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We had a lot of fun with the Attic What IZIT back in the day. We'd dig up some of the more obscure parts hiding here and put it out to our loyal visitors to come up with what it is. Bikeman would always know of course but it was entertaining to see how long it would take for someone else to come up with the correct answer. We would post the answer so the winner could take a victory lap. In the event of multiple correct answers we would post the most complete or creative one. We'll try to dust one of these off each week and keep the excitement going of what will pop up next.

Originally Published early in this century

Here is an interesting item we just dusted off up in the Attic. A pedal, yes, actually we found a pair of these jems. Tell us a little about these, Product name and how you mount it up. Big Bonus points if you can share your experiences with them.

The Attic What IZIT #4 provided some of the best responses we have read to date. Including the best answer we have ever had on an Attic What IZIT, from Joe Harris of LosAngeles, CA. We have posted Joes Winning answer as well as a few runner ups below.

Winner, Joe Harris

"This is an Aerolite pedal; these were manufactured in the mid 1980s. The pedals basic design is a cylindrical drum with a huge plastic cleat 'cap' that snaps tight over the cylinder. The cleat uses a 4-bolt design that has to be drilled into the sacrificial shoe, unique to the rider's cleat placement. That is, you had to do a RAD Fit-Kit session to find your perfect cleat position, and THEN drill the pattern. A 3-bolt Look adapter plate came later, but the market outpaced the Aerolite design by that time. The rider engaged the pedal by aligning the outer edge of the plastic cleat, then stepping down onto the cylinder part of the pedal with a slight cant to allow the cleat to roll over the pedal body and snap tight. Release required the rider to roll the foot firmly outward, as if you were rolling your ankle. These pedals were popular with pursuiters and triathletes because more often than not, the cleat and pedal were so firmly attached only an act of God could dislodge the unholy union. In my investigations, this pedal system was brought forth by Beelzebubba, Dark Lord of Dry Chains, to seduce the wicked with claims of lighter, faster, more aerodynamic, and to be a gatekey to release the Apocalypse. The pedals can only be destroyed by casting them into the kilns from which they were forged, and any person in contact with these objects of evil will be cursed with oozey, golfball-sized saddle sores. The curse can only be broken when the Red Sox win the World Series. Or by passing the poor bastard over an open flame."

Runner Up #1, Andy Jose

"Looks like an Aerolite pedal to me, I seem to recall these things being around in the early to late 80's and I am surprised that the company is still around today. They were really light (since they only consisted of an axle) and they were impossible to get into and even more impossible to walk around in because of the very tall cleat. I think the only people to ever use these things were the "Race across America" guys, since they only had to clip in once, ride 2500 miles, then unclip!"

Runner Up #2, Steve Bodayla

"If I recall correctly, this is a photo of the pedal and cleat (don't remember the brand). A buddy of mine had a pair in the mid-80's- they were basically a pedal spindle with a rotating sleeve, over which a giant cleat snapped. My friend couldn't actually remove the cleat from the pedal when he needed to stop, so he bought shoes with a velcro closure and just removed his feet from the shoes at stoplights. I think his cleats had to be nailed onto his shoes, too, not bolted on."

Runner Up #3, The Red Mantra

"Those look like aerolight pedals. Those pedals are just over 60g a pair and have a pretty interesting cleat. To clip in, you move your foot back and forth to catch pedal with cleat. Then move your foot toward the crank until pedal hits the end of cleat. Or, you could just slam your foot on and snap it into place. To unclip you pop your leg out sideways raising the inner part of your foot higher than the outside. I have never used them, I have only seen pictures of them. The new models are made with a turcite body on a titanium axle and use a nylon resin cleat. Those are probably the same except maybe with a steel axle."