Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

speedplay platformer.

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

speedplay platformer.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-28-10 | 07:38 AM
  #1  
AngryScientist's Avatar
Thread Starter
Lost
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,627
Likes: 164
From: nutley, nj
speedplay platformer.

i'm sure many of you will not see an application for this, but a friend of mine has a set for his bike, and they are pretty nice.

basically an adapter for speedplay pedals to turn them into platforms for short rides. i like these because they just snap right on without tools.

every now and then its nice to have my geared bike (as opposed to my SS commuter) to run to the coffee shop or what have you in street shoes.

Just an FYI i guess, i never knew these existed:

AngryScientist is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 07:53 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: Tuscaloosa, AL
Saw those on the speedplay page. Only about $20 for a pair. Not bad at all.
AMFJ is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 08:43 AM
  #3  
jmechy's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: UCSB

Bikes: 2006 Felt F3C

Is this a new version?
There used to be a clear platform attachment for speedplays that required a tool to put on and pull off. I believe there was a thread here in which people were complaining that they had cracked and shattered while riding.
jmechy is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 09:58 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 133
From: SFBay

Bikes: n, I would like n+1

I remember the tool needed version, but this looks newer, and seems to be a reasonable price. As an alternative for those who have at least minimal mechanical talents I made my own. I took an old set of cleats, bolted them on to 1/8" aluminum of the size and shape I wanted my platform, and then put 80grit adhesive backed sand paper on top. They come on and off by hand with a bit of a twist (or step on them and twist like normal cleats), and you can still clip your shoes in to the other side without removing them.
jccaclimber is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 10:04 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 157
Likes: 0

Bikes: 2007 Specialized Allez Elite, 2009 Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod

Originally Posted by jmechy
Is this a new version?
There used to be a clear platform attachment for speedplays that required a tool to put on and pull off. I believe there was a thread here in which people were complaining that they had cracked and shattered while riding.
"The innovative Speedplay Platformer is a user-friendly, tool-free platform cover for Zero and Light Action pedals." From their web site.
Reggieb is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 10:19 AM
  #6  
Banned.
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: London, Ohio

Bikes: Fuji Team 09, Schwinn Paramount 91, Fuji Discovery 90's

Huh never seen 'em.
mobike_moexcite is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 10:54 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
cool
BikesAreCool123 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 11:07 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 723
Likes: 0
~weird, i learned to platform on speedplays without these.
thegunner is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 12:10 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,783
Likes: 5
From: NYC

Bikes: Felt AR1, Cervelo S2

I wish someone made them for look. There have been times when they would have come in handy
Inertianinja is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 01:56 PM
  #10  
hairnet's Avatar
Fresh Garbage
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,190
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles

Bikes: N+1

Look pedals work just fine as platforms by themselves
hairnet is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 03:30 PM
  #11  
asmallsol's Avatar
Cat3.*....Cat2
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 0
From: Livonia, MI

Bikes: A lot.

Originally Posted by Inertianinja
I wish someone made them for look. There have been times when they would have come in handy
Originally Posted by hairnet
Look pedals work just fine as platforms by themselves
you can always make your own with an old set of cleats and some plastic or wood
asmallsol is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 04:35 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6,431
Likes: 44
From: Minneapolis, MN
Originally Posted by thegunner
~weird, i learned to platform on speedplays without these.
I've done it, but in addition to being smaller than a regular pedal riding speedplays without the shoes and cleats put you half an inch or an inch farther away from the pedal than with the cleat, which can be...uncomfortable.
PaulRivers is offline  
Reply
Old 04-28-10 | 08:52 PM
  #13  
adclark's Avatar
What's a bike?
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 611
Likes: 1
From: USA

Bikes: Bianchi Veloce

Originally Posted by Inertianinja
I wish someone made them for look. There have been times when they would have come in handy
https://www.bikepro.com/arch_products...ook_pedal.html

See LOOK TP93 Mountain Pedals. They are heavy, but are nice to have the platform side. I used to ride my other look pedals by putting my feet on top of them, but try that sometime when it is wet.
adclark is offline  
Reply
Old 04-29-10 | 07:36 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 133
From: SFBay

Bikes: n, I would like n+1

Originally Posted by hairnet
Look pedals work just fine as platforms by themselves
I agree, but I've also seen plenty of people slip a foot off of their Looks and crash because of that belief.
jccaclimber is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-10 | 04:02 PM
  #15  
a_phat_beat's Avatar
My grammar sucks.
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: NYC

Bikes: Merlin Extralight, Colnago Crystal, Serotta Club Special

ive got zeros on both my bikes, picked these up recently and they work as intended.

i say if you've got a pair of clipless pedals that work well with plain ol tennis shoes, then cool.

but if you have speedplay pedals, which i believe a lot of people do... and feel the need to ride your road rig in casual clothes, then this is a no brainer.
a_phat_beat is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-10 | 04:06 PM
  #16  
^oZ's Avatar
^oZ
shut up legs
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 1
From: Mokum
Originally Posted by jccaclimber
I agree, but I've also seen plenty of people slip a foot off of their Looks and crash because of that belief.
Seems obvious to me to stay seated.
^oZ is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-10 | 04:53 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 1
From: Orange County - SoCal

Bikes: 2011 Cannondale CAAD10

Wouldn't want them...I've got a $150 beat-up cruiser bike with a basket and a big old lock...if I need to run to the coffee shop or the grocery store I take it....and leave my $2K road bike safely in my home office!
Accordion is offline  
Reply
Old 05-09-10 | 10:37 PM
  #18  
bWurtz's Avatar
Sucking wind
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii

Bikes: Trek 1000.

Where are you guys buying these online? I saw Nashbar had them, but I've read a few poor reviews and would like to avoid them if at all possible. It looks like Competitive Cyclist has the old ones. A lot of the major online bike retailers everyone here likes to talk about don't carry them.
bWurtz is offline  
Reply
Old 05-10-10 | 05:34 PM
  #19  
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0

Bikes: Cannondale Supersix, Cervelo P1, Giant TCX singlespeed cross/commuter, IF Deluxe, Schwinn Homegrown dinglespeed townie, 1985 Stu Thomsen Huffy

I was one of the folks who posted in the other thread about having a problem with Speedplay Platformers and would like to chime in that the clear ones are absolute junk. If you can find the all black ones, those do work better (if you want to risk it) which I'll explain in a bit.

The set I purchased failed catastrophically after less than an hour of use causing a crash which resulted in a broken coccyx among other injuries. 8 months later I am still in pain on a daily basis.

Since these were fresh on the market at the time of the accident, I immediately contacted Speedplay and their handling of this situation is pretty much a how-to manual in what not to do.

I can't really get into to many specifics at the moment but here's the deal with the both the clear and the black Platformers.

When I met with an inspector from the Consumer Product Safety Commission who had an engineering background, the first words out of his mouth when he saw the clear Platformers were, "They used the wrong kind of plastic" which might explain why Speedplay has quietly switched the Platformers from clear to black plastic.

As part of a series of experiments, I ordered a set of Platformers from Competitive Cyclist. I thought I was getting the clear ones but I received the black ones. I rode them for 50 minutes (the approximate lifespan of the ones I bought) on my girlfriend's spin bike without incident. Compared to the clear Platformers, these guys are made from a softer plastic similar to the snap-in "test ride" platforms you see on Shimano pedal equipped MTB's at your LBS. They also use a different spring and seem to have a little more leeway built into the molding.

On the other hand, I tested out two sets of clear Platformers on my GF's spin bike and was able to make them break in as little as 16 minutes. The poor things couldn't even make it out of our living room. The reason they break is twofold: 1) the plastic used is very brittle 2) They were molded to fit a brand new set of pedals. The pedals I was using were about a year old and were a little worn at the edges from normal use. This in turn created some open space between the pedal and the Platformer resulting in more pressure on the Platformer itself.

For the record, I've video taped my living room tests and as soon I get the go ahead they will be posted on a YouTube near you. Gotta admit it's not very exciting footage but there is no question the ones that broke did so with no outside help.
Bobby Salsa is offline  
Reply
Old 08-25-10 | 04:17 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 880
Likes: 0

Bikes: Surley LHT, Cannondale R1000, IBEX Ignition, Bianchi Boardwalk, KHS Milano Tandem

The platformers seem to come in two models, one for Zero and another for Light Action. What about X? Is there a separate model for Speedplay X pedals, or do one of these two fit the X model? Or none?
Thanks,
Cycliste is offline  
Reply
Old 08-25-10 | 10:33 PM
  #21  
roadraccer's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Newport, CA
I had one of the first ones also and they were pure junk. Cracked them as soon as I stood on the pedals. Here was a previous thread on them:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=platformer
roadraccer is offline  
Reply
Old 08-26-10 | 01:11 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6,431
Likes: 44
From: Minneapolis, MN
Originally Posted by roadraccer
I had one of the first ones also and they were pure junk. Cracked them as soon as I stood on the pedals. Here was a previous thread on them:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=platformer
yeah, but the new ones *are* completely different.
PaulRivers is offline  
Reply
Old 08-26-10 | 05:08 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 880
Likes: 0

Bikes: Surley LHT, Cannondale R1000, IBEX Ignition, Bianchi Boardwalk, KHS Milano Tandem

Speedplay platformers

Yes, I figured that out. The old transparent ones were brittle, new ones are better.

Now I am trying to understand if there is a model that fit the X pedals, all Speedplay reference is platformers for Zero and Light Action, but nothing for X..... ?
Cycliste is offline  
Reply
Old 08-26-10 | 05:56 AM
  #24  
a_phat_beat's Avatar
My grammar sucks.
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: NYC

Bikes: Merlin Extralight, Colnago Crystal, Serotta Club Special

Originally Posted by bWurtz
Where are you guys buying these online? I saw Nashbar had them, but I've read a few poor reviews and would like to avoid them if at all possible. It looks like Competitive Cyclist has the old ones. A lot of the major online bike retailers everyone here likes to talk about don't carry them.
i got mine from competitive cyclist. i think they run just over 20 bucks.

update: they do not perform well in the rain.

2nd update: mine are the black ones, reading the guy that posted above about the failure, i can say that after about 4 months of intermittent use, they're still functioning ok when it's not raining.
a_phat_beat is offline  
Reply
Old 08-26-10 | 07:33 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Northern NJ

Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced 1 (2011), Santa Cruz Superlight (2000), Jamis Coda Comp (2009)

Thanks for posting. I just switched from Crank Bros. to Speedplay LAs and I had something similar for my Eggbeaters. I will be ordering a pair for my Speedplays.
Kylerk is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.