The X's are lighter for gram counters.
The X's look a little slicker, but alas, they don't come in colors.




-The Equipment Manifesto............It's so close you can taaiiisst it.

Hmmm. I didn't know they were lighter. Good point. I wonder what the weight difference is?

We never order "X" series pedals for the store anymore. We consider them "obsolete" in favor of Zeros where we can dial in rotational range of motion and don't have to warn customers: "Don't walk through a dirty transition area or you'll foul your cleats!"

With Zeros, all those issues are addressed. The darn things are so light- both of them- that a couple grams either way wouldn't bother me.

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

I can't get myself to switch to the Zero pedal. I have had the same pair of X-series since 1997 (after a three month relationship with Keywins that I couldn't find parts for) and have been trouble-free. I love the X and hope it is never done away with.

But- this is coming from a guy who hates clinchers, refuses to buy frames with integrated headsets, thinks the oversized handlebars are silly, and would love to go back to quill headsets. But that's just me.

Their website says they just released a new X-Series pedal - the X5.

Go back to Keywin. She's calling your name.

---

<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
Get Fitter!
Proud member of the Smartasscrew, MONSTER CLUB
Get your FIX today?

I have multiple bikes all using x-series pedals, if I changed one to zeros, I'd have to change them all (or have a separate pair of shoes for each pedal system). If one failed, I'd be at the shop asking to replace that pair with x pedals rather than all of them with zeros

Now THAT is maybe the primary reason. So many people are "married" to the "X" series pedal that they don;t want to upgrade to the Zero since they would have to change pedals on multiple bikes, and admittedly very expensive affair.

This makes good sense, and realistically, Speedplay deserves credit for this approach I think. Contrast that with Shimano, who- when they release a new product, tend to pretty quickly "obsolete" the previous version by not supporting it with parts as readily.

To their credit, Speedplay hasn't abandoned the old-school "X" pedal customer and forced everyone to upgrade to Zeros. That is good.

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

Tom

I think the majority of consumers, including myself, don't think that the zero's offer that much of a benefit, a true benefit, over the X's.

Speedplay and your blurb here have failed to cause me to be willing to pay the extra $20 for a product that I see as basically a "me also" version of the original speedplays. You said the big differences are resist or eliminate clogging of the cleats and fixing the float. If it truly eliminates clogging 100% of the time thats one thing, but to possibly eliminate it or just resist clogging better, considering I've had fouled cleats about 3 times since 1997, I see no true benefit. As for fixing the float, I'm not going to do that, I might set it at 75% but I'm not spending my time dialing in a certain degree of float. Again no percieved benefit for me.

That sums up why I don't understand how the zero's offer a true benefit over the X2's

---

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

If the "X" series pedals have all the features and benefits you need and are working for you, I agree that there is no compelling reason to make and kind of change.

The dirt fouling issue of the cleats and the diffference of the spring retention systems from Zero cleats to "X" cleats is reason enough for me to recommend Zeros over "X"'s. The "X" series cleat uses a round spring that can trap dirt behind it and then not engage the pedal. The Zero cleat is a flat spring with no exposed oriface behind the spring to trap dirt. It is much more difficult to dirt foul.

For triathletes who race in an area where they have a non-paved transition area (sand, dirt, gravel, grass) and they have to walk their bikes to the mount line with their cycling shoes on (I keep my pedals clipped to my shoes for just this reason) this is a significant deterant to the older version of the "X" series cleat.

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

Yes, Speedplay still makes the X-series.

You've indicated that the zeros solve all these problems. However, they're not problems I'm experiencing. So they're not problems I'm worried about solving. I have 3 bikes. All have X-series pedals. I'm totally satisfied with them. There's not reason to make a change.

But I can see your point about transition areas. I haven't experienced that problem.

Bob C.

---

Bob C.

The "science" on any matter can never be settled until every possible variable is taken into account.

I agree, I think our posts overlapped in timing. I sort of said the same thing a few posts up. This thread is moving pretty darn fast. :)

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

zeros are easier to get in and out of (force) then zeros and they have a greater range of float.

zeros are for some, x series are for others. if you are tooled to manufacture both why should you eliminate one if it's still selling? not as many people drink diet coke as coke but coca cola isn't in a rush to get rid of it.

i do hear that if you put coke on you cleats it eats away the junk that gums them up.

The X's are a bit easier to clip out of, at least for someone whos a bit shaky about that sort of thing. when they get crudded up i just squirt some of whatevers in my bottle on them.

I don't mean to disagree for the sake of disagreement, but unless I am terribly wrong (and I am quoted on the Speedplay manufacturers own website for saying this in a review published originally on my store website)- the Zero and X series pedals have the same degree of rotational movement. The zero has the capability to restrict the range of rotation all the way down to zero degrees from the original amount introduced on the "X" series.

Also, I would arguee the Zero are easier to disengage since the disengagement starts at the end of the rotational movement you dial in to the Zeros.

In other words: If you set your Zeros to 5 degrees of rotational movement, release begins to occur at the outer limit of that range of motion, i.e. 2.5 degrees from the center of the rotational range of movement if it is adjusted to be symetrical (half of the total 5 degrees).

On "X" series pedals, if you need only five degrees of rotational movement for the rider (and most riders do use about that little in normal race environments) you must travel their full 28 degrees of rotational range of motion to disengage. That is a lot of rotational movement to disengage.

Somewhat cryptically, the Speedplay website reports the release angle of the Zero series as "+/- 0-15° adjustable". I don't really understand how to interpret that. I guess any interpretation means that release occurs at 28 degrees for "X" series pedals, but could potentially occur at a range of 0 to 15 degrees (or 2X15 degrees: 30 degrees, if the rotational range of motion Speedplay refers to when they say "15 degrees" only represents rotation from the center orientation or range of travel trhough the total rotational range- my interpretation) for Zero pedals.

For comparison sake most other clipless pedals such as Look, Time (older, pre-"Impact" styles) and Shimano SPD/SL road pedals tend to release around 14 degrees rotation. That is half the rotation needed to escape "X" series pedals.

A lot of our "X" series customers report they have "Turn their foot too far" to escape their pedals. They don't have that problem with Zeros since an appropriate release point can be dialed in to their preference.

In simple terms: It is easier to get out of Zeros than "X"'s.

Also, there is some difficulty in the first 3-8 engagements of brand new, out of the box Zero pedals from our experience. This appears to be the result of the molding/machining of the polymer body of the Zero pedal interfacing with the new, foul-resistant flat spring on Zeros. Once you clip in 3-8 times, that does go away completely.

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

I once clogged my X cleats with GU. I drive a hatchback car and after a ride I am in the habbit of tossing my shoes in the left rear side of my hatch while laying my bike flat in the cargo area. I guess the half empty (or half full, depending on your personality type) flask of GU leaked out in into my X cleats, where it promptly harded. I have a don't ask, don't tell policy with the backseat of my car, so it took me awhile to figure out why I was having trouble clicking in my left shoe!

I could be wrong, but I think they still sell more of the X series than the Zeroes. I've been running the X series for years, have had them on 4 bikes(3 now) and have absolutely zero complaints.

Yes, it would be hard for me to switch now as I have the 3 bikes with the X series and 3 pairs of shoes with the X series cleats, but for me there is not enough perceived benefit. I think I've had a cleat clog maybe 3 times in 5 years, and don't want to adjust the float. I've done absolutely zero maintenance on my pedals and cleats in 5 years and I've never had to replace a set of cleats or have anything worked on in those 5 years.

Plus, they're heavier and more expensive.

[reply]I don't mean to disagree for the sake of disagreement, but unless I am terribly wrong (and I am quoted on the Speedplay manufacturers own website for saying this in a review published originally on my store website)- the Zero and X series pedals have the same degree of rotational movement. The zero has the capability to restrict the range of rotation all the way down to zero degrees from the original amount introduced on the "X" series.
[/reply]

I'm afraid you are terribly wrong:
he Speedplay Zero Pedal System introduces a new concept in pedal design that allows you to choose either a fixed position or up to 15 degrees of float. Zero pedals maintain the traditional feel of a fixed system while incorporating all the well-known advantages of Speedplay X Pedal Systems.
http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.zero

I use the X series pedals because they're cheaper, they're lighter (yes, only by a few grams), and I am perfectly fine with the float, since my feet don't wander all over the place. and if you set the float to zero, what's the point of getting speedplays? I am perfectly fine with turning my foot 28 degrees to disengage. the dirt-resistance of the zero cleats is not a big issue for me, because I manage not to get my X cleats fouled by walking carefully. had I started off on Zeros, I wouldn't exactly be complaining.

I've used X series pedals for a longtime, since maybe 96-97. Same pair with almost zero maintenance, except for new cleats every year or so. At the time I got mine, I think they were the best option (except for Time, perhaps; but the moron gram counter in me than wouldn't go for such a *heavy* pedal).

Now, I think Speedplays have fallen a bit behind Shimano (SL pedals) and Time (Impact, and the new ones ... RSX??) performance wise. I think there is a valid argument for having a larger pedalling platform and I no longer believe a ton of float is the recipe for healthy knees.

When my Speedplays finally pass away from old age and overuse, I'll likely replace them with Shimano, maybe Times if they prove as good as they look.

---

*****
"In case of flood climb to safety"

My X pedals ( three sets ) never get into much dirt ( sand has screwed them up a few times) , I like the non-adjustable float . X-5s are the best value .

I hate that whole X cleats won't work on Zeros thing , Thats why some people still ride toe clips & straps , refitting a stable of 4 -10 bikes would kill you.

Those cleat plates grind up quickly, Why not 7075 alum or hardened Stainless plates ?

I tend to recomend the X pedals to first time clipless users.With those like myself coming from the Look system I put them in Zeros.I felt like I was walking on ball bearings with the X's.
Cullen

The pedals are virtually identical in weight, but the cleat is slightly heavier on the zeros. I have 3 pairs of x's and don't want to incurr the cost of switching. Interestingly enough on newer x series cleat i have to file the left cleat a bit to get even more rotation. My left leg likes to point out a lot.



Styrrell

I am also married to X and can't justify changing out for nominal gain. The only issue I have had with dirt clogging was at this years Vineman .5IM where there was a long run with bike through dirt. I did clog up there and cursed my cleats/pedals since you have to mount and immediatly climb steep hill. Other than that they are a great design and work very well with minimal maint.

Mike

Hmmm. Interesting. We get do get customers who, like quite a few of you, are using "X" series on several existing bikes and don't want to upgrade to Zeros.

I'm not sure about putting first time users on "X" pedals though: The 28 deree release angle is quite wide and a primary concern of first time clipless users is the ability to escape from the pedal easily.

With look, Shimano and other "full platform" pedals it is easier for first timers to escape. It is also easier for people to escape from Zeros since the release angle can be adjusted inward for less rotational movement prior to release.

Interesting. -You I learn something every day on this forum. Thanks guys.

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

I find this topic interesting because I ride with the X2's and I when bought my last bike, I requested the X2 over the Zero because the X2's have always worked for me. I've had dirt in them once from walking through the mud but a little squirt from the water bottle fixed the problem.

I just don't see the need for the Zero's. I like the float that the X series have (even the 28 degree exit). I've never seen anyone have problems escaping from a fall with X series. It is pretty natural to swing those heals out to get un clipped.

Maybe one day I'll look at the Zero's more but for now I'm happy with what I have. Speedplay are the best.

I have been sticking with the X's due to the wider range of float.

I had interpreted the Zeros to be much more restrictive like the high end Shimano's.

My only beef with the X's is that the rotation around the spindle seems to have more friction than the Shimano's, like others in the rare event the clipping mechansim becomes clogged a quick shot of water or gatoraide seems to do the trick.

It seems that Speedplay needs to more specifically address the float difference between the two series of pedals.

Not sure what Speedplay is up to. I was never a big fan of the original X series pedals. Felt like I was skating on ice - way too much movement/float, and I have a very smooth pedal stroke or so I have been told. However, for much of my life as a cyclist I have ridden on a fixed Look set up. Recently moved over to Look Red Cleats with a bit of float and now prefer them.

One thing that I always found as odd was the HUGE popularity of the Speedplay X series pedals amongst triathletes and that almost NO professional or even top amatuer road cyclists used them. Not till they came out with the Zero's did Speedplay get any traction in the road market.

Based on your review, Tom, of the Zero's, if I was in the market for new Pedals, I would have have a serious look at them. They seem to "fix" many of the complaints that I and others had about the original X series.

Fleck

---

---

Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

I have X series on both of my bikes but have considered switching to the zero's because the X's release too easy when transitioning. I have been led to believe the zero's with some locked in float will resist unclipping when stepping off the top of the dismount shoe at transition. I find the X's very frustrating as I lose the dismount shoe probably 9 times out of 10. I don't know about the clogging as I have mine clipped on all the time, but at IMC this year where the rules forbid this I carried my shoes to the mount line and put them on there. I heard that many people had fouled cleats after running through the soft grass transition area.

B/c Simon Lessing uses X.....

I'm with you Fleck.

---

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com

1) I have 3 sets. If I were to change I would have to shell out big bucks.

2) the float bothered me abt ONE day. Then I figured out that I was pushing my feet in all different directions except round. Does that sideways movement make the bike go? ..........NO. Get over it.

3) X pedals are the only pedals favored over toe strap pedals on the track just a few years ago. Sorry I have been to busy for track in the last 3 years so do not know current info there.

4) It is supposed to be hard to get out of the pedals. Witnessed one crash in a crit where the rider was leading and turned to see where the competition was but released foot , hit knee on handlebar, then it was broken body and bike... ouch.

PLEASE DO NOT PHASE OUT X pedals.

If you are moving a lot side to side with speedplay you are doing the same motion with a fixed cleat but the fixed cleat is stopping it from showing up. A smooth pedal stroke won't move side to side on a Speedplay because you aren't making any excessive side to side movements. If you find this is the case when you first start you will get the feedback of this movement which will help you control the rotataion at the hip that causes this. With some time this movement will diminish. With fixed cleats you just keep on pushing into the wall that is the end range of motion. ie isometric stress on the knee.

Plant your foot on the ground and move your knee in and out. Feel the stress in your knee? Now lift your foot off the ground and move the knee in and out. No knee strain what so ever. That is what a X pedal will do for you over a fixed/lower floating cleat.

And I hate when people say Speedplay has a small surface area. The surface area is not the pedal it is the cleat's contact with the shoe. I would hassard to guess it's as big as the Shimano if not bigger.

The force that it takes to clip into and out of an X series is only a fraction of that of a Zero making it probably the easiest pedal on the market to get into. Add to that the dual sided nature and the X series is the best pedal for the newbie using clip ins for the first time. Give them a Shimano pedal and watch them struggle to clip in when they start. Head down, looking to get the toe in first. The X series is just put your foot some what close to the pedal and it's in.

All right you guys, who can tell me which pedal Richard "copied" to come up with the X? It was my original clipless pedal and was also a company in San Diego County. Hint: Richard used common sense and "reversed" the design of this pedal - which was one of the first to break away from the Look style.

---

Jim Manton / ERO Sports

Hear what you are saying and agree to a certain degree. However:

1. I never had any knee or other lower limb problems related to cycling riding on a fixed cleat system and I did reasonably well on the bike in triathlons( just under 5:00 twice at IM).

2. Again, as I said in my first post, it always struck me as odd this huge almost universal embrace of the X pedals by triathletes but none amongst road cyclists. That says something, but I am not quite sure what it is.

Fleck

---

---

Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Think how fast you could have gone! :-)

We all know cyclists are opened minded individuals willing to try anything once.... no wait they are the opposite of that (except Greg "the triathlete at heart" Lemond)!

Sampson?

---

<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
Get Fitter!
Proud member of the Smartasscrew, MONSTER CLUB
Get your FIX today?

Nope. Not Sampson. By the way, I wonder, after the Beboop lawsuit, if Richard will still admit to where he got the design idea? We spoke at length about it at a Cactus Cup in the early 90's.

Hint #2: The cleats from this pedal were absolutely horrific to walk around on.

---

Jim Manton / ERO Sports

I don't have any issues with the 28 degree release angle of the X series (it's only 25 degrees for the X/3). In fact, I like that feature. It allows me to keep the shoes on the pedals in T1 and hop on the bike and get my feet in the shoes w/o releasing from the pedals. I wouldn't be able to do that with Zeros set to release at 5 or 10 degrees.

Like many others, I am a pre-Zero guy. So when I bought pedals for a second bike a few years ago, I stayed with X.

Khai,

I might be wrong on the Sampson thing as they might have bought this company before the pedal was discontinued. The more I think about it, that might be the case - I just don't remember - man, I'm getting old. Still, Sampson wouldn't be the orginal pedal.

---

Jim Manton / ERO Sports

(See my post above on early releasing at T2)
Do the zeros with the adjustable float not lock in better than the X's which are free to keep moving out till they release as the tension is not adjustable. I thought that the zero's with the adjustable float also adjusted for the release tension? I would really like to know this before I switch to zero's as it is my only reason to do so as the X's have served me well other than falling off at T2. Is there something I should be doing different with the X's?

"And I hate when people say Speedplay has a small surface area. The surface area is not the pedal it is the cleat's contact with the shoe. I would hassard to guess it's as big as the Shimano if not bigger. "

Speedplays do have a large contact surface area when you consider the cleat/shoe interface.

However the pedal/cleat interface does have a small surface area.

Remember, this is a system that involves the pedal, cleat, and shoe. You cant just choose whatever two components you want to consider. It's kind of a the-chain-is-only-as-strong-as-its-weakest-link type thing. The result may differ from other small contact area systems (like SPD, yuck) but I still prefer wide pedals and cleats. To each her own.

aerolite pedals??

---

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

Nope, but the company's name does begin with the letter "A" - hint #3.

---

Jim Manton / ERO Sports

With the Zeros your shoes will not fall off. They disengage just like other pedals, it requires pressure to do it. So your shoes can dangle all they want and will stay on the pedal. I have not tried it yet, but you might be able to have the tension so low that it will allow your shoe to fall off. I keep my shoes on my bike and they have not fallen off in over 30 mounts.

---

Reverend Dr. Jay
Lake of the Pines Triathlon fastest bike course record holder - Golden State Super Sprint fastest tri course record holder - Wildflower Long Course slowest run course record holder (4:46:32)

---

"If you have a body, you are an athlete." -Bill Bowerman

I initially went with the Zeros because of the adjustability of the float. The selling feature here is not just the amount of float, but how much inward vs. outward float.

I have since decommissioned my Zeros because of cleat failure issues. You get no warning before the c-clip splits and you basically have a non-functional cleat. Most other cleats just start becoming looser fitting as they wear. I have other teammates that dumped their speedplays for the same issue. I've also had more accidental unclippings in sprints on these pedals than anything else I've used. (I did run only a few degrees of float, so this may have been a factor, but you can't adjust the release tension.)

I ended up going with the Shimano SPD-SLs, and now have them on 3 different bikes. The only complaint is that the cleats wear out a bit fast, but you are able to anticipate when to replace them.

chances were good you overtightened the screws. unless the zero cleats are more finicky than the X cleats, they should last for years. I've never unclipped unintentionally unless I crashed.

I definitely didn't overtighten the screws. If they are tightened too much, it makes it more difficult to release also. I used blue locktite to keep them from backing out under the moderate tension after having one fall out, and finding others would loosen up.

The reason the c-clip brakes is that it is constantly stretched out every time you clip in and out. Over time, it weakens the clip until it fatigues and eventually splits. You could consider this normal behavior, and it is just a matter of having a spare, but I didn't like the fact that you pretty much got no warning.

Good pedals otherwise.