Here's an elegant solution to a problem we never knew we had

Here's an elegant solution to a problem we never knew we had

The Neat Cleat is the solution for obsessive neat freaks

Jack Luke / Immediate Media

Published: April 12, 2017 at 10:00 am

The Neat Cleat is the cycling shoe storage solution you’ve been looking for… maybe.

Made from powder coated pressed steel, the Neat Cleat is specially shaped to act as a ‘dummy pedal’, keeping your cycling shoes smartly stored and easy to find.

The Neat Cleat is available in either a hanging or wall mounted option - Jack Luke / Immediate Media

The Neat Cleat is available in two different options. The first — the Neat Cleat Carabiner Clip — is designed to be hung inside your car, from a radiator or anywhere else that is ‘hookable’ and it is claimed to help dry your shoes “up to 80% faster than when they’re left on the floor”.

The shoes are held solid by the Neat Cleat, but don't take a ridiculous amount of force to remove - Jack Luke / Immediate Media

Despite the temptation to poke fun at such claims, we think this is an oddly compelling and well refined answer to a problem we never knew we had. We can also only imagine that this really is the solution that the slightly compulsive neat freak in your life has been begging for.

Sans-shoes, the Neat Cleat looks a lot like a sky hook - Jack Luke / Immediate Media

Climbers may also note the likeness between the Neat Cleat and a sky hook.

Those with particularly heavy shoes will be pleased to hear that the carabiner is rated to withstand up to 22kn of downward force - Jack Luke / Immediate Media

While we can’t speak for the strength of the Neat Cleat unit itself, those who also climb — or perhaps those that have extraordinarily large shoes — will be pleased to hear that the included Anpen carabiner is rated to withstand up to 22kn of downward force. More than enough for even the most waterlogged of kicks.

As with seemingly every startup product in the cycling industry, the Neat Cleat Carabiner Clip also includes a bottle opener, because of course depositing mud into your artisan craft-brew from your soiled cycling shoes is exactly what you want after a ride.

The Neat Cleat is also available in a wall mounted version - Jack Luke / Immediate Media

Neat Cleat also offers a wall mounted version of its shoe storage solution for a considerably less pricey £9.99 (approx €12.00/$13/AU$17). If cycling is a truly integral part of your life — or if you just want to show off your obscenely expensive shoes in your hallway — then look no further.

It is mounted by two screws and sits flush with the wall - Jack Luke / Immediate Media

The Neat Cleat is currently available for LOOK, Shimano SPD and SPD-SL cleats, with options for SpeedPlay, TIME and CrankBrothers pedals coming soon. It is available to order directly from the Neat Cleat site and there's a Kickstarter page, too,

What do you think of the Neat Cleat? Is it the nifty solution you’ve been waiting for or an unnecessary endeavour? As always, leave your thoughts in the comments below.