Switch to Speedplay?

[elf1978]

For those of you that have switched your pedals to Speedplay, how has the experience been? Is there anyone out there who attempted the change, but returned to Look/Shimano/Time pedals?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

For those of you that have switched your pedals to Speedplay, how has the experience been? Is there anyone out there who attempted the change, but returned to Look/Shimano/Time pedals?

Thanks in advance.

Long time Campagnolo/Look user, then to Campagnolo Profit, liked them. Wanted a 2 sided on my fixie, got Zeros, have now switched to Zeros on all bikes. Light, easy in and out, VERY serviceable, Most adjustability, left-right and fore-aft of any pedal. Able to buy one pedal if ya fall and kill one..great system.

 

[titan_90]

I am interested in reading the responses as well. I have been looking at a new pedal system for a few months. I am really considering getting a pair of Zeros after reading the article by Steve Hogg on his bike fitting Blog.

 

[richwagmn]

For those of you that have switched your pedals to Speedplay, how has the experience been? Is there anyone out there who attempted the change, but returned to Look/Shimano/Time pedals?

Thanks in advance.

I switched to zeros for a couple of years. I found them not terribly easy to get into. Maybe I'm a clutz, but having a pedal that catches your toe first has always seemed easier to get into.

I liked the release mechanism being seperate from float. I never accidentally clipped out of them. They do have good adjustability, but their fore-aft is not as good as some. I also found you need to keep your cleat clean and keep it lubed or they like to squeak. It wasn't much of an issue just different from other pedals I've used. Squirting some dry lube into the cleat spring worked nicely.

They are strange to ride at first. There's no other pedal that floats so freely. You either get used to it quickly or find another pedal. You can of course adjust the range of float and for me 15 degrees was much more than I needed.

The cleats are not great for walking. The Time RXS cleats are excellent in this regard.

Setup is more complicated unless you happen to have 4 hole shoes because of the adapter plate.

I went back to my Time RXSes mostly because they had more fore-aft adjustability and I was trying to cure some foot hot spot issues by moving my cleat back. It turns out that e-soles finally fixed my hot spot issues.

I may put them on again.

 

[ElChingon]

Here's some info to consider from a SpeedPlay user: (not me)

http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2011/06/my-love-hate-relationship-with-speedplay-pedals/

 

[DirtyWorks]

Please don't feed the litigation monster at Speedplay.

They repeatedly initiated litigation from a guy selling reasonably priced bearing kits for their product. The bearing can be sourced spec-for-spec through a couple of different retailers. But oh no, heaven forbid their organized crime practices disguised as a business model be threatened.

Some of their marketing claims are plain crazy too. For some, that crosses an ethical line.

It might, or might not be something to consider depending on your outlook.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Although it pains me to write it, I think that Shimano makes the best pedals these days when accounting for cleat life, bearing longevity, lack of squeaking, etc.

You do not have to carry cleat covers with you like you do with Speedplay. Put the Shimanos on and forget them. Speedplays require constant maintenance.

 

[titan_90]

Although it pains me to write it, I think that Shimano makes the best pedals these days when accounting for cleat life, bearing longevity, lack of squeaking, etc.

You do not have to carry cleat covers with you like you do with Speedplay. Put the Shimanos on and forget them. Speedplays require constant maintenance.

The maintenance issues don't bother me. I already do all of my own maintenance and work on my bikes and it is something I enjoy. I have seriously looked at Shimano pedals and they are well designed. But my main consideration is adjustability as I have a history of knee issues. Could I get a perfect fit with a Shimano pedal? Possibly, but the Speedplays offer a better chance for me to get my fit dialed in perfectly with their adjustability.

To the OP, sorry for jacking your thread.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

The maintenance issues don't bother me. I already do all of my own maintenance and work on my bikes and it is something I enjoy. I have seriously looked at Shimano pedals and they are well designed. But my main consideration is adjustability as I have a history of knee issues. Could I get a perfect fit with a Shimano pedal? Possibly, but the Speedplays offer a better chance for me to get my fit dialed in perfectly with their adjustability.

I consider the finicky nature of Speedplays, which require constant maintenance, a design flaw when no other pedal requires that. If other pedal systems required their cleats to be lubed every few days then I would give Speedplays a pass, but since they do not, I will not.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I've used my zeroes for almost 2 years and love them. I wouldn't go back to my spd's or any other.

As for ease of maintenence, if you keep your bike clean and pay attention to your brakes, cables, and generally take care of your beautiful machine, then checking your pedals for wear and grit will not be an issue.

I have had no problems, just keep the grit and swipe the pedals clean once in a while and take a quick look at my cleats, and the zeroes have always worked perfectly.

I like that I can manuevre my shoes and have the play in the system...it's kind to my knees.
When I first got them, I had to loosen the screws on the cleat to snap in to the pedal, as they were stiff and I don't weigh much. They take maybe a few days of use to become less stiff when stepping in, but no big deal.
Love them!

 

[Master50]

I consider the finicky nature of Speedplays, which require constant maintenance, a design flaw when no other pedal requires that. If other pedal systems required their cleats to be lubed every few days then I would give Speedplays a pass, but since they do not, I will not.

Yer repeating yourself. I Switched to Zeros a year 1/2 ago from pro fit I am still on the original cleats and don't use covers ever. I don't walk much . No maintenance at all unless you consider oil maintenance. they are a little finiky to set up and if you don't get it correct they can be hard to get into them. they are harder to get in than Delta cleats systems but never release unintentionally. I don't have to look at them to get in and often can pedal through the light if I have any trouble.

Probably about 8000 km so far

I have read the speedplay stories and well frankly several of the companies Products I like are made by twits of one sort or another and some have some pretty nasty business habits. I like them and am glad I switched. Now if I could bind the source for axles I would by the cheapest model and change the spindles. Might save $200 that way. They are ridiculously priced for the ti pedals given that the axle is the only difference I know of. Of course not many things are priced out at cost plus 10

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Been riding Speedplay for over a decade. I've tried them all... Campy, Shimano, Look, Time. Started with X2's in '98, rode them until '07 then got the Zeros. Most adjustments for any road pedal out there, and it's 2 sided, and low profile. The only maintenance required is to wipe your cleats and pedals clean once a week and dab some oil on the cleat springs, shoot new grease through the pedals every month. Easy.

 

[El Oso]

I've used Look (mostly Delta but Keos a couple times), Shimano and Speedplay and I swear by Speedplay. I made the switch from Shimano a couple years ago to get the additional float and a wider Q factor and think it really helped with my fit issues (see the Steve Hogg article already posted).

I find that they are much easier to get in and out of than Shimano, which at times were too tight for me. At first it is a little funky getting in since it requires slightly different muscle memory for the entry (you come straight in with Speedplay as opposed to front first then back with Shimano/Look), but that lasted no longer than a couple weeks.

The only problem I had with installation was the screws are a bit tight, but nothing terribly difficult with set up. I actually think it is a little easier since the float gives more forgiveness.

I haven't had any issue with cleat wear. Relatively speaking I walk a decent amount in them and without a cover and I've only had to replace the cleat twice, with the second time because of damage to one of the cleats in a crash.

Maintenance wise you just remember to lube the springs when the float or entry exit isn't up to par. I have neglected to grease the pedals which might have caused some bearing issues, but that is my bad.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Although it pains me to write it, I think that Shimano makes the best pedals these days when accounting for cleat life, bearing longevity, lack of squeaking, etc.

You do not have to carry cleat covers with you like you do with Speedplay. Put the Shimanos on and forget them. Speedplays require constant maintenance.

Poppycock. I have them on both bikes and have done little other than greasing about 3 times in 5 years.

First gen shimano had cheap, crappy plastic plates that broke almost immediately. It took shimano 3 years to correct this.

shimano are now nice, and once again, shimano has taken a design(Look) and redesigned it but essentially Look pedals.

 

[otiebob]

For those of you that have switched your pedals to Speedplay, how has the experience been? Is there anyone out there who attempted the change, but returned to Look/Shimano/Time pedals?

Thanks in advance.

I went from SPD-SL to Speedplay Zero for 5 yrs, and am now back to the newer, steel-plate SPD-SLs. There were many things I liked about Speedplay and many I didn't.

Pros - Entry/exit of the Speedplays is very easy. Just stomp on it and go. The release tension is not hard on the ankles. The cleat position is very adjustable for finicky feet. They are light (but when cleat weight is factored in, no such a big difference). Cornering clearance is great in crits.

Cons - Way too many screws and parts in the cleats. If you have 3-hole standard shoes, you will have 9 total screws per shoes. Maintenance is excessive for the Speedplays - you have to grease the spindles/bearings regularly as well as lubing the cleats themselves. Failure to do so voids warranty and the quality of engagement lessen overtime. The pedal bodies themselves wear over time - causes lateral wobble in the shoe when in the pedal and eventually leads to an unstable pedal surface. Eventually, one has to replace the pedal bodies at a very high cost. Lastly, the company is ridiculously litigious and aggressively goes after anyone who sells bearings (which are not proprietary to Speedplay).

So, I went back to Shimano and couldn't be happier. Way more stable, wider contact point. Zero maintenance, fewer screws, more walkable cleats. Less expensive cleats and the pedal bodies do not wear out like Speedplay. If sponsored, Speedplay are great but if you have to pay for all the consumables yourself, they become a money pit of diminishing returns.

 

[STODRR]

I have used them for several years and love them. I ride about 8000 miles a year and normally only grease them once or twice a season.

They can be hard to get into if you mount them without reading the directions. One don't tighten the screws to much and make sure you use the right bottom plate snap ons to fit the curvature if your shoe brand.

The pedal can wear down but you can buy a thin peice of stainless to put on so the pedal does not rub to much on the shoe attachment.