Look, Shimano, or Speedplay?

[Crankin]

Well, again, I don't see the big deal about cleat covers. Since they are always on my shoes, they are just part of the routine. As soon as I get off of my bike, they go back on, so losing them is not an issue. But, once in awhile one has fallen off while walking (usually my fault, I didn't snap it in all of the way), so we just keep a supply of them. Once in awhile, the group I ride with (which I love, because they are so not into competition), has a ride where we have to walk through stuff that is not fun. Like walking over the steel bridge sidewalk over the Piscataqua River between Maine and NH. It takes me a minute to put the covers on and yes, if I have to walk far, it can't be fast. But, I also think part of it is me; I wouldn't plan a ride that had any of this stuff. Sometimes the group rides over small patches of packed dirt and with skinny tires, I don't like that either. It doesn't seem to phase anyone else. I think I am the only person in the group who has road pedals, so I don't say anything.

[colorisnt]

If you have previously ridden shoes with non-rigid soles, absolutely cycing shoes help. But if you still get it, you might have dropped arches and orthotics with a metatarsal lift would do more than a different pedal.

Never thought to wear mine in my road shoes. I have a pair of ultrathin ones I got with my running ones which would def fit.

[pll]

@colorisnt: I had some numbness with my mountain bike shoes + SPD pedals when I started riding longer distances. I bought some over the counter orthotics (from Specialized) and end of problem.

[jobob]

Well, again, I don't see the big deal about cleat covers.

There isn't; I know a bunch of people who use Speedplays and like them a lot and have no trouble at all with cleat covers.

I'm just too klutzy and absentminded.

And I'm getting to where I like to do leisurely rides, stop for coffee and snacks, that kind of thing. My cycling goals and motivations might be very different from yours.

In which case, what works for me likely wouldn't work for you, and rightly so.

That's all.

[ny biker]

I just bought Speedplay cleat covers at the LBS today. Also bought lube for the cleats and had them show me where to apply it.

I expect I won't always bring the cleat covers with me when I ride -- sometimes I know I won't have to do much walking. But I can think of a few organized rides with reststops n parks that require walking on dirt (or mud) so the covers should come in handy then.

[DarcyInOregon]

SPD mtbs were ok until I started riding further distances (over 20mi-ish). Then I found pain in the ball of my foot with the smaller contact surface. Look Keos (or any traditional road bike style pedal, vs mtb, has this) have a wider contact surface, vs mtb pedals.

The same thing happened to me, the pain in the ball of the foot, but for me it was after mile 40, endurable only up to about mile 70. I kept the SPD pedals for too long, tinkering with the stiff sole shoe and moving the cleats further south on the shoe, then finally gave it up and moved to the Look Keo Max. And I am in love with my new pedals. Zero pain. No hot spots. And I have increased speed and power. I wear a Specialized road shoe with the carbon sole and the Look cleats.

Here is the Look pedal:

http://www.lookcycle.com/en/all/rout...keo-2-max.html

[Crankin]

JoBob, I think our cycling motivations are very much the same . I never have been competitive and you have done *much* more than me in many areas.
Especially at this time of year. I feel like I am past the "peak" of the season and just being out there is good. So, most of my rides involve coffee stops, purposely slow riding, and short (10-12 mile) rides at 5 AM.
When I am out doing errands by bike or just going out to eat, I am riding my hybrid and using SPDs.

[pll]

The same thing happened to me, the pain in the ball of the foot, but for me it was after mile 40, endurable only up to about mile 70. I kept the SPD pedals for too long, tinkering with the stiff sole shoe and moving the cleats further south on the shoe, then finally gave it up and moved to the Look Keo Max. And I am in love with my new pedals. Zero pain. No hot spots. And I have increased speed and power. I wear a Specialized road shoe with the carbon sole and the Look cleats.

Here is the Look pedal:

http://www.lookcycle.com/en/all/rout...keo-2-max.html

Great information! Exactly the type I had been looking for in threads on pedals... someone who had tinkered with shoe stiffness before changing pedals. Sold! <next pedals: Look Keo>

[DarcyInOregon]

Great information! Exactly the type I had been looking for in threads on pedals... someone who had tinkered with shoe stiffness before changing pedals. Sold! <next pedals: Look Keo>

I even found a video review of the Look pedal on You Tube before I purchased the pedals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIknQ2-0qLc

On the right side of the page are more Look pedal reviews. The reviews I watched gave the pedals high praise.

They are the same pedal Contador used in the Tour de France.

I have the pedals adjusted for a loose tension as I am not a sprint racer, just a fitness cyclist.

[nscrbug]

I currently ride with Shimano Ultegra pedals, after first having ridden SPD's for 1 season and then switching to Time RXS Carbon pedals for my 2nd season. I gave up on the SPD's because I was getting constant foot/toe pain on every ride. At the same time that I dumped the SPD's, I also switched to a dedicated road shoe - Northwave Velvet SBS women's road shoes...which have a wider toe box. After a season of riding with the Time pedals, I decided to switch to something when I bought a new bike at the start of this season. The Time pedals were getting progressively harder and harder to unclip out of, so I researched a bunch of different pedals. Initially, I tried the Speedplay Zeros...had my shop put them on my bike and then they had me practice with my bike on a trainer in the shop. I had a really hard time engaging the pedals...unclipping was fine, but clipping in was a nightmare. I'm not a small person, and it took all of my weight pressing down and I still couldn't get those darn pedals to clip in. I gave up and told my shop to remove them and put my old pedals on while I searched for something else. I ended up with the Shimano Ultegra's because I wanted the biggest contact platform that I could find. Plus, I wanted a pedal that could handle a small amount of walking, without getting beat to heck. So far, I've been very happy with the Ultegra's.

Linda

[JuneHawk]

I looked a lot of pedals (choosing a husband was easier) and finally went with Time iClic pedals. My reason was the float. It has a float of +-5°. The cleats, however, are huge.

[bluejellybean]

Any other opinions on the new Speedplay Zero? I'm looking into them for my new 2011 Specialized Ruby which will be here ANY day (WOOO HOOO, I'm excited!) My first Ruby had shimano but my LBS suggested these...any experience getting in and out...and how easy are they to walk on? I need to order them tomorrow so they arrive in time for my bike and it's a small shop so they don't have any in stock to try out....
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.zero

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

[lawnchick22]

speed play

[Becky]

Any other opinions on the new Speedplay Zero? I'm looking into them for my new 2011 Specialized Ruby which will be here ANY day (WOOO HOOO, I'm excited!) My first Ruby had shimano but my LBS suggested these...any experience getting in and out...and how easy are they to walk on? I need to order them tomorrow so they arrive in time for my bike and it's a small shop so they don't have any in stock to try out....
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.zero

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

I really like my Zeros, but be aware, they take a fair amount of force to clip in and clip out when the cleats are brand-new. More than my X-series pedals did.... That said, I really do like them, their adjustibility, and the fact that they're double-sided. IMO, cleat covers are a must, but make walking as tolerable as any other road pedal I've tried.

[eofelis]

I love my SPD pedals and mtn bike shoes on my LHT. The tension has been adjusted so that it is extremely easy to clip in/out, I don't even really notice my foot moving much for either. I was a little concerned at first that perhaps it was adjust too lightly and that I would unclip while hill climbing but that has not been a problem.

Have you had someone look at your cleat position and tension?

I have SPDs on all of my bikes and I keep the tension cranked way out. I use mtn bike shoes, I have 4 different pairs for all uses in all seasons. They have plenty of float for me.
My SO uses Speedplays on his road bikes and has Frogs on another bike or two. He has knee issues.