Speedplay?

[Eden]

Small feet and extra shims here. I have Zeros. I do have to be quite precise about the cleat placement on my left shoe (the one with about 1/4" of shims) or it will be impossible to clip in.
I also have a small foot - I wear a Specialized size 36. With small feet you have to be *very* careful to follow the directions about cleat installation and put the correct cleat shims (included) in. If the cleats don't sit level on your shoes you will either not be able to clip in or you will not be able to stay clipped in.
I have found they need a bit of break in, but after that they are not difficult for me to clip in and out from (and I'm light). Definitely get the cleat covers.

[ccnyc]

If you do get dirt in the cleats run a thin wire or a very small screwdriver between the cleat and it knocks the crud right out.

I carry a paper clip on my shoe in case I need to dig out the dirt. The clip is always there so I don't have to think about it, especially if I'm a good girl and use my cleat covers. I have Speedplay Zero's and I love them.

[PinkBike]

excellent idea, the paper clip!!

going thru the washes i saw several speedplay covers laying in the sand.

i'm thinking of some kind of bootie over the shoe-and-cover setup, like surgeons wear, maybe?

[tc1]

I love my speedplay frogs. I had SPDs on another bike and hated them. I ride a road bike with full fenders, and I have never had an issue with grit in the cleats. My shoes are SIDI mega size, the mountain bike model. SIDI is one of the brands where the only visible difference between mountain and street shoe is the mountain shoe has a lugged sole, so the cleat is off the ground while you are walking.

I have some minor trouble with hot spots, but that is a shoe fit issue that I have with most shoes. Wide is relative, especially with Italian shoes. I am seriously considering a trip to California to that place that makes custom bike shoes. Or finding a way to attach a cleat to a hiking boot.

[lo123]

Small feet and extra shims here. I have Zeros. I do have to be quite precise about the cleat placement on my left shoe (the one with about 1/4" of shims) or it will be impossible to clip in.
I also have a small foot - I wear a Specialized size 36. With small feet you have to be *very* careful to follow the directions about cleat installation and put the correct cleat shims (included) in. If the cleats don't sit level on your shoes you will either not be able to clip in or you will not be able to stay clipped in.

I ran into that problem, even with wearing 38s. It was dang near impossible for me to clip in, and I got stuck and couldnt' clip out on a few occasions. I think if I'd had a better cleat fitting that might not have been such a big deal.

I'll note that I could not use Speedplays (of any variety) due to the amount of rotation needed for me to get clipped in (per LBS this is just because of new cleats, but I have hip issues that aren't going away. I imagine it could cause problems for someone with knee issues specific to rotation as well.) . I went with Look Keos. Dislike that you can only clip in on one side and that I can't get quite as much float that I need, but I can clip in/out easily.

[Miranda]

I tried the zeros and light actions in a shop trainer. Did not like them. How they engaged. The stomp straight down thing.

Plus, with all my might I could not stomp into the zeros. In trim riding season I'm about 120# w/gear on. The LA I could stomp in w/some definate effort. But, I was not "omg $200 impressed worth" with the platform support.

I had been using ds stock mtb pedals on the roadie. Lead to lots of numb foot and other problems (too small pressure contact point on ball of foot).

I ended up going with Look Keo Elle pedals. Love em. Easy to get in and out. Supportive. If you need more float, you can get the optional red cleat = more float.

However, of all roadie pedals I tried... the new ultegra pedal was a rock solid connection. But, a wee bit too tight for my taste to release.

FWIW.

[AllezGirl]

Love my Speedplays. I started with Light Action, which were easier to get in and out of. But after a few rides I realized I needed to be able to lock out the float, so I switched to Zeros. They were really hard to get into the first time I used them (which was on a group ride with my new team...that was pretty embarrassing) But it got easier after just a few clip/unclips.

I used to suffer from pretty bad hot foot, but since switching to a pedal with a larger platform didn't seem to help (Looks then Ultegras), I wasn't too worried about switching back to a smaller pedal.

FWIW, as far as hot foot...I had it bad. Usually after 50 miles I would have to take off my socks, and then stop every few miles to massage the feeling back into my toes. I've tried switching pedals, cleat position, even putting biofreeze on my feet. Finally I was talking to a friend who mentioned that Specialized insoles come with three different arch supports. Red (the lowest) is the default. I tried the blue (medium or average) then the green (high). Once I switched to the green, I never had a problem again!

[Jaclyn]

I was used to Time ATAC's on my previous bikes, and really struggled in the beginning when I switched to Speedplay Zero's on my road bikes.

1) It took me time to change how I engaged the pedals ... I was used to pushing forward and down at an angle and the Speedplays need you to step straight down
2) At <115 pounds, I think I lacked the force required for Zero's and would have been better off with the Light Action. I spent a lot of time on the trainer getting in and out to loosen the spring on the cleat, which I also lube'd frequently.
3) Shoe covers are a must, as others reported ... these cleats will gather dirt and more as you walk around which will then prevent you from engaging
4) On positive, I have never experienced difficulties disengaging so no safety / falls coming to a stop

After a frustrating break in period I have eventually become a fan and have Speedplay Zero's on all my road bikes (and continue with the Time ATAC's on my touring/cyclocross bikes).

[Bike Chick]

FWIW, as far as hot foot...I had it bad. Usually after 50 miles I would have to take off my socks, and then stop every few miles to massage the feeling back into my toes. I've tried switching pedals, cleat position, even putting biofreeze on my feet. Finally I was talking to a friend who mentioned that Specialized insoles come with three different arch supports. Red (the lowest) is the default. I tried the blue (medium or average) then the green (high). Once I switched to the green, I never had a problem again!

AllezGirl, I've suffered with the same thing. Thanks so much for the info. I'm buying the green and see if it helps me too! At this point, I will try anything.

[Becky]

AllezGirl, I've suffered with the same thing. Thanks so much for the info. I'm buying the green and see if it helps me too! At this point, I will try anything.

Me too! The blues are good, but I'm still getting some toe numbness, so they're not great

[Jo-n-NY]

I also use the Speedplay Frogs, actually have 9,000 miles on them, nothing had to be replaced. I like using a mtn shoe because of the walkability and the frogs were so easy to unclip because there is not spring, just twist and lift. However, should I ever decide to go with a road shoe I would go with the Speedplay Liteactions.

I also have never had hot foot problems.

~ JoAnn