Road Cycling - Clipless pedals

I am in the market for a set of clipless pedals for my road touring bike. My only experience with clipless pedals is on my mountain bike - Onza. They seem to work fine. I like the feature of being able to clip into either side of the pedal.

I am 44 years old, with no knee problems (yet). I think I want some degree of float so am considering Look or Speedplay pedals.

Does anyone have any comments/suggestions?

I really like having double sided pedals (being an avid MTB'r). Speedplay road pedals are among the lightest, have the greatest cornerring angle, and have float. I can't say enough good about them.

I love speedplay road pedals, sadly, I dont have a road bike yet, or the pedals. But the times I have taken my friends road bikes out, I have never had a problem with the speedplay pedals. When I get my roadbike, I will put speedplay on it. Hope that helps.

Speedplay is good, provided you can handle a lot of float. For those riders who have pronation, or enjoy fixed cleats, Look is a good option. Personally, I prefer my feet solidly locked in, specially in a flat out sprint

Peggy Lynn,

Do not go with Speedplay. Why? You will need to deal with a new peadls system including cleats. SPD style I highly reccomend as they can easily be found anywhere.

Also the Speedplay pedals offers quite a bit of movement that many people simply dislike as it takes much more rotation to release.

I suggest buying normal SPD style pedals. The ONZA pedals are great but cleats are somewhat hard to come by these days.

I personally do not like Speedplay and I will say that straight out. Product is OK, nothing execellent. My bad experience comes from their serice to me years back. It got very personal with them.

Lightness is a thing people say but look at the cleats as those are heavy as that is where the mechanism is attached.

I have some Dura Ace 7700 SPD-R pedals, which I've ridden for approximately 800km. I hate them, they're difficult to get into and difficult to release as well. Every time you miss, the cleat leaves scratches on the pedal. I will swap them for a bottom of the range pair of Look pedals any time.

I understand that you had a bad customer service issue with Speedplay. Other than a personal dislike of the company, I don't understand your arguments against buying Speedplay. I don't mean this to sound like a personal attack, I just really love Speedplays and know many other bikers who share my views.

First, Peggy desires float so having to get used to new cleats and a higher degree of rotation is required.

Second, Speedplays can easily be found anywhere. Mail order, local bike shop, etc.

Third, many road riders do not like regular SPD's as the cleat is so small that it puts pressure on a small area of the foot. That was part of the reason for Shimano's redesign of their pedals to the new SPD-R (larger cleat).

Fourth, Speedplays with cleats weigh less than most other pedals WITHOUT cleats! The X/2s (stainless spindle, not their lightest model) weigh in at 196g plus a 50g cleat to equal 246g. Compare that to Shimano Dura Ace pedals WITHOUT cleats at 304g, or Look PP256 Carbon (also without cleats) at 382g. Bebobs are really the only pedal that is in the same weight region as Speedplays.

I understand that you had a bad customer service issue with Speedplay. Other than a personal dislike of the company, I don't understand your arguments against buying Speedplay. I don't mean this to sound like a personal attack, I just really love Speedplays and know many other bikers who share my views.

First, Peggy desires float so having to get used to new cleats and a higher degree of rotation is required.

Second, Speedplays can easily be found anywhere. Mail order, local bike shop, etc.

Third, many road riders do not like regular SPD's as the cleat is so small that it puts pressure on a small area of the foot. That was part of the reason for Shimano's redesign of their pedals to the new SPD-R (larger cleat).

Fourth, Speedplays with cleats weigh less than most other pedals WITHOUT cleats! The X/2s (stainless spindle, not their lightest model) weigh in at 196g plus a 50g cleat to equal 246g. Compare that to Shimano Dura Ace pedals WITHOUT cleats at 304g, or Look PP256 Carbon (also without cleats) at 382g. Bebobs are really the only pedal that is in the same weight region as Speedplays.




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I recently purchased a pair of Shimano PD-6610 SPD-SL (Ultegra) pedals and love them. The float is fine and I can't say that I have had any problems exiting the pedals in a hurry. They can be a challenge to walk with on smooth surfaces, but I haven't found a pair of road pedal cleats that aren't.

My only gripe with Speedplay pedals is the fact that the mechanism is on the shoe. I am concerned with the durability of the mechanism due to ground contact when walking (JMO).

People who are complaining about the float with Speedplays are referring to the Speedplay "X" pedals. Speedplay Zeros have limited float - you can control just how much float you have, both in or out, completely removing the 'ice cube' feeling that people who've used the X pedals experience. Go for the Speedplay Zeroes.

Welcome Peggy. Have ridden Looks almost exclusively, except for a brief foray into Shimano, for a very long time. Never have used Speedplay, although I'd like to sometime, but the cost of having multiple bikes/multiple pedal systems or changing all at once is prohibitive. The commonsense aspect that has been cited in other threads regarding Speedplays is that since it is a smaller platform than many other pedals, extremely stiff shoes are important for comfort and not getting hot spots due to pressure not being distributed well over the sole of shoe (this obviously also depends on your feet and how prone you might be to this). One thing to consider,since you're considering Looks anyway, is that since they've been around so long and have been pretty popular, the marketing/model changes mean that what was the top of the line quickly becomes clearance and there is inventory everywhere. For instance, I got a second set of PP396's about 7 mos. ago on clearance for less than $80, which was their top of the line a couple of years ago. Now it's the Keo and the cleat isn't even the same - technology/marketing factor. Anyway, the PP396 has adjustable float and release tension so are worth looking at. Do a search on the forums and get other's opinions and maybe talk to some others you may know. Good luck and have fun riding.

stick with what you've got that way you won't need new shoes and still have the same convenience you're used on the MTB

I also have the ONZA's on my MTB, and i got a 2nd set cheap with new cleats on ebay and put them on my road bike....they work fine but the problem is that they have a very small contact area btwn the cleat and the shoe...im using my MTB shoe...which has a soft sole comapred to road shoes.....so its a lot of PSI b\c of the small area....but then you look at the speedplay pedals and they are also a small pedal...the thing is that the cleat is large...at least 4 or 5 times larger then the onzas cleat.....im going to get some speedplay X...maybe the Zeros...i hope to be able to try some X out before and see if im ok with the large degree of float...if not ill get the Zeros

also the Speedplay pedals have these special rubber slip on covers that you can carry in the back pocket of your jersey and put thenm over the cleat when you are going to walk....thats a huge plus if you ask me...

I understand that you had a bad customer service issue with Speedplay. Other than a personal dislike of the company, I don't understand your arguments against buying Speedplay. I don't mean this to sound like a personal attack, I just really love Speedplays and know many other bikers who share my views.

First, Peggy desires float so having to get used to new cleats and a higher degree of rotation is required.

Second, Speedplays can easily be found anywhere. Mail order, local bike shop, etc.

Third, many road riders do not like regular SPD's as the cleat is so small that it puts pressure on a small area of the foot. That was part of the reason for Shimano's redesign of their pedals to the new SPD-R (larger cleat).

Fourth, Speedplays with cleats weigh less than most other pedals WITHOUT cleats! The X/2s (stainless spindle, not their lightest model) weigh in at 196g plus a 50g cleat to equal 246g. Compare that to Shimano Dura Ace pedals WITHOUT cleats at 304g, or Look PP256 Carbon (also without cleats) at 382g. Bebobs are really the only pedal that is in the same weight region as Speedplays.

Good points Tony. I have used Speedplay X2 for many years and they are fine, well made, domestic pedals. Perhaps the person who started this thread would be best on some SPD road pedals so she can keep on using her current shoes and enjoy walking while not on the bike. If budge allows, sure, go get some real road pedals and shoes. Buy the most expensive that you can reasonalbly afford.

I understand that you had a bad customer service issue with Speedplay. Other than a personal dislike of the company, I don't understand your arguments against buying Speedplay. I don't mean this to sound like a personal attack, I just really love Speedplays and know many other bikers who share my views.

First, Peggy desires float so having to get used to new cleats and a higher degree of rotation is required.

Second, Speedplays can easily be found anywhere. Mail order, local bike shop, etc.

Third, many road riders do not like regular SPD's as the cleat is so small that it puts pressure on a small area of the foot. That was part of the reason for Shimano's redesign of their pedals to the new SPD-R (larger cleat).

Fourth, Speedplays with cleats weigh less than most other pedals WITHOUT cleats! The X/2s (stainless spindle, not their lightest model) weigh in at 196g plus a 50g cleat to equal 246g. Compare that to Shimano Dura Ace pedals WITHOUT cleats at 304g, or Look PP256 Carbon (also without cleats) at 382g. Bebobs are really the only pedal that is in the same weight region as Speedplays.

Good points Tony. I have used Speedplay X2 for many years and they are fine, well made, domestic pedals. Perhaps the person who started this thread would be best on some SPD road pedals so she can keep on using her current shoes and enjoy walking while not on the bike. If budge allows, sure, go get some real road pedals and shoes. Buy the most expensive that you can reasonalbly afford.

I understand that you had a bad customer service issue with Speedplay. Other than a personal dislike of the company, I don't understand your arguments against buying Speedplay. I don't mean this to sound like a personal attack, I just really love Speedplays and know many other bikers who share my views.

First, Peggy desires float so having to get used to new cleats and a higher degree of rotation is required.

Second, Speedplays can easily be found anywhere. Mail order, local bike shop, etc.

Third, many road riders do not like regular SPD's as the cleat is so small that it puts pressure on a small area of the foot. That was part of the reason for Shimano's redesign of their pedals to the new SPD-R (larger cleat).

Fourth, Speedplays with cleats weigh less than most other pedals WITHOUT cleats! The X/2s (stainless spindle, not their lightest model) weigh in at 196g plus a 50g cleat to equal 246g. Compare that to Shimano Dura Ace pedals WITHOUT cleats at 304g, or Look PP256 Carbon (also without cleats) at 382g. Bebobs are really the only pedal that is in the same weight region as Speedplays.

Good points Tony. I have used Speedplay X2 for many years and they are fine, well made, domestic pedals. Perhaps the person who started this thread would be best on some SPD road pedals so she can keep on using her current shoes and enjoy walking while not on the bike. If budge allows, sure, go get some real road pedals and shoes. Buy the most expensive that you can reasonalbly afford.

dats a threepeat dat is

Peggy Lynn,

Do not go with Speedplay. Why? You will need to deal with a new peadls system including cleats. SPD style I highly reccomend as they can easily be found anywhere.

Also the Speedplay pedals offers quite a bit of movement that many people simply dislike as it takes much more rotation to release.

I suggest buying normal SPD style pedals. The ONZA pedals are great but cleats are somewhat hard to come by these days.

I personally do not like Speedplay and I will say that straight out. Product is OK, nothing execellent. My bad experience comes from their serice to me years back. It got very personal with them.

Lightness is a thing people say but look at the cleats as those are heavy as that is where the mechanism is attached.

I won't ride anything BUT Speedplay. I need the float or else my knees give me a lot of pain. I use Speedplay Frogs on the hybrid and X2's on the roadbike.

Speedplay X2 and X3 on my bikes.

Thinking of trying the Time RXS, though...

I have had my new Speedplay X/2 pedals for the past three weeks on my new 2005 Specialized Roubaix, and I LOVE THEM !!! The "free float" is fanatstic, and very easy to get used to. I used to ride with SPD pedals, but the Speedplays are infinitely more efficient and much more comfortable. My knees have never felt better after a ride than they do now. Try the Speedplays. You should be very pleasantly surprised.

I don't know what people have against Looks. They are the road cycling standard and I have been pretty satisfied with mine. They have plenty of float as well and the cleats are ubiquitous. The nice thing about them is that, even though they are one sided, they are very easy to enter, they have a much bigger target to hook the cleat than most mountain bike pedals.

If you want something you can walk in, I recommend egg beaters. They have four sided entry, so they are pretty easy to get into as well. Their only problem is that they don't have a lot of float.

Unless you are racing crits, cornering angle and weight are not real issues. I cannot feel the difference between my eggbeaters on one bike, which are supposed to be light, and my Looks on the other, which are supposed to be heavy. It is my opinion that pedal float is much overrated. In my experience, you need float in order to get your feet into the correct angle to the pedal, but you shouldn't need to rotate your feet more than a couple of degrees relative to the pedal as the pedal is going round. In this way, the float on modern pedal systems allows the cleat to be set up without too much accuracy. The cleat just has to be close, then the float can take care of the rest.