Originally Posted by
Dannihilator
I've used both Spd-sl's and Speedplay Zeros.
Pros of SPD-SL: Comfortable feel, tough as nails, get a good pedal @ a great price point, no adapter plate needed for cleat. Cleat is lightweight.
Cons of SPD-SL: Weight, slight chance at an accidental pull out, which isn't too often, one sided.
Pros of Speedplay Zeros: Light, minimal size, hard to pull out of, but can be done, really adjustable.
Cons of Speedplay Zeros: Expensive, cleats are $40(expensive for a cleat), that stupid adapter plate, uses a phillips head screwdriver for every adjustment, the metal used on the screws is fairly soft and if one screw strips, you have to cut the cleat off with a hacksaw, high up keep, have to have a bottle of dry lube on hand just for the cleats, extremely easy to slip and fall if you have to put a foot down or walk, I've slipped and fell on damp surfaces 3 times when I ran speedplays.
+1
Also, you will never, ever find Speedplay Zeros on sale and they are rarely on craigslist.
Shimano is a better value and have offerings from $40 - $400...that all use the same cleat. The differences are in weight and bearings. Also, the pedal body's are on a hand-me-down system. Yester-year's Dura Ace is this year's Ultegra. Yester-year's Ultegra is this year's 105, etc... The $40 SPD-SLs on sale now are the same pedal body designed for Lance Armstrong in 2004 or 2005. It was called the "Lance Pedal".
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech/...ws/lance_pedal