ravenmore

Finally received my Speedplay Light Action pedals from PBK. All over the box and literature inside they say recommended for recreational cycling only. Not recommended for competitive use. I am definitely planning to race on these - maybe as soon as this weekend. Anyone have any issues with them?

urbanknight

They are concerned about someone sueing them if they accidentally unclip during a sprint. They are very easy to release, so I can understand that concern. I suggest you make sure you can control yourself in a 100% effort.

jfmckenna

That is really odd. I just googled it and indeed it says that one their web site too.

You'll be fine don't worry about it.

veganeric

+1

As someone who's pulled out of a pedal unexpectedly I can tell you it's no fun! I launched myself over the bars and broke both arms.

snowman40

What ubanknight says, it is really easy to just yank on them and come unclipped. I've saved myself from falling a few times because of this feature.

longbeachgary

Ouch!!! Were they speedplays?

ravenmore

Great - might end up having to go to one of their other pedals. I've unclipped in some Look Keos once. Didn't go down but got a nice scare out of it.

urbanknight

I had Light Actions for a while and although I never accidentally clipped out, the ease of it creeps me out. I had a teammate unclip on the velodrome right in front of me (Time pedals fwiw) and I narrowly avoided running over his neck ad he scraped along the brand new "traction enhanced" surface, which tore his skinsuit - and his skin - to shreds.

StanSeven

Unless you have the tension adjusted loose, Looks are difficult to accidently unclip with unless you have worn cleats. Look cleats wear fast and it's easy to not see how badly they are. I uncleated once in a sprint and another time on a very steep climb.

Brian Ratliff

I wouldn't use light action anything in a race. The risks from unclipping far outweigh the risks of not being able to unclip by about infinity. I'm not familiar with the Speedplay pedals (use Shimanos myself), but can you go from "light action" to "normal" with a cleat change? That might be the best thing to do here.

teterider

Speedplay is now buzzing all over due to their heavy handed tactics I won't go into here. However, be forewarned you may get a call from their lawyer and a cease and desist order if you use them for anything other than "recreation".

Edit from comments below: I guess satire is just lost on some people (and I guess you haven't read the speedplay bullying threads found on all bike forums now).

Brian Ratliff

umm... okay. Perfect example of how most of the internet trades in BS.

AngryScientist 

FYI, light actions are known as the "poor mans zero". you CAN, though speedplay wont tell you this, use ZERO cleats with the LA pedals, which will correct the lighter engagement issue.

urbanknight

rotflmao

Carbon Unit

I have been using LA pedals since their introduction, although I do not race. I do, however, push it hard and do sprint and have never come close to unclipping accidental. The advantage they have over Zeros is that it about half as much effort to clip in and out, or so I am told. I haven't used Zeros because I don't race and have no need to reduce or eliminate the the float.

urbanknight

^ I've used both, and they are both much easier to clip in and out of compared to Looks and Shimano. Since I have no trouble clipping out of Shimano, I see no need for it to be easier, but some feel differently.

ravenmore

I have Shimanos currently. My reason for wanting to switch is the dual sided entry and the fact that the pedal + cleat is lighter than the Shimano pedal alone. I'm firm believer in the idea that the lighter your feet are the faster you can move them.

I might try the Zero cleats. Thanks.

urbanknight

I believe someone tried Zero cleats on LA pedals and they didn't work. I wouldn't try it anyway, as it can screw up the pedals if the wrong things get latched.

brian416

I used Light Actions before Zeros and raced on them, I wouldn't hesitate to switch back if the LBS is out of zeros next time I need new pedals. The spring tension is pretty similar to Zeros, I never accidentally clipped or or came close. IMO, if you accidentally clip out of the pedals, its because you were crashing anyways.


I've used LA, Zero pedals and cleats both ways, they work perfect. The cleats are exactly the same between LA and Zero, Zeros just have the float screws in the. Its the X series you don't want to clip into.

urbanknight

Interesting. In your opinion, do the Zero cleats make the LAs feel like Zeros (ease of clipping in and out, and float adjustment)?

guadzilla

I have LAs on one bike, and Zeros on 2 others. I've never accidentally unclipped the LAs either - when you move your heel outwards to uncleat, there is somewhat less resistance (although I cant swear to it, to be honest). However, I have never felt the connection on the LAs to feel insecure while pedaling.

@Brian - I too would be interested in knowing what your experience with the LA cleats/Zero pedals and Zero cleats/LA pedals has been like. My bike with LAs is in a different domicile, so I havent had the chance to mix'n'match.

V.

brian416

I've ridden zero cleats with LA pedals, and LA pedals with zero cleats, the work pefect both ways over 1000s of miles. Since the tension is in the spring, using zero cleats on LA pedals is basically the same thing as riding Zeros.

I think Zero cleats and LA pedals is the best way to go because, the plastic tabs (circled below) get broken on my zero pedals, but that has never happened on LA pedals regardless of what cleats I use. I suspect it is due to the cutout on Zero pedals

urbanknight

Huh, I never had a problem with those tabs breaking, but it's too bad I didn't know this before I sold my LAs on ebay and bought a set of Zeros instead. I could have just bought Zero cleats!

jfmckenna

After reading the replies I retract my statement. I wouldn't touch those with a ten foot pole. Like recreational riders don't sprint each other at the county lines? Dumb idea.

Painful Chafe

Speedplay, from things I have read, is a very litigious company. I think this is just showing them projecting there own tactics to others and becoming paranoid. If they feel right in threatening a lawsuit on an individual selling bearings and screws on ebay to rebuild their pedals, why wouldn't someone else sue them if they unclip from their pedal.

Like others have said, accidentally uncliping from a pedal can happen to most pedal types. Because Speedplay uses the words "light action" on these particular pedals, there is a mile long line of lawyers that would sue the crap out of them because of these two words. "Well, they unclipped and my client broke his arm because these pedals have an easier release tension."

I use LA pedals and I think they are actually more resistant to accidentally unclipping than other pedals I have used. I haven't really tested it, but I think it is impossible to unclip unless you have rotated your foot to the release point. Because of the amount of float, you will NEVER be at that point in normal pedaling, including sprinting. I actually have concerns that they wont unclip in a crash because of the amount of float.

It is like the car thief that has every type of car alarm/ignition disabler/pit bull sitting in his front seat all night paranoia. Because he is a dirt bag, he thinks everyone is. Self projection.