Imagine bike pedals so light they feel almost non-existent. That’s the promise of the new Tourelly Road Ceramic Ti pedals, unveiled by an Austrian startup at Eurobike. These aren’t just light; they pack a clever design trick that sets them apart from almost every other road bike pedal out there, aiming to shave precious grams while offering unique usability.
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What Makes Them Stand Out?
The headline feature is definitely the weight. Tourelly claims each Road Ceramic Ti pedal weighs just 58 grams. Think about that – that’s less than a deck of cards! A full set, including the necessary cleats, comes in at a claimed system weight of 220 grams. This is incredibly light for a road pedal system and immediately positions them among the most featherweight options available.
The Clever Locking System
Unlike most clipless road bike pedals, where the mechanism that holds your shoe locks in at the front and rear, Tourelly flips the script. The actual “click” or locking mechanism isn’t built into the pedal body itself. Instead, it resides within the cleat – the small piece that bolts onto the bottom of your shoe.
How it Works
With the mechanism in the cleat, the pedal interacts with it by locking from the left and right sides, rather than front-to-back. This seemingly small change has big implications for the pedal’s design.
Why It Matters
Moving the locking mechanism allows Tourelly to create a pedal with a much smaller contact area where the shoe meets the pedal. Since the pedal isn’t needed to support the shoe against forward/backward forces, it can be minimal. This design contributes significantly to the pedal’s low weight and also results in a low “stack height” of 14.5 mm. Stack height is simply how far your foot sits above the pedal axle; a lower stack can offer better pedaling efficiency for some riders.
Close-up view of the Tourelly lightweight road bike pedal showing its unique round body and mechanism interface
Easy Entry & Compatibility
Tourelly’s pedals feature a unique round body. This design choice provides a major practical benefit: 360-degree entry. No more fumbling to get the pedal in the right orientation – you can clip in from any angle around the pedal body. This is a notable improvement over many road pedals that only offer one or two-sided entry. Mountain bike pedals often offer dual-sided entry, but 360 degrees is rare on the road.
Another key point for potential buyers is compatibility. These pedals are designed to work with standard 3-hole road cycling shoes. You won’t need proprietary shoes or adapters, which simplifies things considerably and is a welcome feature.
The components of the Tourelly pedal system laid out, showing the round pedal body and the cleat with its integrated locking mechanism
Build Quality & Adjustability
Inside the seemingly simple pedal body, Tourelly uses relatively large, well-sealed ball bearings. These sit directly within the steel pedal body, suggesting a focus on durability despite the emphasis on lightness.
While you can’t adjust the spring tension (how easy or hard it is to clip in and out) on the fly with a simple screw, Tourelly plans to offer different springs. This means you can customize the tension, but you’ll need to swap out a spring to change it.
Multiple views of the Tourelly road bike pedals and cleats from different angles, showcasing their minimalist design and small size
Another perspective of the Tourelly road pedal and cleat, highlighting the rounded pedal shape and the shoe interface
What’s Next for Tourelly?
Tourelly is a new player, and their plan reflects that. They intend to produce a limited run of 100 to 300 sets in 2026. This initial batch will likely go to testers and early adopters, providing crucial feedback for further refinement. This approach is common for innovative startups entering the cycling market.
A detailed shot showing the Tourelly road bike cleat and the contact area on the pedal body where the unique left-right locking occurs
These Tourelly pedals represent a fascinating take on how cycling component design can be rethought. By moving the locking mechanism to the cleat, they’ve unlocked potential for extreme weight savings and a unique entry system, all while maintaining compatibility with standard road shoes. It will be exciting to see how these perform in the real world once they become available. Keep an eye out for updates on this innovative lightweight cycling tech.
