Fifty Plus (50+) - Pedals: platform vs SPD vs Speedplay

I know this subject may be over played, but here goes anyway.

I only have experience with 3 pedals:
platform-- any shoe works
SPD-- Shinamo 2 screw clips
Speedplay-- 3 screws to shoes, 4 screws to platform, 2 springs clip in and out.

PLATFORM
No fuss pedal system. You can use it with regular shoes. Disadvantage is you lose speed as your foot slights a tad while pedaling.

SPD
Not bad for clipless. Cheap shoes and cheap pedal system. Disadvantage, it feels like you are pedaling with skis on. There is no side to side.

SPEEDPLAY
Different clip in/out so it takes a moment to get comfortable with it.
Disadvantage: you need a shoe with a 3 screw or 4 screw mounting system.

Why new pedals? I've been having a bit more trouble with my legs. No other pedals allow the 15 degree float of speedplay. I put off getting them for so long because I, being an old fuddy duddy, assumed the $115 price was per pedal. Imagine my surprise in learning that is the price for the set.

When assembling them take your time. I had the right one on the right shoe and the left one of the left shoe. But at first the right did not clip right. Reexamine: right was upside down. Clearer directions would help.

Ok, long winding, but what is it riding with them? A world of difference. It's more like running, you are not aware of any constraints. With the SPD pedals, you could feel the artifical forces of always repeating exactly the same motion.

Any way. I hope this helps someone. I can't wait til tomorrow when I can really give them a solid test with a long ride.

Not long-winded at all. May I ask what shoes you have for your speedplays? I'm looking to replace my SPD shoes because they are just wearing out.

I have worn Sidis for over ten years now. I really like them and they do make an adapter for the Speedplays (which are great pedals IMO). I have ridden one pair of high end Sidi's and one pair or Speedplay X1"s for over 20,000 miles. Have gone through a few sets of cleats though (which are not cheap). Liked the Sidi's so well that I hunted around the web and got another identical pair (for about 70% less than I paid for the first ones).

When I did the research 12 years ago the answer came up - speedplay. It is the only clipless pedal I have ever used. I still have the same X2 pedals on my road bike that I bought 12 years ago although I have been through a set of cleats and my current set is cleats about to wear completely out (so far it seems they wear out in 6 years) - I do have another replacement set of cleats that came with the new X2's I just bought for my new bike. I have Nike shoes - again the same shoe I bought 12 years ago on sale for about $30. The big thing with speedplays is you need to keep the cleat lubricated with whitelightening parifin based lube, I bought a big bottle years ago and I just squirt the cleats every so often.

Since I have never tried another pair of cleats I cannot give you a fair assessment, I just know I really like the speedplays, the float is great and they are easy to get in and out of - I have never gotten trapped in them and take a fall due to the pedals. They work for me.

I've been riding Speedplay Zeroes for a couple of years now. I'm really happy with them, except don't ever take a stop by the roadside and clomp into some mud, you'll have to walk home. Really need to keep them clean and lubed.

Back in the toe-clip&cleat era (especially with metal cleats) a popsicle stick was pretty handy after short off-road excursions occasionally necessitated by those long road miles and too much coffee. Boy, oh boy, getting a piece of gravel out of those (and the nylon ones like on the Sidis) would involve a great amount of frustration and hunting for a suitable stick otherwise. (or some knee pain from riding with a shoe at a 10 degree or more tilt)

Using Speedplays now. I carry a shortened handled toothbrush for the same reasons + now being in the fifty+ category. A second one at home is handy for more thorough cleaning.

There are also some rubber covers that are easy to pack, easy to pop on, and great for trips into grocery stores, etc. And help in preventing cleat marks on hardwood floors at home, since being in the fifty+ category seems to also require at least one trip back into the house for something.....

And help in preventing cleat marks on hardwood floors at home, since being in the fifty+ category seems to also require at least one trip back into the house for something.....

For me that's one last pee before heading out...

I've been riding Speedplay Zeroes for a couple of years now. I'm really happy with them, except don't ever take a stop by the roadside and clomp into some mud, you'll have to walk home. Really need to keep them clean and lubed.

BitS has it exactly right. Zeroes are great, except for the dirt.

Speedplay and Bebop have that float. I carry a thread cutter(sewing type) for helping other riders clean out their Speedplay shoe cleats after they get clogged up. Works great, and fits in a saddle bag.

I got the x5 speedplay. The shoes are specialized, elite rd. cheapies for $100.

I think the x series would work with many shoes. There is a thin shim and a fatter shim. I had to use the fat, default shim along with the extra spacer shim.

What I don't know is if there is anything you can put over the platform when you have to walk?

Speedplay makes (links to speedplay site 'Coffee Shop Caps' (http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.merchandise&promoid=Coffee%20Shop%20Caps) for those 'walk-in' stops.

The Speedplay mounting system is somewhat finicky/complicated - get right curvature, right shims, tighten right amount, etc. but that all fits to the larger platform and ultimate comfort.

We ordered our new bikes with Speedplay Frogs. They have lots of float, the cleat is small and easy to engage/disengage, you don't have to be concerned about the cleats getting gunked up, and they're easy to walk on. I have used Look road cleats/shoes in the past and I see no disadvantage with the Frogs. I second the Sid shoes; we have the Dominator, which is the Genius with off-road soles, and they are great.

I like the Bebops. All the float, two screws. Don't need caps, the cleats are tough.