I visited the Speedplay booth at Interbike, where I talked with Leo, and he gave me the skinny on Speedplay's line up of pedals. One of my favorite visual treats at Interbike was Speedplay's Museum of Pedal History. (Check out the photos.) If you are new to road biking, Speedplay pedals are the ones that look like lollypops. The double-entry pedal part attached to the crank arm is a small, round disk. The pedal platform and cleat attaches to your cycling shoe.
The Speedplay Zero titanium pedals allow you to either set a zero float, so your foot is in a fixed pedaling position, or you can set a 15-degree micro-adjustable float. The Zero titanium pedals are 82 grams each and the cleats are 52.5 grams each. So a set of pedals weights in at 269 grams or 9.48 ounces. These pedals let you adjust your pedaling position fore and aft (back and forth), side to side, and rotationally. Speedplay has a Road Pedal Comparison tool and Mountain Pedal Comparison chart on their site. You can put in your road pedal and compare it to a Speedplay model or you can compare two Speedplay models. (More info and photos after the jump.)
Photos of Speedplay pedals lifted from the Speedplay site. Photos of the Speedplay Museum of Pedal History taken by Wheelgirl at Interbike in Vegas 2007.
We have customers who ride and race the Speedplay X pedals, and these also come with titanium axels and hardware, but the X pedals allow for unrestricted float. (See after the jump for more info. on float.) For those newer to cycling or those of lighter body weights who were finding the racing Speedplay pedals a bit difficult to click into, Speedplay came out with the Light Action pedal. It takes less leg force to click into the Light Action, hence the name. Speedplay also makes Frog pedals, so if you want to have your cleat recessed (not sticking out of your shoe), you can get this model. It works like an SPD mountain pedal. But you have to use the Speedplay Frog cleat that comes with the pedal, your Shimano cleats won't fit with the pedal.
The Drillium is Speedplay's racing platform pedal with pins that stick into the tread of your rubber-soled shoe. Not everyone wants to be clipped into their pedals. These are designed for mountain and BMX bikes. (You cannot put toe-clips on these.)
It is important to note that the Speedplay Zero (grooved) and the Speedplay X (uniform surface), and the SpeedPlay Light Action (divots) have different shapes and cleat springs. The cleats and pedals are not interchageable. Speedplay does offer rebuild kits. So, if your pedals are in need of a bearing overhaul, bring them into the shop. It is easy to rebuild them, so they feel new. And most of the pedal models are offered with either titanium, stainless steel, or chrome-moly hardware and axels. So you can get the same features, but pay more if you want the pedal set that weighs less.
(Photos of Speedplay pedals lifted from the Speedplay site.)
Those New to Cycling & Pedal Choices
If you are new to road biking, some cyclists, particularly pro riders want their foot locked into the same position. They want no float in their pedals. Or they want minimal float. In the case of a pro rider, having his or her foot locked into a position is a relief, because it means their foot is always in the right position during their workday on the bike. This position is determined by a fitter and a group of people who work to fit the pros as well as the pros' own experiences riding their bikes thousands and thousands of miles year in and year out. These riders are working and living on a bike.
For weekend warriors, recreational riders, or those cyclists with previous joint injuries from other sports, being locked in the wrong fixed position can put strain on your joints, and it can be a scary prospect. Suggestion: It is best to have a fitter determine whether a fixed position is the best position to make the joint work in a safe and comfortable way. If you are new to cycling, and you have a history of knee discomfort, ask your fitter to recommend some pedals brands and models. You can easily injure yourself by not knowing what you are doing and not asking someone who knows what to look for in solving joint and pedaling discomfort.
For those new to cycling, remember: When you buy a set of pedals, each set of pedals comes with a set of cleats in the box that work with those pedals. Before you buy the set of pedals, make sure that the style of cleat actually fits on your cycling shoe. Cycling shoes are made for specific types of riding. For example, if I ride in a cycling shoe with an SPD drilling on the sole of the shoe, the cleat is recessed. It doesn't stick out of my shoe, so I can walk into a cafe without having to balance on my heels. But I have to buy SPD pedals in order to wear those shoes. If you don't have shoes or pedals, figure out what kind of riding you are going to do, and buy the shoe that is a reasonable choice for that riding application. If you are constantly getting on and off of your bike to eat and visit during your rides, don't buy an expensive road racing shoe, since you will wear out the light-weight performance cleats by walk around on them continually. Come by the shop if you have any questions.
