Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 373
Loc: Never where I want to be
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I abandoned my mtb shoes and eggbeaters; I'm fully roadie equipped now except for the visor on my helmet.
I installed my new Zeros late last night and only got to take a ride around the block a few times. I'll go out for some miles today after work. I went with the zeros and speed play because I like the idea of dual sided entry, adjustability, wide platform of the cleat.
Thoughts:
--The cleat is THICK. So thick it feels tippy when walking. I fear I'm going to twist my ankle. I have weak ankles, from tearing ligaments twice. The slightest little tip and my whole ankle can roll.
--Clicking in seems easy enough, but I found it difficult to "find" or connect the pedal with the entry point/hole in the cleat. The cleat is so thick that the pedal gets hung up on the outside of it. Of course I was clipping in and out while coasting along, not something you do riding. Is this common to all road pedals? And I'm used to no-brainer no-effort egg beaters. "Seems" like this hanging up on the outside edge of the cleat diminishes the benefit of dual-sided entry. You have one chance to get it spot on or you struggle to get it home. Is this my inexperience or a common thing?
--The directions and web site say everywhere to keep the cleat lubed. Where? Just dab a bit on top of the exposed spring -- the C-like washer thing -- between the metal and plastic sandwich of layer 2? Whatever they're calling a "spring" doesn't look like one to me.
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TheMightySkunk
journeyman
Reged: 12/26/03
Posts: 82
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Nev:
I've used Speedplay since they were invented (around 1992) and have never owned anything else (I have 4 pairs). I tried the new Shimano "Lance pedal" last year and didn't like them.
As far as I'm concerned, Speedplay are in a class by themselves, clearly a better design than anything else on the market, and any time you spend getting used to them will be well worth your while.
The "spring" consists of the two small round steel bars running laterally on the front and rear of the hole in the cleat. I don't recommend using a "lube" on them, because it'll cause the cleat to pick up too much dirt. I give the spring a quick schpritz of WD-40 every few rides, which keeps them clean more than anything, because WD is more a cleaner than a lube.
I use "coffee shop caps" when walking around to keep crud out of the cleat, but it sounds like your ankles might not like those.
The only other pedal I would consider using is Beebop, which is so much like the Speedplay that they've sued each other.
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"I haven't failed. I've just managed to find 100,000 ways that don't work"
--Albert Einstein
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Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 373
Loc: Never where I want to be
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Quote:
TheMightySkunk wrote:
The "spring" consists of the two small round steel bars running laterally on the front and rear of the hole in the cleat. I don't recommend using a "lube" on them, because it'll cause the cleat to pick up too much dirt. I give the spring a quick schpritz of WD-40 every few rides, which keeps them clean more than anything, because WD is more a cleaner than a lube.
Thanks Mighty,
I think I'll get used to them pretty quickly. 5 minutes in front of my house is, perhaps, a too quick rush to judgement.
So the "springs" are the two adjustment screws, that are threaded? (Left side) Not the "C" thing between the metal/plastic cleat that clips into the pedal? I'll probably hold on any lubing for now to get the feel of them. They clip in fine...when slow Nev can finally find the sweet spot. But I will learn.
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TheMightySkunk
journeyman
Reged: 12/26/03
Posts: 82
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Oops, sorry. I forgot you've got the Zeros. I've got the "X" model with stainless spindles. On the Zeros, the springs are the "C" thingies. The threaded screw you mentioned is the "float limit" adjustment.
Somebody gave me a pair of Zeros about two years ago. I used them for a while and they were just as terrific as the "X"; in fact, pretty much identical because I prefer full float so I did not use the Zeros' limit adjustment at all. The Zeros might have been just a tad stiffer, i.e. required a little more effort to snap in & out than the "X".
After a while I sold them, simply because Speedplay cleats are not cross-compatible between "X and "Zero", and I already had two pair of "X" so owning a pair of Zeros meant I had to maintain two different pairs of shoes.
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"I haven't failed. I've just managed to find 100,000 ways that don't work"
--Albert Einstein
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DGauthier
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 21
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Congrats on your new pedals. Don't let anyone kid you, road pedals are the way to go on a road bike. I just changed from SPD to Time Impacts myself and have about 300 miles on the new pedals. I am definitely faster, shaving my favorite 2 hour 30 minute ride down to 2 hours 10 minutes! I chalk it up to the large stable platform. Don't worry, the Speedplay's will be second nature to you in no time. May you enjoy your new pedals as much as I enjoy mine.
Edited by DGauthier (07/20/04 08:14 PM)
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Nev
captain
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 373
Loc: Never where I want to be
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Quote:
DGauthier wrote:
I chalk it up to the large stable platform. Don't worry, the Speedplay's will be second nature to you in no time. May you enjoy your new pedals as much as I enjoy mine.
Wow. I like them.
Feels like I'm mashing on full flat platform pedals. A HUGE difference from the egg beaters. I don't quite have them positioned properly on the shoes yet. I stopped once to move the right cleat forward. After 20 miles I decided the left one needs a tweak also. I have close to a full size difference between left/right feet. So the balls of my feet are in different places. Can't match them to the shoes. Takes me a while to get it right.
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