Pedal choice

[Trekhawk]

Looking for new pedals and think I have narrowed it down to Speedplay Zeros or Crank Brothers Quattro Sl road pedals.

I am going to try and give them both a go at the bike shop but would love to hear any input you guys may have about the above pedals. If anyone has used both would love to hear which they prefer and why.

[KSH]

I love the SpeedPlays... because I didn't like my foot being locked into one spot on the pedal.

Due to the fact that my cleat was positioned wrong for about the first 500 miles on my bike... and because I was mashing the pedals... I ended up with acute knee pain that I had to recover from (it took about 2 months of 10-12 MPH riding to do it!).

So, I switched to SpeedPlays... so I would have to worry about a cleat being positioned properly.

After slow riding and using the SpeedPlays, my knee pain is just about gone (very minor pain flares up on occasion)... another benefit to the pedals... it is SO EASY to clip in and OUT!

So yea... I say... go with the SpeedPlays.

[emily_in_nc]

I've posted this on another thread, but I find Speedplay Zeros very hard to clip into. I've loosened the screws as far as I can safely loosen, lubed them, etc., and they are still hard to get into. My husband loves his and says they loosen up over time. Then again, he can stand over my bike and clip into mine fine, so I think part of it is a weight thing. I posted my problem on a different forum, and a (male) bike shop owner chimed in and said that he doesn't recommend them for petite women as they can be a bit hard to get clipped in if you don't have enough body weight to put behind them. I hope mine will loosen up, because I bought the ti ones, which were very spendy, and I had such high hopes! I love them once clipped in, but it can take awhile to get there! Clipping out takes a little more oomph than my old Speedplay X-2s and my Eggbeaters (on my mtb and touring bikes), but is not a problem; I've never gotten stuck in them; however, I have ridden a mile or more unable to clip in with my second foot!

Just a data point...I've heard from other women who have the same problem as me and some who love them and don't have a single problem. Maybe it just depends upon which pair you happen to get?!

Emily, still trying to get them to work (stubborn as a mule!! )

[Pedal Wench]

Emily, I had the same problem. I'm not quite as light as you but still not really beefy. I actually called Speedplay (I think I spoke to Dave) and they offered to send me 'pre-broken-in' cleats, but said to give it time. Mine took a while, but they finally got there. I spent a few nights clipping in and out while I was watching tv. I love them now too. My BF just got me the ti ones for my birthday, and I'm not sure I wanna go through the breaking in period again!

To the Original Poster - I love my speedplays. I couldn't imagine riding anything else. I also would recommend the Zero's over the X's. Much easier to unclip, with adjustable release angles.

[Surlygirl]

My vote is for the Crank Brother's Quattro. I just put these on my new bike. I had the candies and loved them (they now reside on my mountain bike) and then tried the Quattro. Easy on the knees and very easy to get in and out of and they come in some cool colors too. I use them without the plastic bottom plate with mountain shoes. I have bad knees so having float and not having to put a lot of force twisting to get out of them was important and they click in easily.
See if you can try both at you LBS

[Trekhawk]

Thanks everyone. I have been reading all the posts about speedplay pedals and was pretty much sold on those until someone mentioned the Crank Brothers Quattro pedals.

I am not the best at clipping in and wonder if I might have the same problem as some of you have experienced. My weight is 125 (dont know how that rates on the small to large scale) and dont want to find myself without the power needed to get in and out.

I read a thread about the Look Keos and that they are better for men and women with larger size feet - and that some bike shops recommend Zeros for women with smaller feet (I am not looking at Keos but was interested in the comment about Zeros for smaller feet).

I havent been riding long but Im gradually getting more confident in my abilities and Im increasing my distances each week. I dont want to find myself with a pair of pedals that stress me and out and perhaps take away some of my new found confidence.

[emily_in_nc]

I havent been riding long but Im gradually getting more confident in my abilities and Im increasing my distances each week. I dont want to find myself with a pair of pedals that stress me and out and perhaps take away some of my new found confidence.

Very smart thinking....as much as I want to love my Zeros and do plan to stick it out to get to the point that Audio A is at with them, it has been quite stressful to me to have to deal with pedal issues at this stage of the game (riding seriously for three years now). I thought I'd put all that behind me! I am just starting back riding after a crash and surgery, and I just didn't need this on top of regaining my aerobic fitness, strength, and confidence. (I had bought the pedals only a couple of weeks prior to my accident in April.)

So....with that in mind, it's your decision of course, but if the Quattros are anything like the Eggbeaters Candies, which I have on two of my bikes, I suspect you'll love them.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do! If you do happen to get the Zeros, let us know if they give you problems. BTW, I rode the Speedplay X-2s for years and never had a moment's trouble clipping in or out unless I got them grubby (they're very sensitive to sand or soil getting in the cleat), but I didn't like nor did my knees require the unlimited float, which finally led to purchasing the Zeros.

Emily

[Pedal Wench]

...I am not the best at clipping in and wonder if I might have the same problem as some of you have experienced. My weight is 125 (dont know how that rates on the small to large scale) and dont want to find myself without the power needed to get in and out.

I read a thread about the Look Keos and that they are better for men and women with larger size feet - and that some bike shops recommend Zeros for women with smaller feet (I am not looking at Keos but was interested in the comment about Zeros for smaller feet).
...

I'm about the same (was smaller when I first got the Zero's, and unfortunately, a bit more than that - but I think/hope it's all muscle!) so your weight might not be an issue. For Emily, it might be an issue (skinny little thing!)It just took 'getting' the right way to snap into them. Once you get it, it's a breeze. And, once they loosen up, you'll never have to think about them.

I also heard that these are good for smaller feet. Larger feet have a larger fulcrum for the swing motion required to unclip. Whatever, I just know that these work great on my size 7.5 feet!

[Jo-n-NY]

As I see you mention the Look Keo's. My husband really likes them and I was almost heading in that direction until I found out that they cannot be used on mtn shoes (I use them for road riding however). I went with the Speedplay Frogs which was in the running at the time and I cannot say enough good things about them. I like that there is virtually no effort in clipping in or out. When I ride behind my husband and see him clipping in and clipping out I am so happy the decision was made for me by my choice of shoes because it sure looks like he put a lot of force getting in and out. I am also on the smaller side and I think I would have had to put in more effort than I would want to.

As for getting adjusted to the Frogs, it takes getting use to something that works so easily. If that makes sence.

Just another opinion here.

~ JoAnn

[Trekhawk]

Just wanted to let the girls who kindly offered there advice on pedals know - that I have just ordered the Crank Brothers Quattros.

Thanks for all your help and I will let you know how they work out once they have arrived.

[Eden]

Just wanted to let the girls who kindly offered there advice on pedals know - that I have just ordered the Crank Brothers Quattros.

Thanks for all your help and I will let you know how they work out once they have arrived.

I was wondering how you (and any one else using them -Surly Girl?) like your quattros now that you've been using them for a while? I've got a chance to get a good deal on a pair and I've been thinking about switching to a road pedal now that I've started racing. Girls are nicer than men and I've not gotten any flack over my spd's, but even though I've got small feet and all I'm thinking a bigger platform than the spd's should still be to my advantage.

[Trekhawk]

I was wondering how you (and any one else using them -Surly Girl?) like your quattros now that you've been using them for a while? I've got a chance to get a good deal on a pair and I've been thinking about switching to a road pedal now that I've started racing. Girls are nicer than men and I've not gotten any flack over my spd's, but even though I've got small feet and all I'm thinking a bigger platform than the spd's should still be to my advantage.

Eden I really like my Quattros. I dont race though (Im actually a bit of a snail) so cant give you any reports in that area. When I got my bike serviced last, one of the young guys working there asked me how I liked them. He does race and said he was thinking about getting some for his bike so I guess thats a good sign.

[salsabike]

Eden, I am also in Seattle and looking for a pair of Quattros. If that good deal is in a store sale, I'd love to know where...

[pkq]

I want these http://www.coombe.com/coombe.html

[allabouteva]

I was wondering how you (and any one else using them -Surly Girl?) like your quattros now that you've been using them for a while? I've got a chance to get a good deal on a pair and I've been thinking about switching to a road pedal now that I've started racing. Girls are nicer than men and I've not gotten any flack over my spd's, but even though I've got small feet and all I'm thinking a bigger platform than the spd's should still be to my advantage.

I use spd's too, and didn't even realise that it was an issue, until I got my new road bike, and the LBS guys were asking how come I was using MTB clips with a road bike? It doesn't really worry me, and I use spd's because my DH comes from an MTB background and wanted to interchange his shoes and bikes (he's now got a road bike as well and put spd's on them too). I've come to get used to them, and find them easy to get into etc.

Is there some sort of road etiquette or dare I say snobbery about MTB pedals on a roadbike?