What pedals are you using?
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What pedals are you using?
Just bought new shoes and am in need of new pedals. Currently have Speedplay Zero that have a lot of up and down play in them, so I figure its time to change them also. Debating on staying with the Speedplay or maybe going to Dura Ace 9000. Opinions welcomed.
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I had speedplays until they both seized up due to poor maintenance. Now I ride Look Keo Blade 2 carbon on both my specialized and Shimano Dura Ace on my race bike. I like the Dura Ace better since my Looks seem to have some creaks but the Looks look better. I use different shoes for each pedal too.
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J.
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Ultegra SPD-SL. I absolutely love them. I had been concerned reading about lack of float compared to Speedplay, but I have had zero issues in thousands of km of use. I love the extremely secure click when they engage.
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For my riding style, I like walkable SPD shoes, and prefer to standardize between bikes.
Double-sided entry is convenient. However, the Xpedo R-Force - Titanium pedals are very sleek. Still early with experimenting with them, but so far they are working well. New versions have bearings, while old versions were bushed.
Double-sided entry is convenient. However, the Xpedo R-Force - Titanium pedals are very sleek. Still early with experimenting with them, but so far they are working well. New versions have bearings, while old versions were bushed.
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Shimano claimed that the platform on the DA pedals would save 5W over the lollipop design. I never saw that published, just that is what the guy said - so we switched about 6 years ago.
So now Shimano all around (4 DA, 2 Ultegra, 1 105) except I have some Mavic Ti Race-Lites (use the Look cleat) for the guest bike.
My son races MTB on his road Dura-Ace.
So now Shimano all around (4 DA, 2 Ultegra, 1 105) except I have some Mavic Ti Race-Lites (use the Look cleat) for the guest bike.
My son races MTB on his road Dura-Ace.
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still with speed plays, I had DA9000 with zero float and still found my foot moving a bit, I now went bak to my speedplays and made sure there was zero play or float and I havent been happier, I also like clipping in super fast
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Float is such an individual thing that the concept that "more float" or "different float" being better is deceiving. They may be better for one person or certain people but not all people by a long shot.
Two specific examples of where "more float" isn't better. One, a famous pro racer ( rather controversial so I won't name him) rode a competitors brand pedal all but the last year or two of his career because unlike the brand he was paid to showcase, the competitors shoe could be set up to lock out all float. (The manufacturer he was supposed to be showcasing finally broke down ans offered a high end pedal where float could be locked out.)
And the other example - me. I have known for 35 years that I had to use cleats that angled my feet to more toe-in than I have naturally to get my chrondomalacia knees to track properly. This means that pedals that lock out float are by far thew best and ones that float but the un-clip is only to the outside and can be angled enough to force that toe-in work. So I use old fashioned slotted cleats, toeclips and straps, black LOOK Delta cleats with compatible pedals and highly toed-in SPDs. First two setups are 1st class for me, the last works and gives me walkable shoes.
A solution that is right for one person and another solution that is right for another have one common feature. While riding, the shoes and pedals simply dissappear. And injuries don't happen. If your pedal/shoe/cleat system meets that criteria, it works.
Ben
Two specific examples of where "more float" isn't better. One, a famous pro racer ( rather controversial so I won't name him) rode a competitors brand pedal all but the last year or two of his career because unlike the brand he was paid to showcase, the competitors shoe could be set up to lock out all float. (The manufacturer he was supposed to be showcasing finally broke down ans offered a high end pedal where float could be locked out.)
And the other example - me. I have known for 35 years that I had to use cleats that angled my feet to more toe-in than I have naturally to get my chrondomalacia knees to track properly. This means that pedals that lock out float are by far thew best and ones that float but the un-clip is only to the outside and can be angled enough to force that toe-in work. So I use old fashioned slotted cleats, toeclips and straps, black LOOK Delta cleats with compatible pedals and highly toed-in SPDs. First two setups are 1st class for me, the last works and gives me walkable shoes.
A solution that is right for one person and another solution that is right for another have one common feature. While riding, the shoes and pedals simply dissappear. And injuries don't happen. If your pedal/shoe/cleat system meets that criteria, it works.
Ben
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Speedplays on my road rides. Crank Brothers egg beaters on my mountain & cross bike.
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Look Keo Blade Carbon Ti and Garmin Vectors that use the same cleat. In addition I've been trying Speedplays. To be honest I like both designs equally well. I still struggle to clip into the Speedplays but am getting use to it.
Speedplays offer some unique advantages in theory beyond the float adjustability including low stack height and extreme weight savings. But special shoes are necessary to fully benefit.
If going with Speedplays, buy the chrome-molly. It is super easy and cheap to replace the spindle with a titanium one. For less than $200 you can have a very light set of pedals. Mine now weigh 140g compared to 180g for the Looks.
Speedplays offer some unique advantages in theory beyond the float adjustability including low stack height and extreme weight savings. But special shoes are necessary to fully benefit.
If going with Speedplays, buy the chrome-molly. It is super easy and cheap to replace the spindle with a titanium one. For less than $200 you can have a very light set of pedals. Mine now weigh 140g compared to 180g for the Looks.
#16
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I have as SPD-SL 550s and 105s with blue cleats. Functionally pretty much the same, but one is almost two years olds, and the other one month old.
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I buy wellgo look knockoffs for like $20-30 just about every season. the pedals are usually still just fine at that point, but the kits come with new cleats, which I need every season anyway, and for that price, I could get 5 years in before reaching the in cost of ultegra or whatever. performance is just as good unless you're one of the neurotic types.
in the words of durianrider "nobody ever got dropped because of the pedals they were riding"
in the words of durianrider "nobody ever got dropped because of the pedals they were riding"
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Woman make me faster
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Speedplay on my two road bikes and XTR's and one platform on the two MB's.
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Speedplay Zero pedals on two bikes (no issues) but Dura Ace is going on the new one being built. I'm hoping the bigger platform provides more stability for my left ankle.
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Shimano SPD's. I like to be able to walk when we stop for a brake. I don't scratch floors either.
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Ultegras. They are excellent.