Road Cycling - Speedplay vs. other pedals

What pedals do you use???

When i got my bike at 16 i purchased a nice set of Look pedals basically because most pro's used them (or Time pedals)...And I've had the same type ever since. The guys I've been riding with for the past year or so all use Speedplay (the circular pedals). I've tried them a few times and they felt extremely awkward to say the least. I guess you do get used to them, but it basically felt like my feet were pedalling on ice! lol. My friends say its easier on the knees, but it just seems like they give you a little "too" much play.

I read a recent article on cyclingnews.com about Jonathan Vaughters on a mission to try to win over some other euro pros into switching to speedplay...I've never see any other euro pro's riding with them...all i see is the Look, Time, Campy, or Shimano pedals...

Just wanting your guys opinions on these pedals...why you like them, why you don't...

Originally posted by Coppi51
What pedals do you use???
I've tried them a few times and they felt extremely awkward to say the least. I guess you do get used to them, but it basically felt like my feet were pedalling on ice!
I'm with you. Sometimes I even think the Look pedals (using the red cleats) have too much float.

Like you said, maybe you just have to get used to it.

Speedplays took care of my knee problems.

I got used to the float in about 3 rides.

One thing for sure, I will never go back to SPDs.

But, what works for me (or for you) may not be right for everyone. I don't see many of them here in Germany at all.

Cheers,
Jamie

I have FROGS on all my good bikes. That "floating" sensation goes away quickly, and you're left with good solid control.

I've used Look pedals for years...but I've grown tired of clop-cloping around when I have to walk, slipping on stairs, tripping, etc. I've been considering Speedplays (or something like them) for the simple reason that I could walk more normally, safely, comfortably, confidently in them...

i have 3 pair of Speedpla Frogs (Full suspension, hardtail/commuter, and road bike) and you get used to the "pedalling on ice" feel very quickly.

although it's a personal thing - you can't adjust the pedals so if you like them tight or loose you're SOL b/c they only come one way... of course for me that's better

i don't know too much, but IN GENERAL, the pros ride what they are "paid" to ride -- i.e. if Time or Look sponsors their team then that's probably what they ride... on the other hand, products that are pro sponsors get lots of feedback and do lots of design and testing so the products improve - and obviously almost no pro uses something that's total crap... but it's all a business these days - Lance rides a Trek not necessarily b/c it was his favorite frame (my guess it likely was NOT) but b/c they gave millions of dollars -- then they dedicated a design team to him and desinged a bike for him just the way he wanted (presumably)... but Lightspeed may still be better...

For what it's worth, nunquam, the guys I know with Speedplay X-pedals don't walk very comfortably or confidently. The cleat is huge and expensive -- $50-$60 Canadian as opposed to $12 for the Look cleats. They're very careful with them.

Thanks velocipedio...are there any road pedals that don't require you to have a 1/2-inch thick plate on the ball of your foot?

Not the answer that your looking for, but do you have cool covers? They save my life when im off the bike.

The other thing I've found out about speedplays is that they list the weight of their pedals whereas other companies list the combined weght of pedals and cleats. What you're spinning is the pedal, the cleat, the shoe, the crank, the whole deal. So if you want to compare apples to apples you have to consider the weight of the pedal and cleat combined.

The speedplay cleats are heavy compared to other cleats. Combined pedal/cleat weight of the speed play roads is 322 grams; of the frogs is 298 grams. The frogs are actually lighter than the road pedal/cleat, and more user friendly in that they don't mind a little dirt. I hear the speedplay roads can't handle any dirt at all.

Performance (yeah, I know, a store brand...) has some SPD pedals that weigh 200 grams for $90. They have a Ti spindle so I would wonder about durability. They also have an SPD pedal with a cro-moly spindle for $60. I'm tempted to give one of these a try.

It kind of pisses me off to hear of speedplay's deliberate deception in pedal/cleat weight. They make a big deal of being the lightest pedal out there, but when the truth is known, they're one of the heaviest. What a bunch of crap! Marketing hype (lies) is the way of American capitalism, but it sucks rocks.

Speedplays are getting a bad rap here from what sounds like folks who have never tried them. And some of the comparisons seem a bit unfair. I am no Speedplay evangelist (as I said above, what works for me may not work for others), but there seems to be a need for a bit of "correction" here:

I cannot remember the exact weights, but when I switched from SPDs to Speedplays, I weighed both the cleats and the pedals (out of curiosity, not because I cared that much). My X-3 (the heaviest Speedplays) weighed just above 1/2 my SPDs (an older, cheaper model). The SPD cleats were indeed a few grams lighter than the the Speedplay cleats. I doubt there is much difference between the Speedplay cleats and Look cleats.

The end result was that I saved at least 40% on weight. I noticed the difference immediately. I cannot confirm, but when I was shopping for new pedals, I noticed that Speedplays were listed as weight per *pair*, while all others were listed as weigh per *pedal*.

Furthermore, IslandRider implies a comparison of a Titanium SPD with some unnamed Speedplay (but, based on the weights given, presumably the Cr-Mo, their heaviest). If you want to go with Ti, Speedplay makes a Ti pedal that comes in at about 150 grams per pair (and the cleats can't be more than 50 grams per pair).

As to the dirt issue: I can only speak for the "X-" road pedals, and, yes, a lot of dirt would prevent proper engagement. But, keeping them clean is a non-issue. I look at them after every couple of rides. I find it necessary to brush them out only once every couple of weeks.

I have never walked comforably or confidently in any cleated cycling shoe. Frankly, my SPDs left scratches in the marble floor in my entry way, requiring me to put them on outside (hardwood floors anyone?). The Speedplays do not. And, after all, does one buy cleats and cycling shoes for walking?

As I said before, they cured my knee problems and the icy float feeling went away fast. I have not tried Look or Lake pedals, but as far as I am concerned, SPDs are a lousy system--hard to position correctly, they create a minimal platform (which, admittedly, may be a non-issue, but I didn't like it), and the float is compromised by pedal's spring tension.

I would suggest, don't judge a pedal before you've ridden a few hundred kilometers on it.

Cheers,
Jamie

A bad rap? Not at all.

Most of the people I know who've used them love them. The question, however, was whether the Speedplay cleats are easier to walk in and, from what I've seen and heard, and considering the replacement cost of a damaged cleat, not at all.

I personally prefer Look. I tried Speedplays briefly once and found the float a little disconcerting. I also prefer to have the release mechanism on the bike rather than on my foot.

It's preference.

I have used look Pedal, and I find it very efficient, as for the akward of walking with it , it has not bother me a bit....

Re: walking -- If I often add a "stop" on long rides - a bagel shop, a bike shop, an historical site, etc. - I'd like to be able to walk comfortably and safely in those places. I sometimes bring rubber slippers, but they're awkward carry on a bike.

I'm more of a touring cyclist, I guess, rather than a racing cyclist. I just haven't started shopping for the right pedals and shoes yet.

I will let you know... today's my birthday :) and today I will buy a new set of shoes (Diadora Ergos... well, actually my LBS will have to order them) and a new set of pedals (Speedplay X-2). I will get the Coffee Cans (rubber cleat covers) since I do get off the bike).

Ive only gone from spd to speedplay. I cant believe how bad the spd felt for me. Tension was never consistent in both pedals - at times the clip in felt odd. The speedplays are great for me, no knee problems, and they are easier for me to walk in - verses the small spd cleat that gouges the rubber flooring at work.

OK, you guys are starting make a Speedplay believer out of me...

However, the weight issue still bugs me. Here's what I have for weights (per pair) for the X-2's: pedals 198 grams; cleats 126 grams; total 324 grams

For the frogs: pedals 250 grams; cleats 48 grams; total 298 grams

Another issue is price: the x-2's are $165; the frogs $125. If you want the X-1's with the Ti axle you've got to shell out $250. Campy Record pedals don't cost that much!

As far as the Performance SPD pedal/cleat weight goes, I will weigh them myself because I'm not so sure that the listed weight includes the cleat. 200 grams per pair pedal+cleat sound too good to be true.

I may end up buying the frogs after all....

I'm riding speedplays, I really like em but you need
to give em about 5 rides before you get used to the
standing on an icecube feeling. Now I don't notice
it at all, and I find my foot is really stable on the
pedal.
Yeah they load up with crud if you walk thru mud/dirt
but I've found the cafe covers help alot. They do raise
the front of your foot a little, but I'd rather save the
cleat. Best advice, don't walk on em.

If you like the speedplay design but don't want all
that float there is the new Zero series, but be
warned, they are EXPENSIVE, also adjustable
float.
There are some deals on the X series now,
Nashbar has the X3 for $99 and I've heard of
the X1 (ti spindle) for less than $150 but haven't
found a site for that.

Marty

You guys must be talking about spds on a pure road shoe, my mtb/tour shoes recess the cleat and I have a lot more hours walking in them than riding.
kev:confused:

I have spd's and borrowed a friend's speedplays (stainless steel ones) to try out. I fell in love with them in minutes. I didn't have that 'skating on ice' effect, although I can see how it would effect some people. I rode around on them for half an hour and became very comfortable with them.

I weighed my spd's and both pedals were 330g, the speedplays were 190g. I then weighed my shoe with cleat and it was only 10g lighter than the same shoe with speedplay cleat. But weight aside, the speedplays just felt better and I plan to get a pair when I replace my spd's.

I was going to get a set of Speedplays but I received a pair of Look Keo Classics for my bday. So once they wear out I may try Speedplays.

Previously I had Look 369(?) pedals. The Keo's are smaller and feel pretty nice. Then again, I'm used to Look's and have never had anything else.

Maybe look on craigslist for some used ones if you're worried about the cost of buying pedals you might not want. That way you can resell them and probably get what you paid for them.

Good luck!

As a look users since about the age of 16, I can say that I will also likely switch to Speedplay pedals sometime in the future - whenever I need new pedals.

I got into cycling to rehab my shot knee after ACL repair.....I'm looking to go clipless very soon, in speedplay users opinion, do they have the amount of float I should be looking for? Should I focus strongly on float? Has anyone with ACL surgery use any specific pedal? thanks all

the non-centering float of the speedplays does take some getting used to. I went from Look (reds) to speedplays and as others have said it takes several rides to get used to.

very comfortable and easy on the knees once you do get used to them though.

speedplays rock

I have the speedplay frogs (mtb, touring bike) and the light actions (road bike). the light action is made for smaller people, with lighter spring tension to get in (not out) of the pedal. I wish they made the light action in a nicer spindle, however - they only use the really heavy steel spindle.

i really like both sets. the float saves my crappy knees, and i like the dual sided entry. the light action cleats clog horribly with dirt/sand, and can be hard to engage and release when clogged. the frogs clog somewhat with mud, but not with dry debris. the cleat on the frog wears out pretty fast if you walk a lot - i use it on my touring bike, and don't bring any shoes other than the shimano sandles w/ the cleat, so i have to walk on the cleat a lot, which wears it out fast. i think this would be a non-issue under more normal day-riding circumstances.

the frog cleat is un-walkable if you put it on road shoe, but find on an MTB shoe. the light action cleat is reasonably walkable, but not great. the cleat covers protect the cleat and make it less slippery, but make the toe-up even more, so they are still hard to walk in.

the float on the light actions is not nearly as ice-cube-y as the frogs, but once they break in it's sufficient. the icecube thing just takes a little while to get used to, as others have said.

for those who have a serious knee problem, the light action disengagement does require more twisting force, but the frog is force-less.

i can never get the spd's on my indoor shoes to work well - but maybe that's b/c the spin bike's pedals are so poorly maintained.

I got into cycling to rehab my shot knee after ACL repair.....I'm looking to go clipless very soon, in speedplay users opinion, do they have the amount of float I should be looking for? Should I focus strongly on float? Has anyone with ACL surgery use any specific pedal? thanks all
A lot of float is over-rated. For some knees, it's actually very bad. One really nice aspect of speedplay is that it takes so little effort to exit, unlike, say, crank bros eggbeaters. I say float is less important for you than ease of exit.

How long ago was your reconstruction? Which tendon did you use as the donor?

If you've never used clipless before and you're less than six months from surgery, play it safe and hold off a little while longer.

And if surgery was recent, focus on range-of-motion and not building strength.

Above all else, listen to your physical therapist over anything said on the internet.

November, it was a lengthy process(5hr+), loose cartilage chunks floating around, mashed meniscus, etc......used hamstring graft to replace the ligament.
My strength feels back up to par, I do 40+mi rides....just often I notice I cant/angle the said leg's foot outward a bit, I immediately correct it when noticed so as not to develop the bad habit, but it goes back on its own, thanks RF

I use bebop pedals. 20° of float. I swear by them! Even if they are rare, hard to find, and the cleats aren't readily available at your local LBS... still, they are *amazing* and I absolutely love the system. Most bebop owners I've known will attest to that, and most would feel the same way. (BTW, the bebop pedals are now being manufactured by another company... which means, down the line, more availability! finally!)

I've noticed that those of us who play sports that require a more flexible path of movement (soccer, for example) already have our bodies condition to allow our knees to have that flexibility yet retain the strength in movement...
Many cyclists are purely cyclists (as in, their bodies are not conditioned by the other sports such as soccer) and their knees are more accommodating to being taught to stay on a true orientation. Hence, a lot of cleat systems have 0 degrees of float, etc:.

To each their own! FTW!

The other thing I've found out about speedplays is that they list the weight of their pedals whereas other companies list the combined weght of pedals and cleats. What you're spinning is the pedal, the cleat, the shoe, the crank, the whole deal. So if you want to compare apples to apples you have to consider the weight of the pedal and cleat combined.

The speedplay cleats are heavy compared to other cleats. Combined pedal/cleat weight of the speed play roads is 322 grams; of the frogs is 298 grams. The frogs are actually lighter than the road pedal/cleat, and more user friendly in that they don't mind a little dirt. I hear the speedplay roads can't handle any dirt at all.

Performance (yeah, I know, a store brand...) has some SPD pedals that weigh 200 grams for $90. They have a Ti spindle so I would wonder about durability. They also have an SPD pedal with a cro-moly spindle for $60. I'm tempted to give one of these a try.

It kind of pisses me off to hear of speedplay's deliberate deception in pedal/cleat weight. They make a big deal of being the lightest pedal out there, but when the truth is known, they're one of the heaviest. What a bunch of crap! Marketing hype (lies) is the way of American capitalism, but it sucks rocks.


Incorrect. Go to Speedplay's pedal comparison on the web and it lists weights with and without cleats for speedplay pedals and all major comparators.

And Speedplay pedals with 4 hole mounted cleats are lighter than any comparable major competitor. For example, X/1s are 49g lighter than Look Keo Ti with cleats.

http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=roadcompare.roadresults

And X/2's with cleats weigh 260g, not 322, and again are lighter than the comparable Look.

http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=roadcompare.roadresults

I love my Speedplays. Wow I guess someone needed to revive a 5 year old thread.

Yeah, I have a set of the Speedplay Zero's and I love them. They give you the ability to adjust the float to suit your comfort zone and allow you to go all the way up to 15 degrees. The double-sided entry makes it really easy to enter at any time and the covers you can buy for the cleats both protect the cleats in the long run and really make it easy/safe to walk around even on slippery surfaces.

I just recently switched from Look Keo Sprints to Speedplay Zero's. I did it because my Keo cleats wore out too fast and when walking around without cleat covers they were too slippery for me.

The Speedplays are safe to walk around in, but I have cleat covers to for them to save on wear. As for the float, it feels great and you get used to it rather quickly. At least I got used to it fast. I was originally going to adjust the float but so far have not touched it, it's still set for 15* and I can't tell the difference as my feet don't float side to side when I pedal. But it's nice knowing it's there. My Keo's were the gray with the 4.5* float for comparison.

As for the weight issue, who cares? Lose 1 pound off your body and it will more than make up for the gram difference between the pedal/cleat setups.

The only issue I've had with my Speedplay's has been getting used to clipping in and making sure the cleats are clear of any dirt. I've now made it part of my bike cleaning ritual to put a dab of oil on the cleats and have not had any issues clipping in. Clipping out has never been an issue. The self centering of the clear/pedal design and the two sided entry of the pedal is much easier than the Keo's, no more looking down to see if the pedal is "right side up".

What is this "float" concept you guys refer to in clipless pedals. Ive only ever used platforms but I might be getting a new road bike with Look pedals (Keo Sprint). Thanks

I was going to get the X/1 pedals (Ti) but I was informed they should not be used for any rider over 185lbs (I'm 192 at this time). Would the X/2's suffice?

I love my Speedlay Zero's.

I was going to get the X/1 pedals (Ti) but I was informed they should not be used for any rider over 185lbs (I'm 192 at this time). Would the X/2's suffice?


Only difference is stainless steel spindle, rather than Ti. A few grams heavier.

I'd bet the majority of people riding X series pedals, ride the X/2's

The great thing about speedplay is that none of the mechanism touches the ground. When you walk on an SPD pedal, you wear out the cleat that locks in to the pedal. When you walk on the "cleat" of a speedplay pedal, the only thing that touches the ground is a cover plate. This eliminates any wear to the mechanism.

Another good thing is that your foot isn’t held in by a spring, SPD is. When I had SPD pedals I never unclipped by pulling up out of the spring, but the Speedplay website says it can happen. The speedplay mechanism is more like a door latch. If you look at a speedplay cleat you see two wires parallel to each other. They move out of the way and spring back in when you clip in. That way the spring isn’t holding you in.

I got used to the float on my first ride (15 mi) with them. The only problem is that they need to be kept clean. It isn’t even a problem if you don’t walk in water/mud.

Ti pedals do have a weight limit. As mentioned earlier, loose some body weight and save the extra $100 and use the steel versions.
In our shop we sell 100:1 Look vs. Speedplay. I have tried both and like both. Look cleat replacement is a bummer. Fact of life with this pedal.
One suggestion - go for a TIME Atac MTB pedal (again, you can blow the wad on Ti version, or go a little more reasonable, and they offer great float adjustment, and are the recommended MTB pedal for people with knee problems around here). Then buy a high end mountain bike shoe such as Shimano SH-M300 (for the carbon sole stiffness/performance it offers), but get better walk around ability with the cleat associated with this pedal. This option was pointed out to me by a manufacturers rep. and now is my choice of pedal/shoes for my MTB, cyclocross and road bikes.

I have FROGS on all my good bikes. That "floating" sensation goes away quickly, and you're left with good solid control.

Ditto + you can walk too.

What pedals do you use???

When i got my bike at 16 i purchased a nice set of Look pedals basically because most pro's used them (or Time pedals)...And I've had the same type ever since. The guys I've been riding with for the past year or so all use Speedplay (the circular pedals). I've tried them a few times and they felt extremely awkward to say the least. I guess you do get used to them, but it basically felt like my feet were pedalling on ice! lol. My friends say its easier on the knees, but it just seems like they give you a little "too" much play.

I read a recent article on cyclingnews.com about Jonathan Vaughters on a mission to try to win over some other euro pros into switching to speedplay...I've never see any other euro pro's riding with them...all i see is the Look, Time, Campy, or Shimano pedals...

Just wanting your guys opinions on these pedals...why you like them, why you don't...

I went the other way - from 12+ years on Speedplay X pedals to Look Keos. Why?

• Hot spots on longer rides - the Speedplays focus energy into a smaller area of your footbed, the Keos are considerably better on warm days, 5+ hour rides. Less painful for my feet.

• I like the clip in/out a bit better on the Keos, and the cleats are less prone to getting gunked up with snow, dirt in winter when I take a rural whiz break.

The keo cleat design is more of a downer for urban cyclists who walk on their cleats on concrete quite a bit. I don't, my keo cleats are lasting much longer than I ever expected, and they're also simpler and much cheaper than the Speedplay cleats.

Very happy with the switch. Liked the Speedplays, but the keos are like slimmed down look style pedals, and I really like them more. And changing pedals was pricey, had to buy two sets initially, and I'll have to buy another set later this year. Worth it.

Ditto + you can walk too.

I have the Frogs on my MTB, they're great.

I went the other way - from 12+ years on Speedplay X pedals to Look Keos.

Have to add a +1 for the Keos

Can't knock Speedplays though. Great pedals. It's all good, advantages to each. Didn't think I'd like the Keos so much, I do really like the feel better, I've had them on the bikes about 6 months now.

Ti pedals do have a weight limit. As mentioned earlier, loose some body weight and save the extra $100 and use the steel versions.

Of course, if you've already lost the body weight, the weight limit for the Ti pedals isn't really an issue... :p

A few things to clear up here:

The Frogs are Speedplay's 'MTB' pedal designed for two bolt drillings. They use a very different pedal/cleat setup from their 'road' models. The stainless steel spindle model is walkable and weighs 304 grams per pair, including cleats and a full load of grease. The Ti version will, of course, be lighter. I've been using them with no ACL in my right knee for over four years and my knees have no pain.

So for walkability, reasonable weight, and ACL issues I'm happy to recommend Speedplay Frogs with Shimano SH-RT50 shoes.

I've been thinking of switching to Speedplays since I cannot get my Shimanos adjusted the same on both sides to save my life. I want both feet to feel the same.

I've used my Time Magnesium from 1991-1996 (then off the bike) and Sept. 2007-present and I love them. I used Look before 1991 and was thrilled when I switched to Time. Although, I suspect that float issues which were new back then, have been addressed reasonably well by most manufacturers.

I have thought about giving the Speedplays a try some time.

anybody use Wellgo?

Man! I love this new search function. It's been bringing back a lot of old threads lately. This has got to take the cake though....going all the way back to 2002. OP...I hope you've figured it out by now.

Actually I just hope you're still cycling.