re excellent pedals that live up to the brand’s claims, and XC and many trail riders will find much to like. Aggressive trail and enduro riders might find themselves wanting a slightly larger and pin-equipped platform, however.