Speedplay pedals

CarbonCopy

Do any of you lot use Speedplay zero pedals or similar.It would be nice to hear some feed back about your experience`s of them.

aarw

yes, they're a great job. try using the search facility, many comments made before.

CarbonCopy

Thanks aarw ive just been doing that and have found some interesting stuff.
But i`m still unsure because of a few things really.
Firstly the pedals present a small platform i`m wondering if that has any negatives?.
Secondly the mechanism being on the sole of the shoe rather than being the pedal?.
And last they give weights of the pedals but in truth the cleats must weight must bump up the actual over all weight?

Looking forward to being convinced these pedals are worth the hard earned.

dbmnk

Platform is big enough - I don't have any issues, but also I don't have any numbers on power transfer compared to others. Unless pro, should be insignificant, and even the pros use speedplay.

Correct, release on the cleat - a very simple spring mechanism.

I recall the weight including cleats being somewhat similar to look keo including cleat. At least negligible.

Only thing is - speedplays have rotating float (adjustable from extreme to zero) which may seem weird on you.

I use mine without float, and love them for that - I know of none other pedal which can do that.

bigpikle

^^ +1

love the total free float, no issues with platform size, and I have used Shimano spd's as well with no noticeable difference.

They are just so simple and easy to use as well. Only downside is if you plan to walk a lot in your cycling shoes as the cleat makes that a challenge, but not impossible. My favourite by a country mile, but its a personal thing IMHO.

Stops your mates wanting to ride your bike all the time as well as most do have the right cleats

Mccaria

I tried them but have now gone to the Time Iclic. The free float was not for me (too many years without it !) and I ended up locking out most of the float, so using them pretty much as a standard pedal.

There is a bit more maintenance on the speedplay and you have to be careful not to get any crud in the cleats - I got some mud in the cleat once and it was very difficult to engage with the pedal for the rest of the ride. These are not major issues, particularly if you like the free float, but for me with not using the free float there were easier pedals to use/maintain.

relanium

I looked into getting some Speedplay Zero Pedals for lightness but when you add up how much they weigh including the cleats there much heavier than the new Look Keo 2 Max Carbon. Here is how it works....

Speedplay Zero Pedals 82g each 164g for both pedals.
Speedplay Zero Pedal Cleats 52g each 104g for both.
Overall the speedplay is 268g

Solis

+2 for Speedplay, my knees love the free float

Eddy S

CarbonCopy wrote:

Thanks aarw ive just been doing that and have found some interesting stuff.
But i`m still unsure because of a few things really.
Firstly the pedals present a small platform i`m wondering if that has any negatives?.
Secondly the mechanism being on the sole of the shoe rather than being the pedal?.
And last they give weights of the pedals but in truth the cleats must weight must bump up the actual over all weight?

Looking forward to being convinced these pedals are worth the hard earned.

The platform is effectively the cleat so no issues with the size or power transfer - the stiffness of the sole of your shoes has as much bearing on this. I use the track version for sprinting and don't have any issues with them at all. But I still use SPD-SLs on the road because they are still that good. If the Speedplays weren't so expensive, I'd consider standardising on all of my bikes but it doesn't make sense at the moment.

As far as walking is concerned, just get some cleat covers to protect and stop wear of the cleats.

Cubic

I moved to Speedplay Zeros after using Look Keo Classics. I really love the Zeros. The adjustable float is a very useful feature for me as my knees are quite injury prone.
As I understand it, once the pedal and cleat connect, the pedalling platform covers the area of the cleat, which is about as big as any other pedal. Plus, loads of pros, including sprinters like Thor Hushovd, use them, so I don't think there are any problems with power transfer.

Another big plus for me was the ability to clip in on either side of the pedal. I'd often fumble with my Keos trying to pull away from junctions, but with the Zeros I usually clip in first time without looking.

You can get cleat covers for about £10 to protect the cleats if you need to walk in them.

ajb72

Since switching to Speedplays a few years ago I cannot imagine switching back to look style platforms. The float is fantastic for protecting knees and is more forgiving of less than perfect pedal action.

The maintenance is more of a bind than look pedals, you need to pump fresh grease in via a port on the side of the Zero's and it can be a messy affair. Still, it's not that often and the benefits outweigh any minor hassle for me.

Having tried both Zero's and Zero Light Action, I would definitely recommend the standard Zero's. The light action has tonnes of float but no way of reducing or preventng the float, whereas the zero's allow you to reduce float to suit. I found the light action offerd too much float and a bit of a vague feeling.

Pokerface

I don't understand why everyone seems to have such a hard time with Look pedals.


You can get cleats that give you 9° of float - which is a LOT.

If you can't set your cleats up in the correct position - and STILL need an extra 9° of float - and after all that you STILL have pain in your knees - you are doing something wrong.

I find with too much float my feet wobble all over the place.


Speedplays are great and offer more float than Looks. I just don't see the need for it.

ajb72

I didn't say I have a hard time with Look pedals, just prefer speedplays.

I prefer the more stylish, minimalist look of speedplays and the double sided entry is so much easier to engage. If you can have the option of more float why should that be a bad thing?

Bit of a sweeping statement that knee pain must be down to the rider doing something wrong, don't you think? I ride with a chap with cartlidge removed from both knees due to rugby wear and tear and he has cycled pain free since switching to speedplays from Looks.

Each to there own, but the OP did ask for feedback on Speedplays, which is all anyone has done as far as I can see.

redddraggon

I looked into some Speedplays and decided I would want longer axles. Speedplay are taking the piss, I found I had to buy a set of pedals and then spend nearly the same again getting some longer axles.

Screw that, the pedals are pretty expensive to start with. If they are going to offer different axles lengths, the pedals should come with an option on axle length to start with.

So IMO screw speedplay, nout wrong with Look Keos and Shimano SPD-SL

ajb72

redddraggon wrote:

I looked into some Speedplays and decided I would want longer axles. Speedplay are taking the wee-wee, I found I had to buy a set of pedals and then spend nearly the same again getting some longer axles.

Screw that, the pedals are pretty expensive to start with. If they are going to offer different axles lengths, the pedals should come with an option on axle length to start with.

So IMO screw speedplay, nout wrong with Look Keos and Shimano SPD-SL

I agree about offering different axel lengths at point of sale, as they are indeed not cheap, even for the chromoly versions. All 3 of my sets have been ebay purchases to lower the cost, and that made them a worthwhile buy to me.

pure-james

where is the cheapest place to buy them?

parker only have pink in stock, i emailed them and they are not planning on getting more in

i am looking for a pair of white stainless steel ones but struggling to find them instock or for less than £135

sungod

http://www.thetrimarket.com/index.php/b ... p_223.html for 119.99, you'd need to call to see if they have stock

http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/ for 132.99, best to call them to check colour - i got some ti ones and they could offer more choice than it showed on the website

get the cleat covers! much safer for walking in and they protect the cleats

Pokerface

ajb72 wrote:

I didn't say I have a hard time with Look pedals, just prefer speedplays.

I prefer the more stylish, minimalist look of speedplays and the double sided entry is so much easier to engage. If you can have the option of more float why should that be a bad thing?

Bit of a sweeping statement that knee pain must be down to the rider doing something wrong, don't you think? I ride with a chap with cartlidge removed from both knees due to rugby wear and tear and he has cycled pain free since switching to speedplays from Looks.

Each to there own, but the OP did ask for feedback on Speedplays, which is all anyone has done as far as I can see.

I wasn't referring to your comments specifically - but the general sweep comments by ANYONE who says Speedplays are better than Looks because of the 'float'.


My point is that you can set up Looks to perform just as well as Speeplay with a little bit of experimentation and the right set of cleats. Did you friend use the red cleats (max float)?

As to why more float is a good thing or not - as I said - I find my foot flops around too much with extra float. I've gone from the max float cleats back to zero float cleats - now that I have determined the correct cleat position.

As for Speedplays being easier to get in to - die to being double-sided.... No argument here.

gelbvieh

I have a bad hip and knee on one side only due to a fall about four years ago. Since switching to speedplay I have been able to set the float up differently for each leg and this has enabled me to train and ride more with a bad leg which so far the medics haven't fixed. Also I too like the double sided entry. Wouldn't change them.

pure-james

sungod

cheers for the tip on where to order them from

they are delightful and really quick to respond

carl_p

Well I went from some pretty dreadful SPD-Rs to Speedplay, primarily because the SPDs were a sod to unclip even on the lightest tension. The Speedplays are an absolute joy to get out of.

Yes you do have to keep them clean and lubed, but that ought to be a discipline with any pedal system.

The amount of float takes a bit of getting used to but the benefit to your knees and circulation (no more cold toes) is a maasive plus. I really can't see me using any other pedal from here on.

pure-james

speedplays are great

especially if you are used to double sided mtb clipless systems

yes they can clog up with mud etc, the coffee cup caps or whatever they are called are really useful. gt85 seems to work quite well with them for cleaning and lubing

i did use look keo's for a while but was really struggling to clip back in after traffic lights etc

plus i have dodgy knees, so the increased float helps a lot

relanium

Wow the amount of people that have dodgy knees

pure-james

tore the right cartilage dancing years ago, also have osgood schlatters syndrome in the right knee

left knee has rough cartilage and overly loose tendons

none of this stops me doing 250 miles a week when the weather is good

but i do need to continue doing rehab work on my knees and a lot of yoga and pilates for core strength and proprioception

knees are really complicated joints and there are loads of ways they can go wrong, speedplays can really help alleviate complications when cycling