Pedals: SpeedPlays & SPD

[Kathi]

I don't know anything about the light action or zero pedals but I've used the X's for years in all kinds of riding and conditions and not unintentally clipped out so my recommendation is to go with the X's.

The only time I have trouble clipping/unclipping is when my cleats have dirt or the screws are to tight not allowing the spring to release.

I have chrondomalicia in both knees and my ortho insists that Speedplays are the only pedal I should use.

If you get the X's remember to buy covers for walking to protect the cleats and keep dirt out of them.

I don't know the degree of float for the X's but they are free float which means you can move your foot in any direction. If it were possible you could make a complete circle with your foot clipped in.

Have you looked at the Speedplay website?

When I got mine I was told my foot would feel like I was slipping on ice. For some reason they felt very comfortable from the very beginning.

[Miranda]

I don't know anything about the light action or zero pedals but I've used the X's for years in all kinds of riding and conditions and not unintentally clipped out so my recommendation is to go with the X's.

The only time I have trouble clipping/unclipping is when my cleats have dirt or the screws are to tight not allowing the spring to release.

I have chrondomalicia in both knees and my ortho insists that Speedplays are the only pedal I should use.

If you get the X's remember to buy covers for walking to protect the cleats and keep dirt out of them.

I don't know the degree of float for the X's but they are free float which means you can move your foot in any direction. If it were possible you could make a complete circle with your foot clipped in.

Have you looked at the Speedplay website?

When I got mine I was told my foot would feel like I was slipping on ice. For some reason they felt very comfortable from the very beginning.

Thx for that first hand info on use. I get numbness on the balls of my feet too. I started with mtb shoes. A stiffer road shoe helped some. I like the idea of the X having a larger platforn it states on the SpeedPlay website. I think this would help the numbness as well. My right side is the problem child. That is the side that has the old knee injury. A PT 'released' some fashia issues with it (as they say) and this helped. It's funny how one thing throws everything else out of whack. I worked on my fit with a lbs also to help the knee. The lbs guy adjusted my right cleat on my SPDs to angle outward slightly. This helped the knee too. So, I know my knees do not like the locked straight in position. I bet I would like them from the start as you say. My multi-release SPDs feel like the stepping on ice sensation too.

[Becky]

The 3 series of Speedplay road pedals are all slightly different animals, which makes it confusing! The platform size on all of them is probably about the same when you take the cleat into consideration, and they all have free float, not self-centering like Looks or SPD-SLs. None of them have adjustable tension (like you'd find on SPDs or Looks) either. This is not a bad thing IMO.

X-series: About ~28 degrees of float before you hit the release point. No adjustments whatsoever. I ride Xs and love them. I've never felt like I was going to pull out, and I kind of like the "ice-skating" sensation.

Zeros: 0-15 degrees of adjustable free float. The cleat itself has little set screws that you adjust to limit the float in each direction (inside towards the bike and outside away from it). I'd probably loosen the screws all the way to get the whole 15 degrees.

Light Actions: ~20 degrees (I think) of "semi-adjustable" free float. You can adjust the point at which your foot stops moving by turning a screw on the cleat, similar to pointing an SPD cleat one direction or the other. Speedplay calls it "heel in" and "heel out" adjustment. I used to work with a guy who rode LAs, and he never complained of pulling out, despite the fact that he's way stronger than I am.

Cleat covers are a great idea! Those cleats ain't cheap, nor are they at all "walking-friendly".

Good luck making your choice! I don't think that you can go wrong with any of the Speedplays.

[Miranda]

The 3 series of Speedplay road pedals are all slightly different animals, which makes it confusing! The platform size on all of them is probably about the same when you take the cleat into consideration, and they all have free float, not self-centering like Looks or SPD-SLs. None of them have adjustable tension (like you'd find on SPDs or Looks) either. This is not a bad thing IMO.

X-series: About ~28 degrees of float before you hit the release point. No adjustments whatsoever. I ride Xs and love them. I've never felt like I was going to pull out, and I kind of like the "ice-skating" sensation.

Zeros: 0-15 degrees of adjustable free float. The cleat itself has little set screws that you adjust to limit the float in each direction (inside towards the bike and outside away from it). I'd probably loosen the screws all the way to get the whole 15 degrees.

Light Actions: ~20 degrees (I think) of "semi-adjustable" free float. You can adjust the point at which your foot stops moving by turning a screw on the cleat, similar to pointing an SPD cleat one direction or the other. Speedplay calls it "heel in" and "heel out" adjustment. I used to work with a guy who rode LAs, and he never complained of pulling out, despite the fact that he's way stronger than I am.

Cleat covers are a great idea! Those cleats ain't cheap, nor are they at all "walking-friendly".

Good luck making your choice! I don't think that you can go wrong with any of the Speedplays.

Thx for that info, very helpful.