Stoeger

Which model of Speedplays are best for those of us w/ bad knees? And something I've always wondered, how do you kick out of Speedplays?

TechJunkie

The Zeros have adjustable float, and I believe the new light action or whatever they're called do as well. as for getting out, simply twist and lift.

merlinextraligh

Any of them will be good for bad knees because they have free float. Personally I use X-2s. You just rotate your ankle, and they release quite easily.

Speedplay started selling the Zeros a number of years ago because some people don't like the feeling of all the free float you get with the X's, and the zeros allow you to limit the float. Most folks using the X's get use to the feeling of all the free float in a ride or so,

The light actions, are suppposedly even easier to get into. IMHO, I think the Light Actions are just a marketing attempt to hit a more recreational market.

If you go to SPeedplay's website, you can do a comparison chart between 2 speedplay pedals, and or other brands of pedals.

Stoeger

Thanks for the replies, I have the old style Time pedals and have been dealing w/ a little bit of knee pain, bought some LeWedges which caused their own problems w/ the Time shoes. The Speedplay cleats would mount up to the four hole Time pattern correct? If so, then I wouldn't have to buy new shoes or LeWedges.

spdrcr5

My understanding of Speedplay cleats is they sell both 3 and 4 hole versions. Just purchase the 4 hole cleat and they will mount to your shoe.

merlinextraligh

They're all 4 hole cleats, with an adapter plate for 3 hole shoes. I'm not sure if Time's spacing of the 4 holes is the same as speedplays.

Speedplay's website has a shoe compatibility section, and some times are compatible, some aren't

Speedplay cleats with 4 hole shoes are a very nice combination. Getting rid of the 3 hole adapter saves a decent amount of weight, and makes the pedal/cleat have almost no stack height. Unfortunately, there aren't many 4 hole shoes made anymore.

Bob Ross

Am I correct in surmising that the Light Action pedals are not as high quality a product as the X or Zero series? This was my initial suspicion based on price alone, but when I saw a pair up close I feared my suspician was correct: they look *much* cheesier than most Speedplays. (Unfortunately they were on the other side of a locked glass display case so I couldn't completely verify my concern.)

merlinextraligh

haven't seem them in person, but looking at the spec's, it looks like they're comparable to X-5's. They use the same bearings (or bearing type at least.) as the X5's. From the pics the composite portion of the Light Actions doesn't appear as robust, though.

bdcheung

Someone help me get my head around this:

If a cleat has infinite free float, how do you unclip?

JayC

Its not truly infinite, probably just "infinite" when pedaling. You just clip out but no one would be pedaling at the angle you have to go to to clip out.

oilman_15106

Knee problems, check out Bebop pedals. Solved my problems. The only advantage Speedplay's can offer is almost every shop has cleats and such where Bebop's have thin distribution. I ask in every shop I go to when I travel to see if some cleats are lying around, most say great pedal but no sellee.

merlinextraligh

The X series have 20 degrees of free float according to speedplay. So you need to rotate 20 degrees.

In the normal pedaling motion it feels infinite, because you'd never use all 20 degrees, unless you're trying to clip out. Actually, better description might be unlimited float.

Bob Ross

or "limited free float" ...since it is both free from stops over the range of normal pedaling action *and* unrestricted in terms of friction

idcruiserman

My understanding (without ever using Speedplay pedals) is that in addition to twisting your heel, you need to lift a bit.

DScott

incorrect.

grahny

I've got zeros, and what I like about them is that I can dial in the float just where I want it (heel in/out ranges). Too much float makes things worse for me and messes up my pedal stroke.

... and it's a quick twist heel out to disengage.

'nother

My understanding, from actually using them, is that you simply twist; no lifting is required.

The "unlimited float" bit is a little misleading, but as has been stated above, it is really "unrestricted within its range"...that is, there is not increasing resistance up to the point of release. It's like all or nothing...you float freely right up to the limit, then there's fairly hard resistance. Enough that you're not going to accidentally unclip, unless you've developed the questionable habit of riding with your heels very far outward. But not so much that you can't simply "kick out" to release.

The X-series has unlimited float (X-1, top of the line, titanium, etc.; X-2, middle ground; and X-5, the low end....they all behave the same, just different materials and cost).
Zeros have adjustable float, from zero (duh) to about 15 degrees.

And, to the subject line: depending on whom you talk to, either of these could be considered "bad" (or good) for the knees. There is a camp that says "float is good for the knees", and another that argues just as vehemently that "fixed (no float) is good for the knees". I'm afraid there's little conclusive evidence on that broad of a level, though.

Stoeger

Zeros would give you best of both worlds then I guess. I can tell you my knees did not like fixed pedals I used in the past. Now the big decision for me is cromoly or stainless spindles.

Big R

uhhhh...hello?...Stainless!

jp413384

With the Xs and the Zeros, Speedplay was producing two different pedals and two incompatible types of cleats.

I think Speedplay is just making production a little more efficient and, at least from pictures, it looks like the systems will now be cross compatible. The light action and Zero pedals appear to be the same. The cleats are also basically the same except that the Light Actions do not have the additional plastic layer and float limit screws.

zeeke

Ive not seen it said so sorry if I missed it but...

I have a really bad knee, IE had ACL replaced LCL tore, etc. I came from MTB and was using my crankbrothers mtb pedals and loved them for my knee. I switch to a road shoe finally and got some speedplay zeros. While I love the pedal I do have one issue with the zeros with my knee. Since my surgery etc my knee does not track like my good knee and oddly enough its the INSIDE limit that was bugging me on the zeros. I set it to as wide as it would go and I always end of hitting that inside limit. The outside and the float are great.

I just wanted to mention that the zero does have a inside limit and its not very much. Again its my bad knee making it track funny but its noticable.

Stoeger

Zeke, how much float is there on the inside? That's where I'd need it as well.

merlinextraligh

Unfortunately its not according to Speedplay:

Note: Light Action pedals are not compatible with Speedplay Zero and X-Series cleats.
Light Action cleats are not compatible with Zero and X-Series pedals.

https://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?f...me.lightaction

-VELOCITY-

I use the X5's on surgically repaired knees. And you just rotate your foot out and you'll be clipped out very easily.

Adgooroo

re: "Unlimited float" it's not - it's "free float," which means there is no spring tension or other force re-centering the pedal. You don't have to force your foot in either direction to float, there is no "click-stop" at the center position.