BummBull

I used to use Speedplays. I really liked the no look entry as it was very beneficial during Crit races. However, these hurt my knees more!!! I thought it was supposed to be easier on my knees with the float, but it was the opposite for me. Maybe too much unneccesary float where I wasn't being efficient??? I don't really know, but it didn't agree with my knees. It could've been my shoes where the soles may have not been stiff enough. I currently use Shimano road clips and they are great. I don't feel any pain in my knees. I'm going to be switching to Campagnolo soon, but their platform looks pretty much the same, so they should work out well for me too. So, for me personally, I didn't like Speedplays.

psycho-ist

It seems you could be fit by God himself, it wouldn't change whether you needed a few degrees of float or not.
If wasn't for pedal float (sorry, peddle float) I probably wouldn't even be riding any more.

Namenda

Well, that's the thing. I've used other brands, and liked them, but like Speedplay more. The minimal maintenance required is easily offset by the no-look, never-miss clip-in.

My favorite pedals other than these were a pair of Ritchey Pro Road. Awesome pedals, light as a feather, used spd cleats and still felt relatively stable, maintenance-free, just a great pair of pedals. But they were one-sided entry, had a small platform, and were just lousy to clip in and out of. I ended up selling them used for more than I paid new.

Keo's are probably the most stable pedals I've ever used, but again...one-sided entry. Where I ride, I'm constantly clipping in and out. Speedplay just makes more sense, for me. I still have my Keo's, but they live in a box next to their worn-out, cheaply made cleats. They may not be happy about it, but I am.

thump55

If you don't have knee problems with your current set-up, it's probably not anything to worry about.

I would highly recomend the Zeroes. You get the most (or none, or anywhere in between) float, and I have no troubles clipping in, staying in, etc. I'll be honest and say these are the only clipless pedals I've used, but I would/will buy them again in a heartbeat.

I do use the adjustable float as my left fibula has been broken and my ankle is not quite perfect. I have a more "heel out" stance on my left leg, so I adjust the position on that cleat accordingly, but both shoes are set to near zero float. As someone mentioned above, if you require much float in your actual pedal stroke, you probably have fit issues. but if you are like me and want to "lock in" your foot in a certain position, these work awesome.

Dick Rhee

i'm a Speedplay Zero to Keo carbon convert - the Zero cleats are a lot of maintnance, and the Keo platform feels so much more stable. The slower clip in is a definite strike against the Keos, but the additional comfort from the larger platform more than makes up for it.

There are a few problems with the Zero cleat. If you torque it down too much, you won't be able to clip in. When you back off the tension to what Speedplay specifies, you will experience a bit of lateral play, and lose screws like crazy (although a little slower if you have a tube of loctite blue handy). The limit screws, which control the float, are threaded into the plastic piece of the cleat and will slowly worm out, requiring re-adjustment after a couple of rides. Once you've adjusted the limit screws more than two or three times, the plastic threading wears down and the limit screws will worm out extremely quickly, rendering that feature essentially useless. The grime is also an issue to be aware of - if the smallest amount gets behind the spring, it will be extremely difficult to clip in and out of (especially once it dries a couple of hours later).

Overall, Speedplays are faster to clip in, and the adjustable float is nice (when it works), but the cleat sucks, and due to the grime issue I would stay clear if you do any winter/spring riding.

Psimet2001 

proper installation of the cleats initially - including making sure the adapters/shims fit the sole profile exactly will elimnate 99% of the "issues" you mention having with your experience.

The cleats can be susceptible to debris but there's an easy way to avoid it....don't stand around in mud and rocks.

If you find it difficult to clip in after walking through questionable things like loose gravel, sand, mud, etc...then stomp the cleat flat on the ground before getting on the bike....kind of like tapping snow off the bottom of your shoe before coming inside in the winter. If that doesn't work then slam/stomp the cleat against the pedal. That usually works wonders for me if the issue comes up.

kwrides

Thanks, I'll try this. I love my LA's, but when people say there is no issue with mud locking them up, it's just not true.

Steve90068

ive never had any issues with them locking up. I also use cool covers when walking in them

Carbon Unit

I guess it depends on where you live. I have been using LA's since they were introduced in 2006 and have never had them clog up with mud, dirt or grim even once. However, I live in Southern California. We don't have a lot of mud here. Also, I only ride on asphalt which tends to be very clean where I ride. So, no problem whatsoever with my LA's.

LazurusTaxa

I will never use anything but speedplays (x series) again

thirdin77

1. sure
2. light actions if you're not sure what you want
3. cromoly if you don't know what you want

If you don't know what you want, get somethign cheaper and simpler to start with. Or spend more money on something you aren't sure you'll even like, with features you don't seem to be familiar with.

RoboCheme

I like my Zeros a lot better than my old Looks because:

1. Much easier to get into
2. Adjustable float (I adjusted it so that my shoe straps wouldn't hit my cranks. I've never had knee problems)

I haven't had any hot spot problems (I don't see how anyone could since the cleats are so large and they would distribute the pressure from the pedals)

On the rare occasions that I have trouble with mud, I just stamp my foot down or wipe off the pedals.

roadraccer

This isn't about negative, but just the facts! Personally I have the Zero stainless right now. I had the Shimano SPD-SL in the past and I think I'm going back to them. Some people say the Speedplays are easy to get into. I don't find that to be true. Yes they are easy to get out of, but not into. It has to be constant maintained cleaned and greased for it to work well, it's not a maintenance free setup if you're looking for that. Clipping in you’ll have fumble around with it to find the hole to get it just right before it clips in. Sometimes you get some dirt in to it or so it's hell getting in. Riding conditions isn't a perfect world out there. There are times that you're going to come up onto some dirt which is out of your control. Another thing is if you're concerned about keeping your crank arms nick or scratch free, that won't happen, since their metal cleats and if you slip and make contact with your crank arms it will permanently nick or scratch your crank arms. Yes, the Zero have a good thing which is the are adjustable on the float if you want to deal with the other issues then they might be a pedal for you.

Carbon Unit

I have been riding with Speedplay pedals for three years and haven't experienced any of the issues you described. I have never had a problem clipping in and dirt has never been an issue. I also haven't scatched my crank arms.

As for the maintenance, Speedplay recommends that the screws be removed ffrom the pedals and grease injected into them four times per year; and, every few rides I spray lubricant on the cleats. There is way more maintenance on the chain and cogs and the tires.

But, every one likes something different or there would only be one pedal system sold.

Bo-Ridley

I went from toe clips to Speedplays and have never used any other type of clipless pedal. My first set was Light Action and they were fine but I wasn't thrilled about all of that float. I put about 2500 miles on them and never did a thing to them maintenance wise. They are still in good working condition.

I got a new bike so I moved up to Zeros and like them very much. The float limiting ability is great and I actually find them easier to get out of than the Light Action because when I kick my heel outward they readily disengage whereas the Light Actions seem to need an upward motion in addition to the outward. I've got about 2000 miles on these and have, as with the Light Actions, put in exactly 0 minutes of maintenance into them.

As for mud, I'm sure I would have problems with them if I walked through some. That's why I don't. I should add, however, that I have done a bit of walking in grass, etc. but still no problem.

Carbon Unit

I would like to ask your opinion on your experience with LA and Zeros. I have been considering switching to Zeros when my LA are ready to be replaced. I am on my second set of cleats. The first set were much loser and my feet moved side to side much more as I pedaled. The second set of cleats didn't do this and felt much better.

I have heard Zeros have more of a secure feeling and less of a pedaling on ice clubs feeling. However, I have also heard that it takes much more foot force to clip and clip out. The LA are extremely easy to clip and out and doesn't require any upward motion, just turn my feet outward.

My question: How easy is it to clip in and out with Zeros as compared to the LA? I do not race and never will. I am strickly a recreational rider.

Bo-Ridley

I am also strictly recreational and when I first got the Zeros it occurred to me that I might have gotten more of a pedal than I needed. It does take more force to clip in and out and I was MILDLY bothered by this at first. I think it took about three hundred miles before I decided that I never needed to see my Light Actions again. I definitely was not thrilled when I was first using them. I now like them a lot.

They do, indeed, feel more secure--likely because your heel is not moving all over the place. I've heard about, but never felt, the "ice cube" phenomenon, even when I was using a pair of plastic soled Pearl Izumis.

Carbon Unit

Have you adjusted some of the float out? I am not bothered by the un-restricked float. You have been a big help. I don't think I have ever heard from anyone that has owned both Zeros and LA pedals before.

I have had my eyes on a pair of stainless steel Zeros for a while. Just waiting for my LAs to wear out or maybe I could ebay them.

pinwheel

if what you have now is working, I would say don't mess with it. I had major issues with KEOs and switched to speedplay zeros. all my problems with the spinning will trying to get in to the correct side and false clipping are gone after a very prominent break in period on the speedplay pedals. if keos are working OK and you change to something else, you might just run into all the problems opposite of what I had.

Bo-Ridley

[QUOTE=Carbon Unit;9578844]Have you adjusted some of the float out? I am not bothered by the un-restricked float. You have been a big help. I don't think I have ever heard from anyone that has owned both Zeros and LA pedals before.

Glad to have helped. I should add that I wasn't all that bothered by the float either. I was pretty good at keeping my feet in the same position through the stroke. That said, it was something I didn't need either. The Zeros got rid of it, I've got them on a pretty small float. I could probably get rid of it entirely and not be bothered but like the above response says, why change something that works. I can ride forever on my current setup and nothing will hurt. Gotta love my Ridley Damocles (and the pedals I slapped onto it).

Steve in MA

Speedplay is the only clipless pedal system that I've used, so I can't offer any comparison. But I've been very happy with my light action pedals. To echo what others have said:

- Very easy to clip in/out. But make sure to regularly maintain/lube the cleats to keep them that way.

- You will need to get a grease gun to lube the pedal, but there's a $5 one at Harbor Freight that works just fine. You don't need to get the $35 for sale on the Speedplay website.

- If you go with Speedplay, make sure to get a set of cleat covers. Since the spring action is in the cleat (as opposed to the pedal, as on most other systems) the cleat seems to be more sensitive to dirt/grime than the cleats that some of my friends use. They go on easy and store nicely in the back pocket of your jersey. Just remember to take them off before you try to clip in....from personal experience, I can tell you it's very difficult to clip in with the cleat covers on.

Bo-Ridley

Steve in MA, can you be more specific on the grease gun? As I said, I've not maintained mine at all, mostly because I've not been able to figure out what to use. I even asked a guy here in NYC who runs one of the most respected one man bike mechanic operations in town.

My Zeros have a larger opening that looks like a normal grease gun would work but the Light Actions just have a small screw for the opening.

Thanks for any help.

SpinDr

Some great advice and discussion here, peeps. Plenty for me to take into consideration when I move pedals around onto my winter bike etc.

Thanks!

Ben

pkpsu

Anybody ride speedplays with mtb shoes? (X, LA, or zeros, Not the speedplay frogs.) And if so, which shoes? or is this even possible?

Carbon Unit

I don't think it is possible because the screw holes in mtb shoes are different than road shoes.