Speedplay pedals & cleats

[bladerunner]

I've been using Time Impact pedals for many years and they are good and they last & last but it's getting very difficult & expensive to get cleats for them now. So, I'm thinking of changing to Speedplays. I understand Speedplay offer 3-hole & 4-hole cleats but the 3-hole version ends up with a "taller" stack-height? Is that right? I like a low stack-height - so is it better to use the 4-hole cleats with Speedplay? If so, any recommendations on shoes with 4-hole fitting options? For shoes, I've tried Sidis, Bont, Nike .. etc and I really like Time shoes as they have a high heel-lift but I don't think they offer 4-hole options.

 

[Master50]

I tried to find a 4 bolt shoe and even begged Bont to finish their 4 bolt prototype but they only build custom and it is darned expensive. In the end I went with a 3 bolt shoe with the adaptor. It is a little higher but still I removed about 6 mm of stack or had to lower my saddle close to 6 mm after changing from Pro fit and Specialized shoes to Bont and Speedplay Zero's

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I tried to find a 4 bolt shoe and even begged Bont to finish their 4 bolt prototype but they only build custom and it is darned expensive. In the end I went with a 3 bolt shoe with the adaptor. It is a little higher but still I removed about 6 mm of stack or had to lower my saddle close to 6 mm after changing from Pro fit and Specialized shoes to Bont and Speedplay Zero's

I did exactly the same thing. I just bought the Sidi Ergo 3s, so now I have to deal with the pain of changing the saddle height every time I need to switch shoes from the Bonts.

 

[ustabe]

One issue I have with Speedplay is that the standard adapter/shim doesn't allow a whole lot of longitudinal adjustment. Some shoe brands, like Pearl Izumi, drill the holes a bit forward of where I'd like them, and you can't get the cleat back far enough without using their optional $30 aluminum shim. That was one thing that was really dialed on Time RXS cleats.

Bont drills their holes farther back, so I'm happy again.

 

[Master50]

I did exactly the same thing. I just bought the Sidi Ergo 3s, so now I have to deal with the pain of changing the saddle height every time I need to switch shoes from the Bonts.

Yes I stopped using all my other shoes as a result

 

[richwagmn]

I've been using Time Impact pedals for many years and they are good and they last & last but it's getting very difficult & expensive to get cleats for them now. So, I'm thinking of changing to Speedplays. I understand Speedplay offer 3-hole & 4-hole cleats but the 3-hole version ends up with a "taller" stack-height? Is that right? I like a low stack-height - so is it better to use the 4-hole cleats with Speedplay? If so, any recommendations on shoes with 4-hole fitting options? For shoes, I've tried Sidis, Bont, Nike .. etc and I really like Time shoes as they have a high heel-lift but I don't think they offer 4-hole options.

How different are the impacts from the RXSes? I've had one set of RXSes for 5 years now with no issues at all. I like the wider platform that Time offers and the fact that the cleats last much longer and you don't have to grease the bearings.

Yes, I did use Speedplay zeros for about 2 months. Never really warmed up to them and they sit in a box in my garage but YMMV.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

How different are the impacts from the RXSes? I've had one set of RXSes for 5 years now with no issues at all. I like the wider platform that Time offers and the fact that the cleats last much longer and you don't have to grease the bearings.

Yes, I did use Speedplay zeros for about 2 months. Never really warmed up to them and they sit in a box in my garage but YMMV.

Give ya $50 for them(the SP)...

 

[ustabe]

How different are the impacts from the RXSes? I've had one set of RXSes for 5 years now with no issues at all. I like the wider platform that Time offers and the fact that the cleats last much longer and you don't have to grease the bearings.

I had issues with RXS bearings, and then I broke the the toe lug on one with a sloppy clip-in. My bad to be sure but I was looking for an excuse to try Zeroes. I'm happy with them, but I can come up with good reasons for the Times, too.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I think there is an older thread about speedplays on this forum.
I have used them for over two years...easy maintenance simple to use comfortable to ride with. I love mine.

 

[richwagmn]

I had issues with RXS bearings, and then I broke the the toe lug on one with a sloppy clip-in. My bad to be sure but I was looking for an excuse to try Zeroes. I'm happy with them, but I can come up with good reasons for the Times, too.

Got it. For some reason, Time has either some really crappy QC or just plain bad designs.

The RXSes suffered from just what happened to you (pedal body breakage) and now the latest gen pedals are suffering from cleat breakage.

I guess I've been lucky.

 

[bladerunner]

I prefer Impact to RXS range because the Impact has a steel body-structure whereas the RXS is made of plastic. When I tried the RXS they felt bendy/flexy to me. Before the Impacts I used the original Time Equipe pedals & shoes and they were superbe. I can only wish I had bought a whole pile of those!!!

 

[ustabe]

Before the Impacts I used the original Time Equipe pedals & shoes and they were superbe. I can only wish I had bought a whole pile of those!!!

And a lifetime supply of cleats, too, I presume.

Every once in a while someone digs up an old pair of Time pedals and asks, " Where can I get cleats for these?"

 

[richwagmn]

And a lifetime supply of cleats, too, I presume.

Every once in a while someone digs up an old pair of Time pedals and asks, " Where can I get cleats for these?"

I just sold an old pair of Time Racing pedals (white, alu body) with a new set of cleats from like 1995 or so? Were sitting in a closet for years.

 

[bladerunner]

The Time Equipe pedals, 4-hole cleats & shoes combination was really nice, solid & secured. I bought many pairs of pedals & cleats & shoes & used them for a period of 10+ years. The only thing that made me consider the newer pedals was that newer shoes has carbon soles. That made a big difference. The only snag was that not many makes of newer shoes [not even Time] offered 4-hole fittings options and that's the only reason I went on to the Impacts. Now, I'm running out of Impact cleats and I have to thinking about moving onto something else. Life goes on - I know - I just wish that manufacturers offer backwards compatibility. Seriously, everybody I know who used to ride Time Equipe pedals & shoes has now moved on to other pedals but they all think the Time system was better. The only thing was that the shoes got worn over time and we just can't find new replacement carbon shoes to go with the Time pedals any more.

 

[Notso Swift]

And a lifetime supply of cleats, too, I presume.

Every once in a while someone digs up an old pair of Time pedals and asks, " Where can I get cleats for these?"

You can still buy them new you can also get metal replacement fronts that will last an age, $6 on PBK, I would be stocking up, though