I have been riding Speedplay X pedals for 14-15 years. I have liked them with no problems, but it is time to buy new pedals. Do I stick with what has worked or try something new. I have been looking at the Look Keos (Used Look pedals before the Speedplays). Any advise or help will be appreciated.
I’ve heard damn good things about the Time RSX pedals. Lots of people like the Look Keo’s, too.
I use Keywins, but if I was looking at a new pedal system I’d probably go Time.
I went thru the same thing this spring. I had been using Speedplays for the past 12 years and thought it was time for a change. I tried the new Times and didn’t like them. Alot harder adjusting and clipping in. I went back to my Speedplays and haven’t looked back. I use the X’s on my road bike and Zero’s on my tri bike.
zero’s
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I might get crucified here for saying this, but whatever…
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If you have used the pedals for that long and they haven’t let you down (you indicated that you haven’t had any problems with Speedplays) then why switch to something new/different? Once you’ve got a recipe that works, consider yourself fortunate!
- and before anyone asks… I’m not a technophobe or a luddite
“liked them with no problems”
So why change. Just get some new ones.
I have the Time pedals mentioned. I recommend them if you really are determined to try something different. Most of my friends ride Speedplay and nobody is discontent with them however.
I’ve been riding speedplays since 1998 and see no reason to change. If mine were worn out I would be replacing them with exactly the same setup.
You rarely find something that works fine with no problems. Stick with what works. Don’t mess with a good thing. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
No need to change from Speedplay to something else IMO. Great pedals.
Sergio
If I was looking for pedals for a road bike, I’d still be using Speedplay X5’s (or whatever their low-end model is now), but they didn’t transition well - cleats would jam up with dirt, running on them was like ice skating, removing my feet from the shoes while coasting into T2 occasionally resulted in a dropped shoe, cleat plates chewed up & ground down, etc. - so I switched to Crank Brothers Quattro for the rubber, rounded (runable & virtually indestructable) cleat housing. Excellent choice for a tri bike setup.
Thanks for all the feedback. I will probably stay with the speedplays. I really am solid on them.
Thanks again.
Yup - I started with them, switched off, now back as well with some Titanium Zeros. Not going back again.
i have recently (as in this week) switched from speedplays to Look Keo carbon/ti pedals; i am really happy with the move, it is just what i needed.
with that said, if you’ve had success for 14-15 years, what is it that inspires making a switch?
i do believe that pedals can be a personal thing, what one person loves someone else may hate.
the speedplays were beautiful for me for as i rode them for 5 years. i enjoyed the float, the dual sided entry, and found them very easy to use. also i could walk in the cleats and not really worry about them (unless going through mud; which only happened about 3 times out of 5 years.).
however, beyond 70 miles i encountered foot problems on a consistent basis; this was the motive of my change. otherwise, i wouldn’t have made the change. the difference for me is a bigger platform; and i am getting a good result with less float (now my foot is less wobbly on the pedal which has been very beneficial so far). i never did leave my shoes attached in transition…this is something i’ll probably never do so that was a non-issue for me
with that said, the Looks aren’t as easy to use IMO, i cannot clip in and out as effortlessly, and a couple of times my roadie frieds pulled ahead and i was fumbling trying to afix my shoe. clearly, this is a downside of the change…the KEO are just not as easy to use. But the Looks are better for me the longer and harder i go, so this is certainly a worthwhile trade off right now. ( i do not anticipate returning to Speedplay, but who knows…maybe i’ll tire of the one sided entry)
i’m mostly in favor of trying new things (as you might never know something is better unless you try something new), but there is a price associated with that. if it doesn’t work out, you can sell them and take a small loss. or, you may love the change and wish you’d done it earlier. or, there may be no difference whatsoever.
in any case, sounds like you’re going to stick with Speedplays. i don’t think there’s anything wrong wit that at all…it’s worked for you all this time; Speedplays are a terrific product.
lastly, i’m in favor of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
If I was looking for pedals for a road bike, I’d still be using Speedplay X5’s (or whatever their low-end model is now), but they didn’t transition well - cleats would jam up with dirt, running on them was like ice skating, removing my feet from the shoes while coasting into T2 occasionally resulted in a dropped shoe, cleat plates chewed up & ground down, etc. - so I switched to Crank Brothers Quattro for the rubber, rounded (runable & virtually indestructable) cleat housing. Excellent choice for a tri bike setup.
I second Sphere’s experience – I went from lollipops to eggbeaters for the same reasons.
I’m curious how many Speedplay users leave their shoes clipped to the bike in T1. If I didn’t have to run in the Speedplays, I’d still be using them.
I did notice the post for your recent pedal change, and read through the thread for information.
I have done well with the speedplays, but wonder if I am losing power transfer or if I would feel more “solid” on a more fixed pedal. Plus technology has changed and just trying to research to make sure I do not miss inprovements in technology.
Also, I work part-time at a bike shop so cost is not as revelant.
Do the Quattros feel like they have a good platform on them? I have the eggbeaters and I think I’m experiencing the same problems that Kitty is having. I love the four-sided entry though. I don’t think that I’m ready to give that up to go back to single-sided entry.
On a separate note, Kittycat, was it you that had a “hot spot” problem a little while ago? Did you figure it out?
The Quattro’s platform doesn’t feel much different from the speedplay’s. Once I’m clipped in, I can’t really tell the difference (except for the float, which is noticably minimal - not a bad thing, either, IMO).
I’m in the same situation. I am thinking about the side mounted pedals but my firend has them and they are hard to get into and out of, although he loves the concept… so he switched to Vista Magic. My vote is for Visa Magic pedals.