Polaris OBark

Anyone have these? Do they really last 4X as long (I could possibly see this in the case of brass, but steel)? Does the enormous weight savings make you go any faster?

Koyote

So they'll last 4x forever?

Eric F 

Heirloom cleats. The last cleats anyone in your family will have to buy. Ever.

Iride01 

Status!

If you have them, then your place in the grand scheme of things will be higher than others of us.

And if you have a Rolex even more.

big john

I've used Shimano SPD cleats on mountain bikes since about 1993, I think, and have used them touring and even the road bike for a few years. I have never worn out a steel SPD cleat.

When I'm on my mtb with Camelbak the total weight is about 240 pounds. I don't think a 24 gram weight savings would be noticed.

big john

You'd have to constantly unclip and show them to everybody.

pdlamb

I'd expect the titanium to wear out as fast as, if not faster than, standard cleats. It's not generally used in high-wear applications.

But it won't rust! And you'll save a few grams! And it's not just weight, it's rotating weight! And it's Silca!!

(I asked for a couple Rene Herse tires for Christmas instead.)

msu2001la

Regular cleats are $15. Silca titanium cleats are $85. So you'd be paying 5.7x the cost for 4x the lifespan. From that perspective this isn't a good buy.

This is purely a weight weenie item. The SPD titanium cleats save 30g over brass.

In the weight per dollar chart, $60 to drop 30g is on the high end of the scale at $2.66 per saved gram. This is roughly on par with someone spending $1000 on a set of wheels that are 385g lighter than stock. Of course cleats are a lot less bling than wheels, since no one even sees your cleats, and telling anyone that you purchased titanium cleats immediately outs you as a compulsive weight weenie who enjoys incinerating cash.

So... this is a tough one.

msu2001la

I don't know that I've ever "worn out" an SPD cleat, but popping a new pair on once in a while does make the pedal engagement feel a bit more snappy. I replace my cleats every few years.

79pmooney

~$2/gram weight saved. It is (barely) rotating weight. Will be harder on floors than brass (and roughly comparable to steel). (Edit: had a conversation regarding year end tax stuff, piles of paper on my keyboard and that keyboard ran away with this post and sent it. Sorry!

Sy Reene

Do they work with Speedplay X ? ;-)

pdlamb

There's a genius marketing idea in there. Silca titanium cleats for Speedplay Frogs?

rsbob 

My old school Shimano SPD cleats were so long lasting, that the bolts/screws holding them in place were so worn down, it was impossible to get an Allen wrench on them. Just think what the Silca bots will look like, unless they are made of unobtanium

Polaris OBark

Wait, there is more:

3alarmer 

...I knew a guy who accidentally cut off his big toe, with an axe. He was kind of sensitive about it, though. So I never asked him if his bicycling was easier. Now I regret that.

msu2001la

You don't really think people are spending $85 on cleats and attaching them with regular steel bolts, do you?! C'mon... The Silca bolts are titanium.

You can definitely obtain all of this (the term "unobtanium" implies that the products are never actually available to buy, doesn't it? ). Silca will sell direct to consumer, plus these cleats are available at fine retailers like REI, Jenson USA, and your LBS (though they'll probably make fun of you) etc.

big john

Today I sprayed my mtb pedals with WD-40 before I went for a short ride. Felt like new pedals and they have been bounced off rocks numerous times.
Have to admit I'm not super picky about bike stuff, just want it to work.

BlazingPedals

This. Titanium is not as hard as steel, and will wear out faster. Whatever that means. I've lost track of how old my current steel cleats are. I'd see Ti cleats more as a status thing rather than as a weight savings.

burnthesheep

I wouldn't buy them, but I have had to replace spd's. When you run in them a lot because you're not good enough to hop barriers. You may have to run concrete stairs in practice or a race........it will wear down a cleat however recessed or not it is. If it's too recessed, it will make it too tough to constantly re-engage the cleat/pedal.

But that's maybe once every like 3 years or so? Given that, I wouldn't buy it unless I was making like 3x what I make in a year then it would become irrelevant as a cost.

indyfabz

I have achieved that without either.

Eric F 

This is an item for folks with a bunch of money who have run out of things to buy for their bike. The Silca titanium computer mount is in the same category.

rosefarts

For the people who say they have never worn out their cleats. I bet you have.

That feeling when your shoes get a touch sloppy on the pedals, or chatter when you hit trail chatter. I’ve seen this be improved by using brand new cleats.

I’ve noticed it more on some types of shoes than others. It does occur though.

I don’t think that an SPD cleat can wear out enough that it’ll fail to hold though.

Polaris OBark

They can start to become harder to disengage.

himespau 

These are for the folks who are on the waiting list for that $1000 Rene Herse rear derailleur that you have to have a bike custom-built around who need something to buy while they're waiting.

Atlas Shrugged

What everyone is missing is the amazing vibration absobing nature of titanium. With those cleats, it will feel like you floating on a cloud as you power up the hills, they will offer an amazing ride how could you go wrong. Lastly as mentioned earlier, your rotational weight will be noticable less allowing for faster and easier acceleration leaving everyone in your dust for the town line sprint.