Just put Zeros on last week but have only ridden on the trainer. Easy to get into and probably the smoothest pedal I've ever ridden. I just fumbled with the Shimanos I got with the bike I bought last year once to often. I guess I thought they would be the same as my old Shimano pedals from the 80's. They aren't.

I used SPD's for a long time. After experiencing hot foot, I switched to Speedplays. I am happy I did. They would be even better if more shoe manufacturers made shoes that didn't require the adapter for the 4 screws. I use covers for walking because the cleats can be slippery on concrete.

How did you narrow your selection to the Zeroes over the Light Actions or X Series?

I don't use or have ever used Speedplay pedals, so I may not be qualified to say how good or bad they are. I am curious, however, why so much love for a system that appears to be high maintenance? There are several riders on my Saturday cycling club that use them and they are always having issues getting in and out of their pedals. It seems like a regular thing and on every ride.

I use SPD M520 pedals and have never had a problem clipping in or out with clean or dirty cleats/pedals or have ever had to cover my cleats in order to walk in my riding shoes. From what my buddies tell me, they clean their pedals and cleats after every ride. I just make sure that there are no rocks in the area of the cleats and rinse the pedals down when I clean the chain and drivetrain, about once a month or so.

Maybe it's just me.

I haven't done any maintenance on my Speedplays other than adding grease. They are as easy to engage as the SPD cleats were previously. In my case I feel the performance difference is worthwhile. I am still using my original Speedplay cleats.

Speedplays are more expensive because the prices appear to be more tightly controlled.

I selected the Zeros for the adjustability and being the most their current design.

I had been using SPDs and XT MTB pedals on the road bike and my joints were happy - didn't want to get the float too far from what was working.

Light Actions have the full 15 degrees of the design without the ability to reduce it. The X Series is the prior generation, and I try to avoid that with things I expect to use for several years - cuts down on the urge to "upgrade". I moved away from the SPDs due to hot spots on longer rides (for me that's been 25+ miles).

That said, it's taken a few rides and time at the bench to get the cleat position and float adjusted. Not quite there yet, but I won't go back to the SPDs. If I can't get the Zeros to a comfortable place, I'll try SPD-SLs.

My bike shop guy gave me his own light action pedals and shoes with cleats to try out for a week or two. (his shoes are my size) I liked them well enough but wasn't crazy about all the float. He had some of the X models in the shop but no Zeros. In fact, he didn't even know about the Zeros!
But I had done my research so I showed him the way and he got me a set of Zero pedals and cleats, with the super easily adjustable float.
I have now done a pair of 2 hour rides and a few shorter rides with these pedals and I like them a lot. Easy to get in and out of and they just seem to pedal so damn smooth!
I have the optional "coffee shop caps" to cover the cleats ($10) and I would recommend these if you anticipate much walking as the cleats do look a bit delicate.

I use the SPD-SL system with no issues clipping in. I don't look down when I clip in my second foot because the mechanism is below my foot and I can't see through my foot and shoe to see whats happening down there, I've gotten into the habit of sliding my foot over the pedal, it catches on the cleat and thats it for me as long as I don't try and rush the process.

I think that areas where the human body comes into contact with the bike (hands, feet & Butt) are places for individual choices in equipment, glad the OP found what works for him, it's just another example of why recommendations in these three areas are mostly useless.

The one big thing that I do like about my SPD pedals is that in areas of very heavy traffic or when there is a lot of anticipated mounting and dismounting (traffic lights every block), I can unclip and ride on my pedals by placing the cleats in front of the pedal. It's not uncomfortable and I can still get some pretty decent speed out of the bike riding that way. When I need to clip in, I just slide the foot back at a slight upward angle until I feel the pedal under the cleat, press down and I'm clipped in, just by feel alone. Some of the club members that ride on Speedplays have tried this but the cleats are too big and that puts their foot too far forward to be able to pedal correctly.

Also, you can take off from a start without the need to have one foot clipped in. I often just put the cleat ahead of the pedal and kickoff. It's just as fast as having one foot clipped in and I can get both cleats in the pedal before the end of the first full turn of the crank. I'm sure this isn't the normal or recommended way of kicking off, but it's the way I learned to do it and it has been working great for me.

With speed plays you simply put your foot on the pedal and ride. If for some reason you missed getting it in the right place to engage the cleat you simply ride away from the stop and make a minor adjustment and push down. You don't worry about being forward of the pedal because anything close and you can still pedal. Being two sided you don't have to worry about sliding the foot just step down and go. Some people like them some don't. I like the Zeros because I can adjust the float easily. On my MTB I use Crank Brothers or Time attacks because you simply can't seem to get enough mud on them to keep from clipping in.

When I first put my foot on a pedal it clips in. Why would I want to put the cleat ahead of the pedal, go around once and then clip in? If that works for someone that's all good but by that time I'm in both cleats and pedaling. It doesn't seem to be an advantage to me.

I get debris, mostly mud,, in my cleats every so often. Before I get back on the bike, I just take a stick and clean out the big stuff and all is fine. It has never been an issue or much of a job to do other than the one time someone must have spit out a gummy shot block or something like that and I stepped on it and that took a few minutes to clean out.

For me,it comes as an advantage when I'm riding in heavy traffic because it's easier to make an emergency stop and dismount without being clipped in. When I'm riding in front of the pedals, I don't want to be clipped in and can put adaquete pressure on the pedals without clipping in.

As for kicking off, I sometimes clip one foot in on the downstroke, but I don't have a foot clipped in before the kickoff. Maybe I'm just weird.

My comment wasn't made to be critical. I've just never had a problem being in traffic so it's a bit alien to me. Thanks for the explanation.

I didn't take it be critical and apologize if the response sounds that way. I just commented because I may be the only person doing this and just wanted to explain why.

I've used X-2 pedals for 8 years or so - the unrestricted feeling was a little like being on ice at first, but I got used to it quickly. I'm on my third set of cleats, and will likely get a fourth this year, but that's mostly because I'm not diligent about bringing my cleat covers when I ride. Very easy to lubricate, and I rebuilt a used pair with new bearings for my second bike. +1 on the dirt issue, I had a little bit of wet sand give me a lot of trouble halfway into a century last year.

Your response was not at all defensive or critical. I just began thinking about my comments and wanted to be sure they came across the way I meant them. Thanks.

This happens, I just hold the spring in and give a squirt with the water bottle and sand and debris flushes out and away you go, good as new.

I've used Speedplay pedals for 7 years, love, love love them.

I might add that there customer service it top drawer too.

Speedplay user since 2002 when my shop mechanic promised me after three rides I'd forget all about Shimano/LOOK style pedals which I had been using for about eight years. He was right.

I guess I'm the strange one here. I rode for 2 seasons with Speedplay Zero and was convinced when I had a bike fit to go the other way. I went to a set of Shimano's. I think it is easier to clip into the Shimano's and I also feel I get a more stable feel out of the Shimano's. I don't wear cycling shoes for walkability, but I think the Shimano cleats are easier to walk around with as well. I didn't have any problems with the Speedplays but I do prefer the Shimano pedals.

The reason my fitter gave for me to change out cleats was stability. I have a very wide foot and wear Size 50 shoes. He said there just wasn't enough base there to support my foot and I was rolling outward on my pedal stroke and was losing efficiency.

I'm not looking to flame anyone. Just putting it out there.

I was about to go to Speedplay, for fast clip-ins racing crit's, but when I started only using my Look KEO Carbons, rather than going back and forth between them and some SPD's when I switched bikes (only have one bike right now), my clip-in issues went away. Consistent use gave me the muscle memory I needed to get the clip-in working right, and I walk on crushed granite every day getting to the garage, which from what I hear would be a problem with the Speedplays.