Speedplay Zero and a weak bladder in the Mudlands
ugo.santalucia
Posts: 26,773
OK, I was luring after these, but I am not convinced by the design of the cleat... basically it is a hole with a screw mechanism.
Now, imagine this scenario, which happens to me basically once or twice a week from October to April: I stop at the side of the road, typically in proximity to a gate leading to an open field, marginally sheltered from viewers... as I remount, I notice a lump of mud has accumulated around my cleat... I shake it off, engage and go... but if the mud had clogged a hole, that would be a nightmare scenario, involving removal of the shoe and deep cleaning of the area... and potentially damage to the expensive little thing
Where in my assumptions am I going wrong?
Now, imagine this scenario, which happens to me basically once or twice a week from October to April: I stop at the side of the road, typically in proximity to a gate leading to an open field, marginally sheltered from viewers... as I remount, I notice a lump of mud has accumulated around my cleat... I shake it off, engage and go... but if the mud had clogged a hole, that would be a nightmare scenario, involving removal of the shoe and deep cleaning of the area... and potentially damage to the expensive little thing
Where in my assumptions am I going wrong?
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Then find somewhere less muddy to piss, or get some of the little cleat covers to put on while you do the deed, or save them for summer and use SPDs during the winter.
nowhere ... I think when speed play invented the zeros they didn't envision people getting off the bike, especially with mud around ..... gentlemen please, this pedal is for the road, none of this childish cyclocross or heaven forbid cobbles, one might scratch something.
of course over time they realised that the elder gentleman did need to get off the bike when not in a place he could go whilst cycling, so they invented the zero pave for clearing mud
One has to be practical about these things... there is nowhere not-muddy round here
Couldn't agree more Ugo. Its nigh on impossible to find anywhere on my routes with any sort of privacy without going across a load of muck and puddles for at least 6-8 months of the year.
I've always wanted to try the speedplays - but this is one of the major reasons I'm staying with SPD-SL.
For some infuriating reason I can no longer go for more than an hour on the bike without needing a pee stop, which can get mighty annoying when I'm out at the weekend for 3-4 hours..... :oops:
the walkable cleats are another matter, they come with some round bungs but these are pretty useless, fall out as soon as looked at
fwiw i've used speedplay zero for years, including on the commute bike, they've had all kinds of cack in them, sand, gravel, mud, worse, just wipe with a tissue or some leaves or a stick so that the hole is clear, check you can clip in/out ok or if you missed a bit, carry on riding
Bit of a hassle though, then I have to take them off, stick a pair of muddy rubber covers in my pocket, hoping it's just mud and not a mix of mud with dog's wee and cow shoot...
Alternatively I can go around with a bag of baby wipes, a plastic bag to dispose of them
It'sa probably just simpler to stick with Shimano cleats
I used coffee stops for years and they are very good but you do have to put them in your pocket even when dirty. It's not really a faff taking them off/on once you get used to it, and you can use a small wafer thin poly bag which weighs nothing to put them in if dirty which would be easy enough.
I've just bought a set of walkable covers off ebay for less than a fiver, and so far they've been great and have stayed in place.
So, they're not perfect but I'd happily swap the occasional blockage for happy knees...
Fortunately my bladder is such that I don't usually need to stop but when I do the cleat covers work very well.
You are basically proving my point... it is a lot of faff to have a pair of marginally lighter pedals with a bit more float... not that I think I need more float than Shimano offer
CBA with coffee stop covers - they're a pain - but I do have the non Speedplay cleat surround on the shoes which protects the cleat, is less slippy and you don't need to put on and take off for coffee...
You appear to have totally written off the SP's based on whether your pee stop will result in a muddy underfoot scenario!!
I have used them for 4yrs, and quite honestly..in the back roads of the Peak District have never had them clog up to the point they were unridable..each to their own but I found that Shim/Look cleats etc wear out soooooo quickly, I know they are cheaper, but the SP cleats I have have been on the shoes for 2 1/2 yrs, I use cleat covers regularly too which definitely helps the longevity issue.
So don't write them off Ugo, give them a real try, you won't go back..I never have/will.
It's not an issue. I've used them for 10 years (the same pair, albeit new cleats). First off the cleat is a hole with a split washer for a spring. From time to time mud does get in there. It has happend to me easily 4 times in the last ten years so it really is a reason to avoid them at all costs. But if you are brave or stupid enough as I am then when it happens you find a twig and poke the mud out.
If that doesn't work carry a spare bidon and wee into that while on the move. Just make sure you don't get it mixed up with your sports drink.
I've lived in Manchester and ridden in the peaks extensively... it's different terrain, it drains a lot more and there is no mud. The midlands are flatlands where 10 mm of rain means it's muddy for a week, so in practice it's covered in mud autumn to late spring.
I sued to enjoy a bit of off road up-norf and then even down south in Surrey, but round here it's so muddy it's not worth bothering
Must say, I've never encountered the problem on the three pairs I have on separate bikes, but some people do call me "The Camel", due to my water retention skills :idea:
I do have a friend/ team mate who got a small stone stuck in a cleat once resulting in (luckily), a pretty comical fall...
Main reason I use them is they're easier to shim than other cleats (leg length descrep').
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo
On the bright side, over 2 hours and not a drop to speak of... :-)
https://www.strava.com/activities/921846677
and get the walkable cleats too...
Otherwise, just be careful where you step. I'd also recommend the aero cleats, as they're significantly more walkable, but otherwise get Keep-on-Kovers (or cheap, but identical, Chinese copies). They work brilliantly at avoiding the ice-skating sensation of an uncovered Speedplay cleat, but don't have to be removed to clip in. The Cafe Stop covers are completely useless, and usually get lost or left behind fairly quickly anyway.
You've just reminded me that I bought some speedplays and never got round to fitting them. The posts on this thread provide me with sufficient comfort to give them a go. The shimano cleats seem to turn to tat as soon as you expose them to daylight! Thanks chaps!!
Peter