i just got speed plays and they rotate around the cleat really easily and it doesn’t look like there is any way to tighten the spring?
this sucks, how am I going to attack on climbs with loose pedals?
Yes. But you’ll get used to the “skating on ice” feel and get it under control quickly.
Yes. But you’ll get used to the “skating on ice” feel and get it under control quickly.
sighhh I hope so.
Spring Tension is constant with Speedplay, there is no adjustment for that. What you seem to be describing is float, heel in/out movement with out disengagement.
If you have Speedplay Zeros, you can inhibit the amount of float by adjusting the limit screws on the cleat. See this and all other tech talk here: http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cg.thumbs&cgid=3
Spring Tension is constant with Speedplay, there is no adjustment for that. What you seem to be describing is float, heel in/out movement with out disengagement.
If you have Speedplay Zeros, you can inhibit the amount of float by adjusting the limit screws on the cleat. See this and all other tech talk here: http://www.speedplay.com/...cg.thumbs&cgid=3
yea I’m talking about the float. not tension. it just came as pretty big shock to me. I really hope I get used to it. But I am having a hard time imagining how it can not be a burden when you are out of the saddle attacking a climb? do you really get used to it?
people of ST, please ease my concern and tell me you get used to attacking climbs in speed plays!
Spring Tension is constant with Speedplay, there is no adjustment for that. What you seem to be describing is float, heel in/out movement with out disengagement.
If you have Speedplay Zeros, you can inhibit the amount of float by adjusting the limit screws on the cleat. See this and all other tech talk here: http://www.speedplay.com/...cg.thumbs&cgid=3
yea I’m talking about the float. not tension. it just came as pretty big shock to me. I really hope I get used to it. But I am having a hard time imagining how it can not be a burden when you are out of the saddle attacking a climb? do you really get used to it?
I went from first-generation road SPDs to Speedplay X-series several years ago. Yeah, it felt REALLY strange for the first few rides. But as each ride went on, the sensation went away sooner. Within a couple weeks I didn’t even notice it. You’re going to be using some lower leg muscles to stabilize your ankle movement that you’re not used to using, so you’ll be forming new muscle memory and firing patterns. That does take a little time. But I’d say within 2 months you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about.
yea thats one thing I was worrying about, is that it’s gonna take effort on the lower calf muscles to stabilize your ankles on the float. I guess I will just keep a positive attitude about it I got a full ironman in a couple of months with lots of climbs
I have never had anything other than speed plays. They have never popped out on hard climbs or when pushing very high watts on the computrainer. I like that I can get out of the clips very quickly and easily if need be. Do they pop out when you do not want them to?
I have never had anything other than speed plays. They have never popped out on hard climbs or when pushing very high watts on the computrainer. I like that I can get out of the clips very quickly and easily if need be. Do they pop out when you do not want them to?
i just got them, and the float feels really weird. It feels like they would pop out on a hard climb, or that I would have to use extra muscle power in the lower calf to keep from having the cleat pop out.
Give it a few rides to break in. Then you will have vertical play and rock to contend with too!
I was afraid to stand on my first ride with them, now I don’t even notice it, climbing , sprinting , whatever.
The spring tension of the steel ‘horseshoe’ that engages the ‘bowtie’ equals 16Nm on Speedplay
For comparison, the max spring tension on Look Keo2 Max can be adjusted from 9-18Nm, whereas the Keo Blade come in either 12Nm (yellow band) or 16Nm (red band)
I have sprinted and climbed at 16Nm and never pulled out.
However, I race on the track, too, and still ride steel clip/strap, and have never pulled out in a sprint either 
Give it some time, and/or limit the screws a little at first to get more comfortable.
If you work with a fitter, they can help determine how much float you need on each foot. Curious to know what compelled you to change to Speedplay, or are these your first clipless?
I have never had anything other than speed plays. They have never popped out on hard climbs or when pushing very high watts on the computrainer. I like that I can get out of the clips very quickly and easily if need be. Do they pop out when you do not want them to?
i just got them, and the float feels really weird. It feels like they would pop out on a hard climb, or that I would have to use extra muscle power in the lower calf to keep from having the cleat pop out.
Do NOT try and fight the float…that is why (IMO) you hear about people who have knee problems with Speedplays. They try and “fight” the float, which leads to unnecessary muscular tension and eventually injury.
I was a first-gen Speedplay adopter (still have an original pair of the all-alloy body pedals) and used them for 20 years. I actually went back to Shimano pedals last year simply because it was too easy for me to knock my shoes off the pedals coming out of / into transition. But I love riding in Speedplays.
As others have said, you will get used to the “skating on ice” feeling. Just try not to focus on it or fight it.
…i just got them, and the float feels really weird. It feels like they would pop out on a hard climb, or that I would have to use extra muscle power in the lower calf to keep from having the cleat pop out.
No, they won’t ‘pop out’, yeah they don’t force you hold your toes straight ahead and if you really swing your heels out wide on any clipless pedal you’ll disengage but unless you’ve got some serious alignment or valgus/varus (i.e. cleat wedging) issues your feet shouldn’t swing around like crazy. Best advice was given above, don’t fight it, just ride.
If it really bugs you, you should switch to Speedplay Zeros with their adjustable float range (and much longer lasting plate steel cleat spring).
-Dave
FWIW, there are several different versions of the Speedplay pedal and a couple of them do not have adjustable float. The zeros have adjustable float, but you can more or less lock it out by tightening both limit screws all the way in, leaving that little tooth with nowhere to go. I have mine pretty much locked out and while there is still a little bit of play, it’s negligable at best. If you are having severe float after locking it out, there may be a mechanical issue with the pedal that should be looked at.
i took my X on hre first ride in X2’s up a nice little hill, barlow, in MAdison. she was pissed and walked up half of it. by next ride she was used to them
i’ve switched to zero’s, to limit inward rotation and subsequent crank arm gouging
i’ve switched to zero’s, to limit inward rotation and subsequent crank arm gouging
Same here - the float is fine, but the inward rotation was occasionally an issue. Switched to zeros, locked out most of the inward rotation and haven’t looked back since. Hard to imagine riding anything else at this point.
i’ve switched to zero’s, to limit inward rotation and subsequent crank arm gouging
Same here - the float is fine, but the inward rotation was occasionally an issue. Switched to zeros, locked out most of the inward rotation and haven’t looked back since. Hard to imagine riding anything else at this point.
Pretty much the same here, went to Zero’s after about five seasons on X2s and run them with limited inward float which keeps me from occasionally banging ankles on the crank arms. But what I really like about the zeros are the longer lasting steel plate cleat design as opposed to the spring wire clips on the X series which I tended to burn through pretty quickly.
-Dave
What you’re experiencing is common. As there is no return spring tension on lateral float, Speedplays can feel odd to riders used to SPD/Keo style pedals. That minor “return to center” resistance of conventional pedal systems effectively allows you to “lean” on them. You do not realize this until you remove the resistance and suddenly you foot pivots when before it was stable.
As said above, short of fit issues with your feet, the floating sensation and actual movement should settle down quite quickly. The full float of Speedplays isn’t necessary for everyone, but you should definitely try to retain some of it. If your leg alignment isn’t perfect and you lock them out, you will just be moving tension and rotational forces up into your ankles and knees, which may produce stress injuries.
Rocking in the pedal can develop over time due to erosion of the pedal body and cleat. It is a good keep the pedals and cleats clean, buy some cleat covers and avoid walking on soil/sandy ground. In particularly, getting dirt trapped in the spring mechanism can make it very hard to disengage.