Road Cycling - Need input on Speedplay pedals

I'm sold on Speedplay pedals for my Allez Sport, but I'm not sure if I need X-
series (X2/X3) or a set of Zeros. I see the Zero's have an adjustable float of 0-
15 degrees which seems like more than enough float. The X Series has a float
range of 34 to 37 degrees depending on the model. Do the X Series give you
whatever float you need up to the 34 to 37 degrees? I don't see they are
adjustable.
Now some info on me: I've been riding bikes for the last 6 months and been on
my road bike for 2 weeks. I normally ride 20 miles a day during the week and
usually 30 to 40 miles on weekend days. (ride 6 days a week) Right now I'm
averaging 18.2 mph with my vans on....can't wait to start using my new Sidi's
and change to some good wheels! If it helps, I don't believe I've ever had knee
probs before, but I would like to go the safe route as I played football and
baseball for 10 years and I'm sure they have wear and tear I don't know about
yet.

Here are the questions:
Do I want X series or Zero's (I'm not concerned about the $$$...just want to
get the right pedals...I hope

Do you people think the X Series was too much float?

Any input would greatly help as I'm ready to drive to my LBS and get the pedals
today or in the AM on Friday.

I had the same question. I ended up with the X-2's. I DO have bad knees and
the unlimited float just seemed like a better set-up. I tried the Zero's and they
were much more similar to my SPD's on my mtn bike, so I doubt that there
would've been much of an issue either way.

My final decision, was the shop would've had to order the Zero's and the X/2's
were in stock! I get sooo impatient!

L8R

I've ridden both pedals but I prefer the Zeros. The Zeros are a little
bit "tighter" than the X pedals which is to say that they do have a higher
release tension. Also, you can adjust the float on the Zeroes with independent
inboard and outboard limits. And yes, while the X pedals have greater overall
float, I find the Zeros to be more than adequate. Both cleats mate with Sidis
perfectly.

One more thought....This will be my first time on any clipless pedals...My LBS
has a great selection of all the Speedplays..even the Titanium's.

Thanks for the input so far and keep em coming!

I've heard that you can develop hot spots on your foot due to the small
surface of the speedplays. Can anyone support this rumor?

Originally posted by Chi
I've heard that you can develop hot spots on your foot due to the small
surface of the speedplays. Can anyone support this rumor?

I've heard that too. Personally, I've used SpeedPlay x-2's for over 2 years now
with 3 different brands of shoes and have not experienced this problem.

I wish you luck getting used to clipless. :D I crashed and burned in my
driveway yesterday, because I couldnt get unclipped fast enough. lol

By the way,,,,, what is the secret to clipping into SPD style pedals? I fumble around for 2 or 3 minutes before it snaps in.

I have X-3s (I wanted X-2s, but the store was out of stock when I bought my
bike), and I love them. They are the only clipless pedals I have owned, so I
can't really compare Speedplay to other platforms. That said, I have a little
experience with Look and Time pedals (on friends' bikes), and I like the
Speedplays much better than the others. I did consider Zeros, but I didn't want
to spend the extra money.

Back to the point, my knees are pretty banged up from running, and I wanted
something to ease the pain. I don't think the Xs have too much float, but that
is just me. You are getting a quality product, and will probably be happy with
either choice.

Practice ... practice ... practice ... practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...
practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...
practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...practice ...
practice ...

you get the idea

~LongRider~ , I'm prepared to crash and burn....I've already crashed hard without clipless shoes, so I can only do better :) I hope!

Mine was a soft spill, at least. I rolled up my driveway. (it is inclined) As I got to the top, I started trying to unclip, and couldnt. The whole time, the bike is slowing down, little by little. Eventually , it stops. I fell over like a total dork. :D I dont think te neighbors saw me. Im pretty sure they heard me cussing though. :D Naturally, the moment I hit the ground, my foot popped right out.

I could see hotspots from speedplays, but I would think that the likelihood would be less than with a SPD type cleat. The roadie speedplay pedals have a pretty big cleat that will take care of a lot of the hotspot problem, at least when compared to SPD cleats.

Everyone falls on clipless. It's all about the witty comment when someone sees you. Rehearse a little so you can come out of it with class.

You can usually loosen the tightness of the pedals until you get used to unclipping. I have them set at their loosest so I can get out as quickly as possible, and I can still pedal with a solid feel as they won't unclip under normal pedaling.

Originally posted by ~LongRider~
I wish you luck getting used to clipless. :D I crashed and burned in my driveway yesterday, because I couldnt get unclipped fast enough. lol
Mr. Longrider....... Speedplays are so much easier to get in and out of....especially getting out because there is absolutely no tension holding your foot back from unclicking..... just rotate and you're out.

George!

Totally biased opinion here, but I really like my Speedplay (X3's I think). They're the chromoly ones. Most of the riders I ride with use Look, and two of the guys complain of hot spots on longer rides. They've both had professional cleat fitting/adjustments. On long rides, I also have some discomfort, but as long as I can remember to move my toes around so as not to apply constant pressure over a long period, I'm generally okay.

Sometimes one of my friends does seem to have to use a good amount of effort to unclip, I guess he likes them that tight. Mine are always easy to get out of (as long as I remember to). The amount of float does not bother me as these are the only clipless pedals I've used.

edited for typos.

Originally posted by Chi
I've heard that you can develop hot spots on your foot due to the small surface of the speedplays. Can anyone support this rumor?

Speedplays really require a shoe with a very stiff sole to help distribute the load through the cleat body without flex. The contact area of the cleat itself is in fact quite large.

Anybody have any experience using Speedplay's Frog pedals on the road? Apparently they have a more "walkable, recessed cleat" -- to me, clippity clopping around like a horse is almost as classy as the clipped-in tipping we go through -- but then I still wonder about the best shoes for them. Would Shimano's walkable touring shoe, for instance, be too flexy to prevent hotspots over that little pedal? Any thoughts would be swell.

I have been using X-2 pedals with Carnac Quartz pedals for two years. I have had two surgeries on my right knee and the float has not affected my knee at all. The pedals do require a good stiff sole such as the Carnacs or Sidis, but they are worth it. I used Look pedals before I bought the Speedplays and there is a world of difference between the two. The Speedplays are relatively bombproof and, unless I let the cleats get clogged with a lot of grit, almost never fail to engage. They are extremely easy to use.

Clipless take some getting used to but I can't ride road without clipless pedals, at least not for any sustained period.

Anybody have any experience using Speedplay's Frog pedals on the road? Apparently they have a more "walkable, recessed cleat" -- to me, clippity clopping around like a horse is almost as classy as the clipped-in tipping we go through -- but then I still wonder about the best shoes for them. Would Shimano's walkable touring shoe, for instance, be too flexy to prevent hotspots over that little pedal? Any thoughts would be swell.

I've got the Speedplay Frogs with Sidi Dominator 4 Mt. Bike Shoes on my road bike. I still clip/clop a bit (mainly because of the shoes), but I can walk quite easily. So far I love them! Easy in and easy out. I've got bad knees and I love the float. Having gone from clips/straps to these was easy since the float was similar.

I was having some pretty bad pain in my knees and couldn't seem to adjust it out with my cleats on my Eggbeaters. So I tried the speedplays, the cheapest ones I could find. Very brief period of "getting used" to them... My knees loved them. I can't imagine using anything else.

after years of using SPDr, I decided to get the speedplay based on the recommendation of the the sales guy at the store..

on my first ride with I had to return home in the middle of the ride because of knee pain. Here is what I think happened: the SPDr have some force holding your foot at a (almost) right angle to the pedals, but the speedplays feel like there is ice under your feet, and the foot is free to pivot on the pedal with no resistance. This felt funny to me and I was over compensating by trying to hold my heels in, and this caused pain in my knees..
However! 200 miles later and I am SO HAPPY with the speedplay.. I got use to the feeling of slick pivoting, and now I love the pedals. The are very easy to click in and out of.
The only problem I have found with them is that they do not do well if you step off the road and get some mud or dirt in the cleats.. I Had to use my drinking water to clean em, or they wont work.. :)


----
learinig to use clipless pedals:
A good friend of mine, who is an Olympic gold medalist in cycling told me a few years ago that there are 2 ways to learn how to use clipless pedals:

1) you find a place in the house or garage where you can sit on the bike and hold on to something (or if you have a trainer), and just sit on the bike and clip in and clip out, repeat hundreds of time, do it for a couple of days until it becomes mindless... Once you fee comfortable, take the bike for a ride.
I promise you that at one point in you ride you will come to a stop and you will realize too late that you forgot to clip out and you will fall.... after you fall a couple of times you will remember to unclip!


2) forget about practicing on a trainer, just go out and ride, and after you fall a couple of times you will remember to unclip!

As an spd user, I've been thinking about getting speedplays... how far do you have to turn your foot before they release? The float sounds like it would feel really odd... 'specially since I have my spds about as tight as possible...

As an spd user, I've been thinking about getting speedplays... how far do you have to turn your foot before they release? The float sounds like it would feel really odd... 'specially since I have my spds about as tight as possible...

The angle to release is different depending on the model, and is adjustable on the high end speedplay.. My X3s I believe take 20deg. to release..
take a look at the speedplay website, they have a comparo tool with other pedals including SPDs..