Pedals
Clipless and flat pedals for mountain biking, from cross-country to downhill, and a direct-mount road pedal. Choose them by riding style, platform size and the cleat your shoe takes.
Choose the cleat before the pedal
A clipless pedal dictates its cleat, and the cleat dictates the shoe. The Hope Union pedals take Hope's own cleats, supplied in two versions: the No. 5 gives one more degree of float than the No. 4, for a knee that does not like being held straight. The SRM X-Power Direct Road needs a sole drilled for its cleat, like the one on the Q36.5 Unique Pro 4.0; it does not fit a three-bolt sole.
The platform follows the terrain
The more downhill the terrain, the bigger the platform. The cross-country Union RC keeps a small platform with no pins and a titanium axle, 324 g a pair. The Union TC adds four pins per side to keep your footing when unclipped on the trail. The Union GC, for downhill, gets the largest platform, with pins or grooved plates, both in the box. The F22 is ridden without cleats, the foot held by a concave platform and eleven pins per side.
Set pins and spring together
Hope's advice for its Union pedals with pins: the rear pins should just touch the sole, with at least 2 mm of clearance at the front. The higher they are, the less spring tension you need for the same release effort; too high at the rear, they block the heel's rotation and the foot no longer comes out. After each change, readjust the tension screw. Without pins, the 0.5 or 1 mm shim, chosen with the supplied gauge, sets the contact.
On the road, the last millimetres
The SRM X-Power Direct gets down to a 9.7 mm stack height with its cleat, 6 mm less than a conventional road pedal according to SRM. Lower your saddle by the same amount to keep the same leg extension.
Frequently asked questions
Do Hope Union cleats fit other pedals?
No, Hope Union cleats are specific to the brand, and Union pedals are used with them. Two pairs are included, No. 4 and No. 5.
Flat or clipless pedals for MTB?
Clipless keeps your foot in place and keeps the pressure on in climbs and on rough terrain. Flats let you put a foot down at any moment and are more forgiving on technical ground; the height of the pins sets the grip.
Which Hope cleat should I choose, No. 4 or No. 5?
The No. 4 gives 4° of float and releases at 12° with low effort. The No. 5 gives 5° and releases at 13° with more effort: more freedom for the knee, a more decisive release.