Yesterday I picked up a pair of Speedplay Zeros. I’ve been on Looks (with the old school Delta cleats) since probably 1990, and decided on Speedplays because I just want to try something different. I’m pretty happy with my position on the bike and the position of my foot relative to the pedal spindle, so do y’all have any suggestions on installing and then adapting to Speedplays? Thanks in advance.
I’m pretty happy with my position on the bike and the position of my foot relative to the pedal spindle, so do y’all have any suggestions on installing and then adapting to Speedplays?
I had time pedals back in '88 for a couple years, and had some early knee issues until the cleats were adjusted to where my knees liked them. I got Frogs for my MTB, switch to X pedals when I went back on the road in '99, and haven’t looked back.
The first thing you will notice is the free float, at least if you haven’t had floating pedals. Initially, to me, having my heels wagging around felt like the back tire was moving laterally. After a couple days/weeks, I don’t notice it anymore… Or, my legs/feet have settled into their preferred position and stay there.
The recommended starting point for the cleats is to put the pedal axle in line with the ball of your foot/shoe.
If you get/got the Zeros, those have floating limiters, if you want them. My wife (much smaller feet, and not as strong as I) initially tried Zeros, but a) we had a hard time getting the cleats on her shoes (Lake), and b) she could not get clipped IN with new cleats (new=stiffer spring). She has/had no problems, in or out, with the X’s, initially and years of use.
Joe
I tried some last year for the same reason as you, just to try them. Although I think they are an engineering marvel and the range of adjustability, I just got tired of the extra effort to snap in, and went back to my Keo’s.
**I tried some last year for the same reason as you, just to try them. Although I think they are an engineering marvel and the range of adjustability, I just got tired of the extra effort to snap in, and went back to my Keo’s. **
Which brings me to my sage words of advice as a very long-time user of Speedplays. First and foremost, when they tell you how much to tighten the screws, TIGHTEN THE SCREWS THAT MUCH AND ABSOLUTELY NO MORE!!! If you over-tighten the screws that hold the cleats on, you clamp the outer plate down on the springs and they become hard to clip into and harder to clip out of. I believe the instructions tell you that, when you tighten down the screws, when they begin to snug up, you only go 1/4 turn beyond that. Then let the LocTite do its job. If you’ll adhere to that, you’ll be fine. If you don’t, you’ll have problems.
Also, a little lube on the springs really helps a lot.
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Good choice on the Zeros. I have four favorite pedal systems and the Zeros are one of them.
Be sure to take notice of the lower stack height on the Zeros- that may mean you have to lower your saddle somewhat, very little, to compensate for the shorter distance from center of pedal axle to foot inside the shoe. Best to use a caliper to measure this before diassembling your current set-up. I hope I’m not too late with that advice.
Remember you paid for Zeros as opposed to X Series pedals to benefit form the adjustment screws that enable you to control the degree of rotational movement. Be sure you make good use of those. That may take a little help from a fellow accustomed to setting up Speedplay pedals.
Mind the torque setting for the outer cleat cookie- they shouldn’t be over torqued. If you do tighten it too much it has the affect of restricting the spring that enables you to clip in to the system.
Lastly, get yourself some of their excellent cleat covers to protect your cleats when you are walking around.
Enjoy!
The feeling of being on ice skates will go away within a few rides. After that, you’ll grow to love the free float feeling. It will be hard if you ever go back to something like Look or Shimano systems.
Agreed, I sometimes think that I have not engaged the cleat due to the ease in which they do engage. I have never met an easier pedal system to engage, so much so that it is sometimes a curse, say at the start of a crit when they start the race, you immeadiated clip in and then have to track stand waiting for all the fumbling missed connections around you that end up not going in a straight line due to missing the pedal.
Also, if you do not follow the correct installation instructions, and do actually tighten the cleats too much, they will wear much faster and fail. Been there, done that, the first year I used them('95).
My only never resolved issue, is the groove that get worn into the pedal spindle. How the heck do you stop that??
Cleat covers…not really needed, unless you walk through a lot of dirt. The outer metal cleat housing will get scraped up and worn down, but you will replace the cleats long before you wear that thing out.
My only never resolved issue, is the groove that get worn into the pedal spindle. How the heck do you stop that??
I’ve had Speedplays on at least six different bikes. That’s happened on one side on one of them and I can’t understand why. I wear the same shoes and cleats when I ride the other bikes and it doesn’t happen to those spindles. So why does it happen on just the one bike. I haven’t been able to figure it out.
I have done it to every pair I have owned. Only thing I can figure out is the plastic cleat bottom wears out from use(I have a tendency to still move my heels around after 14 years on the system).
I’ve had shimano and look pedals in the past and after SP, I have no desire to switch, so I just have to live with it.
Thanks y’all, that’s a big help! The weather sucks here and I’m focused solely on running (100/100) so I’ve got the luxury of having the time to measure stack height, adjust the float, and generally get the Zeros set up just right before I start riding again. The last two years I’ve ridden fixed cleats so I’ll probably start with very little float - the whole “ice skating” thing kind of freaks me out.
I’ll disagree : )
I was on SP for many many years. I made a change back to Look just for a change and will never go back to Speedplays. I fought, without knowing it, heel float for all those years. I love the “no float” black cleats of the Looks. Feels much more solid when sprinting and going hard.
I’ll go with the other SP converts. I switched many years ago, and have loved them ever since. It took about 3 or 4 rides to get used to them, especially getting out of the saddle to climb or put in a big effort, but no big deal, and they have been a ton easier to get in and out of. With my previous pedals (LOOK, and SPD) I always ended up having to look down to make sure the pedal was flipped over the right way and get into the pedal. I never have to look down to get into the SPs and getting out is easier too.
I definitely second the comments that your platform is slightly lower compared to your other pedals, so you’ll want to adjust for that. Good luck.