Speedplay in the wet?
nickempop
Posts: 73
Hi
I've just recently swapped over to Speedplay's and after watching a video on the Speedplay website it say that they should be re-greased after cycling in the wet :shock: ....seems a little excessive, especially living in the UK!
Anyone else been using them for a while and can offer any advice? Do you grease after every wet ride?
I've just recently swapped over to Speedplay's and after watching a video on the Speedplay website it say that they should be re-greased after cycling in the wet :shock: ....seems a little excessive, especially living in the UK!
Anyone else been using them for a while and can offer any advice? Do you grease after every wet ride?
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i've got them on both shiny bike and commute bike, both get ridden year long, so the commute in particular can get many good soakings a week in grimmer weather
i find lube every 3-6 months is fine, you can go longer though, even a year will probably be ok although the remaining grease will be pretty dirty, but leave it too long and the risk is that it'll dry out and a bearing will fail
this is with the ti and ss versions, the cromoly ones will be more vulnerable to corrosion so i'd err on the side of caution with those and go for 6 months max if they get a lot of wet rides
if the seals are damaged or the cover not secure, you could lose grease much faster of course
edit: i'm assuming you mean the bearings not the cleats, the cleats just wipe them clean and apply some ptfe dry lube every few weeks - hold shoe sideways with the open side of the cleat upwards, put a few drops in each side of the spring and the lube will drain through to where the limit screws aremy bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny0 -
No. If it was like last years Ride London then I would but I also did the hubs, headset and BB. I grease them when they turn too easily about every 6 months. Some of my Speedplays are six years old and still fine.Pegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo0 -
Cheers fella's, I'll do them every 3 months then to be on the safe side or as you said when they turn too easily. Thanks again to you both
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The greasing really does help - I had one that was totally siezed after the wet and miserable RVV sportive this year and with a few pumps of grease it was fine again!
It's the flipping cleats I always forget about!
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Are they that much better than Keos - ie worth changing for?Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
I wouldn't say they are better. They sorted my knee pain out and are pleasure to clip in and out of, no fumbling trying flip the pedal over to engage....Are they that much better than Keos - ie worth changing for?
I'd certainly never use anything else.0 -
Depends what you want or need. They are two sided, easy to clip in to and impossible to pull out of. The cleats last longer than plastic ones. Some people hate the free float, some people love it. I'd say try before you buy.Are they that much better than Keos - ie worth changing for?
Oh, and the bearings are indeed crap. But I commute in all weather with them, and they last okay with greasing every now and then. If you aren't using guards in winter, you will need to be much more vigilant in that regard.0 -
I've .... err.... never greased my speedplays and have gone 2800km without incident. But they're on my more summery bike, so tend not to get exposed to the elements (although I'm not obsessive about avoiding rain). I'll pay for that someday, but until then...
Absolutely love speedplay pedals: bit of a steep learning curve as you bed in the cleats, but I love the float, security and double-sidedness (actually don't understand how anyone uses single-sided pedals of any kind).0 -
You like to live dangerously! I managed to forget to grease my first pair for a few months since they seemed to be going fine, but evidently missed the warning signs (eg spinning too freely), and the first I knew something was wrong was when one started making horrible metal on metal screeching noises during a ride. Managed to get back OK but the pedal body was barely moving by the end of it and naturally the bearings were wrecked and IIRC the axle was damaged too.I've .... err.... never greased my speedplays and have gone 2800km without incident. But they're on my more summery bike, so tend not to get exposed to the elements (although I'm not obsessive about avoiding rain). I'll pay for that someday, but until then...
One thing to note for anyone coming from Keos - you will almost certainly want to get cleat covers! The Keo cleats have those rubber pads to give you some traction and protect the cleat surface itself, but the Speedplay ones just have a flat exposed metal surface which can be very slippy to walk on (can be very noisy too). I typically just have to take my bike out the door, down a flight of steps and onto the street to go for a ride - short distance and no problem with Keo cleats, but with Speedplays I rapidly decided using the covers every time was safer!0 -
The high maintenance cleats don't take long to get used to- its more just a case of only putting your shoes on just before you get on the bike as opposed to upstairs or in the living room. They will also make a mess of wooden floors and possibly scratch kitchen tiles, so I always just put them on/ off at the back door, and at races only put them on at the latest opportunity.
I've got one of these for greasing duties:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/manitou-m-prep-grease-gun/rp-prod36082
The nozzle fits the grease ports perfectly, and the threaded bit fits the grease tube I have...
I pump grease in until you can either see the end cap bulge out, or you feel resistance. I do find though that after greasing the pedals can be a bit messy for a while as the excess grease works its way out with the old grease. Maybe I'm putting a bit too much grease in, I dunno....0 -
Depends what you want or need. They are two sided, easy to clip in to and impossible to pull out of. The cleats last longer than plastic ones. Some people hate the free float, some people love it. I'd say try before you buy.Are they that much better than Keos - ie worth changing for?
Crank Brothers Eggbeaters it is then!Trail fun - Transition Bandit
Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
Allround - Cotic Solaris0 -
Why would bike fit be relevant?Unless you have knee or bike fit problems Speedplay are absolutely, 100% not worth the money (GBP 60 for a set of cleats!! F***********K OFF!!!)
If you do have those problems though they re invaluable0 -
M'kay. Perfectly reasonable question - bites head off.I don't believe you re asking a serious question and I'm not letting another thread get diverted to satisfy your strangeness
Apologies for FA to everyone else on the thread
Seriously, I can't see how one pedal choice over another would have any great relevance to bike fit, assuming the spindle is positioned in a given place wrt the shoe. Stack height variations between pedals aren't more than a few mm. Or am I missing something?
Would you like another shot at answering?0 -
I can't get along with egg beaters. Nice enough concept, but I have always had forward/backward play in mine, which I really don't like. Assuming the wire springs aren't worn, you don't get that with speedplays.
Depends what you want or need. They are two sided, easy to clip in to and impossible to pull out of. The cleats last longer than plastic ones. Some people hate the free float, some people love it. I'd say try before you buy.Are they that much better than Keos - ie worth changing for?
Crank Brothers Eggbeaters it is then!0 -
M'kay. Perfectly reasonable question - bites head off.I don't believe you re asking a serious question and I'm not letting another thread get diverted to satisfy your strangeness
Apologies for FA to everyone else on the thread
Seriously, I can't see how one pedal choice over another would have any great relevance to bike fit, assuming the spindle is positioned in a given place wrt the shoe. Stack height variations between pedals aren't more than a few mm. Or am I missing something?
Would you like another shot at answering?
Speedplay give the most flexibility in positioning relative to the axle, and flexibility in controlling the amount of float left and right independently. Some people can't get the cleat forward enough on a lot of shoes when using keos, I've seen that a few times for example.0 -
The float isn't really a bike fit thing. And I had understood that Speedplays were actually a bit less flexible in terms of cleat positioning, than most systems (excepting those specially extended plates you can buy, of course). Certainly that's what the guy who did my fitting claimed. From what I can recall of the look system, I used to have about the same amount of adjustment.
M'kay. Perfectly reasonable question - bites head off.I don't believe you re asking a serious question and I'm not letting another thread get diverted to satisfy your strangeness
Apologies for FA to everyone else on the thread
Seriously, I can't see how one pedal choice over another would have any great relevance to bike fit, assuming the spindle is positioned in a given place wrt the shoe. Stack height variations between pedals aren't more than a few mm. Or am I missing something?
Would you like another shot at answering?
Speedplay give the most flexibility in positioning relative to the axle, and flexibility in controlling the amount of float left and right independently. Some people can't get the cleat forward enough on a lot of shoes when using keos, I've seen that a few times for example.0 -
Unless you have knee or bike fit problems Speedplay are absolutely, 100% not worth the money (GBP 60 for a set of cleats!! F***********K OFF!!!)
If you do have those problems though they re invaluable
Dave, where are you buying cleats at £60, or are you talking about their new aero walky ones? I normally manage to get them for under £30
As others say, I run Speedplays now for a few years in all conditions and won't go back to anything else (tried Look and Shimano). I regularly grease them, you can even save them when other say they are knackered. My current pair I bought as someone described them as 'gritty and only use for parts' (have to love eBay sometimes). I just run normal grease (I know they say Marine grease), but have also thought about trying some Moly grease in them to see how that goes0 -
yeah the aero/walky ones - not only were they as much as a new set of pedals from other brands but they don't work with the Northwave thingum that I use!
I rarely write letters of complaint but i ve sent one to speedplay suggesting that they may like to let people know that.
Whilst we re ont he subject, how can pedal axles be 112 EURs?!?!?!?!?We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
That's because the Euro is not worth very much at the moment. Another reason to blame grease.yeah the aero/walky ones - not only were they as much as a new set of pedals from other brands but they don't work with the Northwave thingum that I use!
I rarely write letters of complaint but i ve sent one to speedplay suggesting that they may like to let people know that.
Whilst we re ont he subject, how can pedal axles be 112 EURs?!?!?!?!?
Replacement speedplay cleats are usually around £35. Keepon covers make the cleats walkable. Not aero, obviously, but its possible that you might not notice the difference.0 -
Just how expensive is the grease that they use?
That's because the Euro is not worth very much at the moment. Another reason to blame grease.yeah the aero/walky ones - not only were they as much as a new set of pedals from other brands but they don't work with the Northwave thingum that I use!
I rarely write letters of complaint but i ve sent one to speedplay suggesting that they may like to let people know that.
Whilst we re ont he subject, how can pedal axles be 112 EURs?!?!?!?!?
Replacement speedplay cleats are usually around £35. Keepon covers make the cleats walkable. Not aero, obviously, but its possible that you might not notice the difference.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Zero Cleats (wiggle) - 38.71
covers - (amazon) - 20
total - 58 Squids
Dura Ace cleats (wiggle) - 20
The keep on covers don't keep on very well though, neither do the cafe cleats covers.
where exactly is the bargain there?
The reality is that if Shimano released a pedal system like speedplay they would be laughed out of the market...but as i said, if you need the adjustability then they re worth it - albeit only becasue they re the only optionWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Use another pedal system then. But it'll probably be heavier and you'll probably realise that they have their own foibles. You can walk in a plastic cleat, but very soon you'll notice play when you use them for cycling. It will probably be one-sided, so sooner or later you'll have a problem clipping in. You could get a mtb pedal system, but you might notice the need to use mtb shoes with them. Could well be a bit cheaper, though, I agree.The keep on covers don't keep on very well though, neither do the cafe cleats covers.
The reality is that if Shimano released a pedal system like speedplay they would be laughed out of the market...but as i said, if you need the adjustability then they re worth it - albeit only becasue they re the only option
Must be operator error with the keep-ons, because in the last 6 months of commuting I've not had any issues. Of course, you can't do your weekly shop in them, but that's hardly a criticism for a race pedal is it?
How come Speedplay weren't laughed out of the market, btw? Its the same market that Shimano would be laughed out of, isn't it?0 -
I recently started using Speedplay Zeroes (got a set for £60 when PBK had them on offer) - I had used SPD-SL and Look Delta in the past but didn't really get on with either. Speedplay are much easier to use and allowed me to adjust the float on them to my liking and I prefer the feel of them to any other pedal system I have used. I actually find them easier to walk in than SPD-SL & Delta's too - I was going to get some covers but don't see the need.
I haven't had them long enough to encounter any reliability issues so I guess only time will tell on that but I intend to carry on using SPDs on my winter bike so they won't be exposed to that much wet weather.0 -
With that I suspect your back to trolling and so I'm out. If anyone wants to ask me a sensible question, please do.
Once again I apologise for FA bringing a forum spat into the thread (and for the sarky post that will now follow)We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
I was going to get some covers but don't see the need.
The biggest problem i have is that if you have to do even a small amount of standing or walking in them then the metal plate and the screw heads wear away faster than the cleat spring does so you have to replace them early. it's not a huge issue, just an FYI....We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Zero Cleats (wiggle) - 38.71
covers - (amazon) - 20
total - 58 Squids
Dura Ace cleats (wiggle) - 20
The keep on covers don't keep on very well though, neither do the cafe cleats covers.
where exactly is the bargain there?
Speedplay cleats last a lot longer than Look/Shimano cleats, so you have to replace them a lot less often. Instead of cleat covers, I just apply a couple of layers of Shoe Goo over the exposed metal areas of the cleat. This provides grip and also has the added benefit of stopping the screw heads working loose. A big tube of Shoe Goo only costs around £8 too. If it wears off, just apply more. A tube will last you forever.
As for the stupidly expensive replacement axles, then simply don't buy the official Speedplay ones. I recently bought a pair of Taiwanese gold, Ti-nitrided titanium axles from ebay for under £20. I fitted them last week and they're spot on. I've now bought another pair (but black AlTiN treated) for the winter bike. You can even buy titanium bow ties for under £15, making an ultra light pedal for the weight weenies out there.
Finally, despite what Speedplay say, every part of the pedal is fully serviceable. I replaced every single bearing (including the supposedly non-serviceable needle bearings in the pedal body) for the princely sum of £13 for a kit off ebay.0 -
Not having covers will ruin your wood floors at home too...
If you need to to just get the bike out and pootle then maybe have a look at the platformer (if you have Zeros)
DKay, thanks for the feedback on the titanium spindles on eBay. Have been thinking about those but wanted to get some feedback on them. Do they have a weight rating at all? The Speedplay Titanium's have a rider limit of 185lbs (13st 3).0
