Importance of Platform Size
 

How important is a large platform? Or does the stiffness of the shoe matter as much or more?

I am considering getting new pedals, been riding/racing on Speedplay Frogs (I know you are cringing.) and like the weight, longevity, and the fact that I can commute easily on my race bike to work with mtb. shoes.
I use carbon soled road shoes when I am not commuting. Keywins have caught my eye but are expensive to get the same weight as the frogs.

Thanks.

I suggest ultegra carbons. 160 bucks large platform, light.

Thanks.

I am more interested in opinions of those who have tried a lot of different platform sizes.

Stiffness of the shoe matters the most.

Large platforms feel a bit more secure and stable when you're out of the saddle.

Plenty of pros use Speedplays. I wouldn't consider those to be "small" platform pedals, considering the size of the cleats.

Regulard SPD pedals, like you see on MTBs and spin bikes, would be considered small.

To be clear, I am using Speedplay Frogs right now. They are designed for mtb. They feel very secure even pulling hard out of the saddle (after modification...). I do not get hotspots either. But I am curious, but not sure if I am ~$150 curious.

Thanks

just get speeedplay zeros (actually have slightly larger connection/platform than Look or Shimano).

The only time I find platform size to be an issue is when I ride around the block or something in non-riding shoes. Otherwise, a shoe with a stiff enough sole largely negates any advantage based on platform size alone.

I switched from SPD (small platform) to SPD-SL with a larger platform and didn't really notice much different but both pair of shoes have carbon soles so are quite stiff. Shoes matter most. However, I do like the SPD-SLs better overall.

If your frogs are fine, stick with them. Road pedals are overrated.

I wouldn't say they're overrated, but yeah, don't fix it if it ain't broke.

If you do need/want road pedals anyway, I'd say get Shimano 105s from Ribble. Usually about $50 or so. They're almost exactly the same as the non-carbon Ultegra 6700s.

Thanks. I think that Ill stick with the frogs.

+1 I use crank bros egg beaters with SIDI MTB shoes (not carbon soles but fairly stiff soles). I also have a set of crank bros pedals with platforms. The only difference I can feel is that the platform versions are a bit more difficult to clip in. Otherwise I can't tell the difference.

Me too. I have thousands of miles on them including a boatload of centuries with no problems. Stiff sole shoe with smaller platform works fine for most.

Decided on a whim to try Dura -Ace. Hands down, the right choice. Feel much more connected to the bike. So, not so much a platform issue, but rather the “loose-ness” of the frogs is now a memory.

I'd argue that "shoe to cleat" area and "cleat to pedal" area matter the most. You could have a square meter of platform, but if only 0.001 mm^2 are touching your shoe, it doesn't really matter. SPD-SL cleats are pretty big, but a lot of it doesn't touch your shoe, so it's pretty comparable to a Look Keo cleat. Speedplay pedals have a pretty small area, but the area of cleat and pedal touching is actually pretty high. I think the platform area is often a red herring.