Tony has been using the iNVRS Pedals and Studs on his Stumpjumper commuter bike for several weeks now and here is his take on these unique pedals that combine studs on your shoes/boots with a grippy rubber-covered pedals that locks you in surprisingly well. No studs on the pedals mean less shin rash from pedal whacks too. Take it away, Tony!
Where to start, where to start, where to start…
Sven introduced a new pedal system during a recent podcast—iNVRS by 9Point8—and was kind enough to let me demo them, as long as I agreed to write a review and take pictures. Odd request, considering Sven knows I suck at taking pictures. Anywho, here’s my take.
Installation
Sven and I installed these on my daily winter rider, a Stumpjumper Pro Comp (yeah, the Metal Matrix model from back in ’89/’90). It’s been one of my go-to bikes in the winter, with a studded tire up front and a studless Continental snow tire in the rear.
We removed the old Power Grips that had been on the bike for at least 15 years—without breaking them, impressively—and got the new pedals on, after reaming out the old, dried grease and corrosion, without issue.
First Ride
Do you know Grant Petersen? Have you read Just Ride? Of course, you have—I know you did. In that book, he states that if you make a bike easier to ride, you’ll ride it more. He suggests swapping clip-in pedals for flats, allowing you to ride without changing your shoes. Genius, right?
Couple that with the fact that I fall every time I use clipless pedals (because I’m just not that bright), and trying the iNVRS system without studding my shoes seemed like an appealing option.
Since it’s winter, I hopped on my bike and rode around in plain old KEEN boots. Given that they have flat soles, I expected my feet to slide off—but that wasn’t the case. The rubber on the pedals has a slight squish to it, providing enough grip to keep my feet secure, even when wet or salty.
I spent about a week riding this way, testing them with various shoes and boots. They check the Grant Petersen boxfor just hopping on my bike and riding.
Time for Studs!
Now it was time to add some studs. I grabbed another pair of KEEN boots and decided to start small: just three studs per shoe, positioned on the ball of my foot. I figured I could add more if needed.
I clicked down the back stairs and out to my bike for a quick test. HOLY CRAP! It’s almost like sorcery—my shoes felt glued to the pedals! I’m talking magic here. Push as hard as you want—forward or backward—and your boots won’t budge.
Initially, I thought I’d need more studs, but after this test, three per shoe seems perfect for my winter commuter setup.
Long-Term Ride Impressions
I’ve been commuting on these since installation, and I’m still impressed with how secure they feel, especially on uphill climbs. They provide a surefooted grip at all times, with the added bonus of easy foot removal when necessary.
For example, one afternoon on Milwaukee’s often unplowed, rut-ridden streets, my bike slipped out unexpectedly. I had to put a foot down—fast. And guess what? I didn’t fall. Oh yeah, those spikes in my boot saved me. Bonus!
The only condition I haven’t tested them in is heavy mud, but I suspect they’d perform just fine.
The Studs Themselves
Speaking of the spikes, they’re pretty interesting. Instead of being sharp, they’re slightly flat at the tips.
They make a little noise on concrete, but it’s not bad. So far, I haven’t noticed any damage to floors I’ve walked on while wearing them. I assume the flat design helps grip the pedal material better.
Final Verdict
Would I buy them? YES. Absolutely.
I see these being useful for a variety of bikes, especially for trail riding, where I may need to dismount to hop over logs or obstacles. I genuinely think they’ll make me a more confident rider.
They check off a lot of boxes:
✅ Reasonably priced
✅ Completely rebuildable
✅ Darn durable (based on my testing)
I’m sold.
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