I haven't been able to dig up anything beyond their having been released in 1990. Anyone know offhand what the first model of SPD pedal was?

For road? the 7402 DA as far as i know.

PD-M737?

https://mombat.org/Shimano.htm#1990

I think the PD7410 was Shimano's first clipless pedal that they made themselves... the 7402 was made by Look for Shimano.

How about the Cinelli M71: https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...09&AbsPos=1738

Those aren't SPD tho.

Perfect, thanks!

"Frightening" is the word that comes to mind for those. Maybe one step safer than having a buddy duct tape your feet to the pedals before a ride.

How so? I've never heard of these pedals before.. I see you slid a cleat into a groove, how did it latch? or release?

I've not ridden them, but have seen an example of those Cinelli pedals in person. The mechanism is quite simple, you slide the lever behind the spindle and depending on its position the cleat is either locked in place or free to slide.

I'd guess that riding with these would be much the same as using toe straps, only difference being that the binding mechanism operates on the cleat instead of being a strap that goes around the outside of the shoe.

That is patially true of the 7402. The body of the pedal was made by Look, but the spindle and bearings were the fully serviceable Dura Ace set. They were much nicer than the sealed bearing system of the full Look pedals of the time.

You're reight, i meant to say 7410 - the very pretty small spd racing pedal. I remember drooling over a De Rosa Anniversario with PCB cranks and those pedals in a retailers catalogue back then..

https://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?f...useum.clipless

didn't shimano have a different designation for their road pedals? Like SPD-R?

So technically the first SPD is indisputably the Deore XT PD-M737, probably also the most important pedal of the 1990s. I used to have like 2 or 3 sets in a box. At the time I thought old SPDs were worthless and gave them away. However, I road some onza's for awhile as my first clipless pedals... Man what an idiot I was, I should have tried the 737s, but I think their cleats are slightly different than todays SPD cleats. Luckily I just bought an XT II group set with a set of 737s in quite nice shape. I am pretty excited to get those. Iconic pedals.

They were called suicide pedals... they were great for track but not much else.

The manual release on a clipless pedal was never a good idea and Look nailed the concept when they transferred the technology they used on ski bindings to bicycle pedals.

Agree on those 737. Purchased new in 1992 and swapped the spindles with Ti versions. Pricey back then! Unfortunately my Kestrel CSX was stolen along with the pedals. If anyone is interested, I have an original Shimano SPD brochure for the postage. Cheer's

Ditto on the PD-M737. I bought mine in time to use them on Cycle Oregon 4, in 1991. I retired them in 2004 or so, when the spring broke. Annual overhauls kept the bearings super-smooth.

I really don't see much of a difference to using leather straps and those cleats that were used with them

Thanks for posting the catalog picture. This was the only shoe available back then in a size 48(which was a snug fit for me). I bought these new in 1994, along with the bike they were meant for. The shoes are pretty beat up, but I still wear them on occasion. The pedals are kinda bulky by today's standard, but the have served me well over the last 20 years.

I fully realize what I am about to say could cause a huge flame war. For me, the invention of SPD pedals and especially the hidden cleat is one of the best developments that has happened to the bicycle. Sorry Tullio.

I don't know about "greatest", but I sure see a lot of "vintage" bikes- old lugged frames, Campagnolo Record, etc., with Shimano SPD pedals. It looks a little incongruous, but being able to walk in your bike shoes is very very nice.

That would be me!

I have several period correct bikes with Campagnolo from the C-record era that I just love. All have the same era Time pedals that I used back then. Now I am spoiled by SPd and absolutely hate Time cleats and shoes.