Please help me choose some new pedals

[colby]

I have Speedplay Light Actions, which are similar to the Zero but free float rather than adjustable. I came from the mid-range SPD-SL Shimano pedals and was quite happy with the Speedplays. They are no easier/harder to walk in than the Shimano cleats are, from my experience. It's a flat and fairly large platform on the shoe. I do find it easier to clip in in some ways (double sided pedals, only one place for them to go ) but harder in others (the SPD-SL pedals were easy to mate but harder to snap on in the back). Clipping out is definitely hands down to the Speedplays, I find it easier to get out when I want to with less torque on my hips and knees (and I have not accidentally clipped out to date while climbing or anything). I switched on the recommendation of my LBS when I set up my triathlon bike. My hips and knees are much happier (though YMMV, of course).

IIRC, the Shimano pedals are weighted so that they fall in such a way that if you point your toes toward the ground, you can "pick up" the pedal with your cleat, and it'll rotate back that way pretty well. Been a while, though.

[nscrbug]

I have Speedplay Light Actions, which are similar to the Zero but free float rather than adjustable. I came from the mid-range SPD-SL Shimano pedals and was quite happy with the Speedplays. They are no easier/harder to walk in than the Shimano cleats are, from my experience. It's a flat and fairly large platform on the shoe. I do find it easier to clip in in some ways (double sided pedals, only one place for them to go ) but harder in others (the SPD-SL pedals were easy to mate but harder to snap on in the back). Clipping out is definitely hands down to the Speedplays, I find it easier to get out when I want to with less torque on my hips and knees (and I have not accidentally clipped out to date while climbing or anything). I switched on the recommendation of my LBS when I set up my triathlon bike. My hips and knees are much happier (though YMMV, of course).

IIRC, the Shimano pedals are weighted so that they fall in such a way that if you point your toes toward the ground, you can "pick up" the pedal with your cleat, and it'll rotate back that way pretty well. Been a while, though.

Yes, my DH uses the Light Action pedals and he loves them, too. However, I don't need (nor want) 15 degrees of non-adjustable float...hence my reason for looking at the Zero. I've never had any problems clipping out on my Time pedals...only with clipping in...and it's not even so much a factor of "picking up" the pedal, but rather the amount of push down force that is needed to engage the cleat in to the pedal...it's ridiculous.

Do you find that your Speedplay cleats require more maintenance? I've heard that you need to lube them on a fairly regular basis (weekly). Compared to the SPD-SL's, would you say the platform on the Speedplay is larger or roughly the same? Ideally, I would like the largest, widest platform I can find because I do have some nagging foot issues.

[colby]

Yes, my DH uses the Light Action pedals and he loves them, too. However, I don't need (nor want) 15 degrees of non-adjustable float...hence my reason for looking at the Zero. I've never had any problems clipping out on my Time pedals...only with clipping in...and it's not even so much a factor of "picking up" the pedal, but rather the amount of push down force that is needed to engage the cleat in to the pedal...it's ridiculous.

Do you find that your Speedplay cleats require more maintenance? I've heard that you need to lube them on a fairly regular basis (weekly). Compared to the SPD-SL's, would you say the platform on the Speedplay is larger or roughly the same? Ideally, I would like the largest, widest platform I can find because I do have some nagging foot issues.

I had the same experience with the push-down "snap" in the SPD-SLs, too.

I haven't had any maintenance problems with mine - I suppose they might benefit from a good lube, but I can get in and out of them with no problems and I can't remember the last time I did treat them.

I think the platform on the Speedplays is a little bigger, all things considered. It's basically a nice rectangle on the bottom of my foot with the circle-shaped cleat in the middle. It feels more "even" pressure-wise, distributed across the bottom of my foot. I can probably snap a couple of pictures of my cleated shoes if it would help - I still have the SPD-SL cleats on my Sidi shoes which I don't wear because they are too narrow for long distance rides.

[Pedal Wench]

+1 on the Speedplay Zeros. There are different metals with different prices - so the Cro-Molys are significantly cheaper than the titanium, but they all use the same cleats, so you can keep your shoes for all your Zeros. The Zeros don't have the clogging issues that the Speedplay X's were reputed for having. I like that you can be unclipped but still very able to securely pedal, which is nice in traffic or in a mass-start at a ride. They do take a bit of breaking in for the first week or so - they take just an extra 'umph' to engage them. But after that, they're a breeze.