SHIMANO Evolves SPD with the New CL-MT001 Cleat
The SHIMANO CL-MT001 SPD cleat evolves the familiar SPD clipless pedal system with multi-directional engagement, giving riders more ways to clip into compatible SPD pedals while retaining the familiar heel-out release.
Riders can engage using the traditional toe-first motion, enter rear-first and roll forward, or press down more directly onto the pedal. The result is a more forgiving entry process designed to benefit mountain bikers, gravel riders, cyclocross racers, commuters, and cyclists learning to use clipless pedals.
CL-MT001 at a glance:
- Multi-directional SPD pedal engagement.
- Traditional heel-out release.
- Multiple ways to clip into the pedal.
- Thinner, tapered cleat profile for improved off-bike usability.
- Compatible with existing SPD pedal systems.
- Standard two-bolt SPD mounting pattern.
What Is the SHIMANO CL-MT001 SPD Cleat?
The CL-MT001 is a new SPD cleat designed to make clipping into SPD pedals easier and more intuitive by expanding the number of ways a rider can engage the pedal.
It builds on the compact, two-bolt SPD platform that has long been used for mountain biking, gravel, cyclocross, commuting, and other styles of riding where off-bike walkability and reliable pedal engagement are important.
Learn more about SHIMANO PEDALING DYNAMICS (SPD).
Why Has SPD Been So Popular for Off-Road Riding?
SHIMANO developed SPD around the demands of riding both on and off the bike.
Unlike an exposed road-style cleat, the compact SPD cleat is designed to sit within the tread of a compatible cycling shoe. This allows the shoe's outsole to contact the ground when walking instead of placing the rider directly on the cleat.
The SPD system is also designed around muddy and unpredictable riding conditions, making it well suited to disciplines where riders may regularly clip out, walk, remount, and reconnect with the pedals.
Key characteristics of the SPD system include:
- Compact two-bolt cleat design.
- Recessed cleat placement for easier walking.
- Pedal designs intended to manage mud and trail debris.
- Secure pedal engagement.
- Familiar heel-out release motion.
How Does the CL-MT001 Change the Way You Clip In?
Traditional SPD engagement typically starts by locating the front of the cleat in the pedal, then pressing the heel downward until the rear of the cleat engages.
The CL-MT001 expands that entry window by allowing riders to connect with the pedal in multiple ways.
Three ways to engage the CL-MT001:
- Front first: Use the familiar toe-first SPD engagement motion.
- Rear first: Engage toward the rear, then roll the foot forward.
- Direct engagement: Press the cleat down onto the pedal.
Importantly, the release motion remains familiar. Riders rotate the heel outward to disengage from the pedal.
Why Is Multi-Directional Engagement Useful on Mountain Bikes?
Mountain biking frequently requires riders to put a foot down and then reconnect with the pedal quickly.
This can happen after a dab in a technical section, during a steep restart, after navigating an obstacle, or while trying to regain momentum on uneven terrain.
The expanded engagement options of the CL-MT001 give riders more opportunities to reconnect with the pedal without requiring the foot to approach from one precise angle.
That can make clipping back in more intuitive when navigating rock gardens, switchbacks, steep climbs, off-camber sections, or other technical terrain.
Is the CL-MT001 Good for Gravel and Cyclocross?
Yes. The same multi-directional engagement that can help on technical mountain bike trails is also useful for gravel riding and cyclocross.
Gravel riders may need to dismount for steep climbs, mud, stream crossings, or technical sections, while cyclocross racers regularly dismount and remount during competition.
A larger engagement window can make it easier to reconnect with the pedal after getting back onto the bike.
Is the CL-MT001 a Good SPD Cleat for Beginners?
The CL-MT001 can be particularly appealing to riders learning how to use clipless pedals.
Clipping into a pedal consistently takes some practice, especially when starting from a stop or trying to engage while riding uphill.
Because the CL-MT001 accepts multiple engagement motions, riders have more opportunities to connect the cleat with the pedal instead of relying on one specific entry technique.
The release motion remains the familiar SPD heel-out movement, so riders can learn the same basic clipping-out technique used throughout the SPD system.
Is the CL-MT001 Easier to Walk In?
In addition to changing pedal engagement, SHIMANO refined the physical profile of the CL-MT001.
The new cleat uses a thinner, more tapered shape designed to work naturally within the recessed outsole of compatible SPD shoes.
The updated profile is designed to provide:
- Improved traction while walking.
- Reduced cleat noise on hard surfaces.
- Improved stability during hike-a-bike sections.
- A more natural feel during everyday off-bike use.
These changes are useful whether you're walking through a technical trail section, crossing a parking lot, or stopping somewhere during a ride.
Does the CL-MT001 Work with Existing SPD Pedals?
Yes. One of the most important features of the CL-MT001 is compatibility with the existing SPD ecosystem.
The cleat retains the familiar two-bolt SPD mounting pattern and is designed for use with compatible current and previous-generation SPD pedals.
That means existing SPD riders can upgrade to the CL-MT001 without necessarily replacing their pedals or changing to a different shoe-and-pedal platform.
Who Should Choose the CL-MT001?
- Mountain bikers: Easier re-engagement after putting a foot down on technical terrain.
- Gravel riders: More engagement options after hike-a-bikes or technical sections.
- Cyclocross racers: Easier pedal engagement after frequent dismounts and remounts.
- New clipless riders: A more forgiving way to learn SPD pedal engagement.
- Everyday SPD riders: Updated engagement and walking characteristics while maintaining the familiar SPD platform.
Traditional SPD Cleat vs. CL-MT001: What's the Difference?
The biggest difference is how the cleat engages with the pedal.
Traditional SPD engagement:
- Primarily uses a front-first engagement motion.
- Releases with the familiar heel-out motion.
CL-MT001 engagement:
- Front-first engagement.
- Rear-first engagement.
- Direct downward engagement.
- Retains the familiar heel-out release.
For longtime SPD riders, the CL-MT001 maintains the release behavior they're already accustomed to while adding more flexibility when clipping in.
A New Step in the Evolution of SPD
SPD has earned its reputation by providing a durable, walkable, and consistent clipless pedal platform across a wide range of cycling disciplines.
The CL-MT001 builds on that foundation rather than replacing it. Multi-directional engagement expands how riders can connect with the pedal, while the familiar heel-out release and SPD compatibility preserve the characteristics longtime users already know.
For riders looking for an easier way to engage their SPD pedals, whether on technical trails, gravel roads, cyclocross courses, or everyday rides, the CL-MT001 offers a straightforward upgrade within the existing SPD system.
Shop the SHIMANO CL-MT001 SPD Cleat and explore the latest evolution of SHIMANO PEDALING DYNAMICS.
