Speedplay Zero pedals--anyone use?

[yogabear]

HI there,

I just got my new Sidi shoes and Speedplay Zero pedals. I've rode on my Shimano SPD mtn. bike pedals for many years on the road, but I wanted to try the Speedplays because they are supposed to have more float, etc.

Well, hubby put everything together...adapters on my shoes and pedals on my bike. Umm, I couldn't clip in at first. I must not be used to the motions or muscle actions. He told me you had to be careful about tightening the screws too tight on the adapters so he's playing with that. I used his cleats yesterday because they are more broken in, etc. But, I still am having problems clipping in. Clipping out is not a problem though.

So far I love the feel of the pedals. I feel like I have a more stable base that is more supportive underneath my foot. I like the feeling of my new shoes too...They are stiffer and actually fit me! LOL I came out of my shoe in a criterium last year on the back stretch of the course with my old shoes done up as tight as possible, so it was time for new shoes for sure.

Anyone ever use the Zero Speedplays? Any advice for me? I'm beside myself. I am not going to race in them until I practice more or break them in more. I had ordered everything a couple of months ago but it took forever so I get to break things in during the bike season instead of the off-season which would have been more optimal...grrr...

Thanks for the help!

[KnottedYet]

I just got Speedplay Frogs and they came with a great booklet about the system which repeated the Speedplay Tech Dept's number a kajillion times. "When in doubt, call us!" seems to be the main message with Froggies.

The number on my booklet is 1-800-468-6694.

[FreshNewbie]

Yogabear , although I have speedplay X2 model i believe zero model is similar. If you go to their website www.speedplay.com i believe they have a menu on maintenance etc. I know from my experience just recently that you should make sure not overtighten them or on contrary make them too loose. It says that you should turn bolts until you feel a resistance and then make another quarter of a turn. If your cleats are adjusted properly you might want to lube them with whitelightening lube if your DH didn't do that yet. Otherwise, speedplays are great pedals , they are my first clipless pedals and i love them. I would also recommend to get coffee covers for the cleats, easier to walk in them plus keeps cleats from scratching and gettign dirty. Enjoy them

Marina

[Running Mommy]

I have the x2's. When I have problems getting them clipped in it's usually becasue they need a little lube. Nothing a squirt of white lightning won't fix.
I noticed that you got the zero's because you wanted float. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the zero's had very little float?? Up to 15 degrees I thought??

[FreshNewbie]

RunningMommy, cosmic connection or what !!! Now we have to decide who posted first hehehehe

[yellow]

Zeros have a reputation for being very hard to clip in to, much harder than the X series or the frogs.

[Pedal Wench]

I will 'third' the comments about lube. I know it's time to reapply when I notice it's becoming slightly difficult. When properly lubed, they snap right in. They do take a week or two to break in too. I had the same problem when I first got them. Two trips to the LBS and numerous phone calls to Speedplay. I just wasn't hitting them right, but once your muscle memory kicks in, it's mindless.

[Crankin]

Whenever I feel like I can't clip in, out comes the White Lightening. It's about once a month. Never had an issue with clipping out. I also have the x2's. I'm thinking of getting frogs for my mtb. I am a little scared to give up the flat pedal on one side, but I never clip in to the spds because 1) they feel so hard to get into compared to the speedplays 2) they hurt my knees 3) I can barely get out of them, even though they are on the loosest tension. I rode spds on my road bike for about a year and a half and never had issues then, but I think switching back and forth is bad for the muscle memory. As long as I can get out quickly on my mtb, i should be OK.

[yogabear]

Thanks for the tips

I think we need to play with the tension on the screws a bit and I need to practice LOL.

We lubed them up well so I think it's more of a screw tension thing, along with needing to break them in, etc.

Clipping out was no problem, but clipping in is super hard for me right now because of the above problems...Grr! LOL

Running Mommy,
I think you're right...not as much float, but I think it's the type of float that can be controlled more for my situation (I have had lots of lateral rotation in my right hip for many years).