N
The Daily Insight

Are Speedplay pedals any good?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on June 02, 2026

Speedplay Zero pedals are offered at different price points. In summary, these are very nice pedals that offer plenty of knee-friendly float, secure attachment, low weight, and a good pedalling feel. For racing, they're well worth your serious consideration.

Keeping this in consideration, do Speedplay pedals wear out?

Yes, the pedal bodies and the cleats wear fairly quickly. It only takes a little wear to induce a fair amount of lateral rocking of the shoe. Replacing the cleat will remove the cleat wear but not the pedal wear. Speedplays have relatively heavy cleats.

One may also ask, are Speedplay pedals better for knees? The benefit of Speedplay pedals is that they offer a huge amount of adjustability – cleat position is adjustable in three separate planes, and all can be fine-tuned independent of each other — bike fitters love them, particularly when setting up anyone with knee pain.

Also question is, what is the difference between Speedplay pedals?

Difference between Speedplay X and Speedplay Zero The Speedplay Zero, are essentially the same as the X series, but you can control the amount of float, offering more adjustability than the Zero, which are always set to maximum float. With the X, I always end up brushing against the side of the cranks.

What pedals do the pros use?

The vast majority of riders in the pro peloton use either Shimano or Look pedals because those two brands sponsor most of the WorldTour teams. Plus, some teams like to have all of their riders on the same pedals so that a domestique can give a team leader his bike in the case of a mechanical emergency.

Related Question Answers

How long do Speedplay cleats last?

3,000 to 5,000 miles

How do you adjust the tension on a Speedplay pedal?

Speedplay Zero pedals do not have a tension adjustment. They do however have a float adjustment that lets you set the amount of sideways play. You should lube then occasionally and ensure they do not have a bunch of garbage inside the cleat mechanism.

Are all Speedplay cleats interchangeable?

The cleats are not interchangeable between the 2. There are different price points each of them where the cleats are the same. The Speedplay website should be helpful.

What is speedplay?

Speedplay is a brand of clipless bicycle pedal manufactured by Speedplay Inc. in San Diego, California. Models include Zero, Light Action, and X for road cycling, Frog for mountain biking, and Drillium for downhill.

Should I get clipless pedals?

My reasons to ride clipless Power on the upstroke – One of the major benefits of clipless pedals is that they help you go faster because you not only generate power when you push down on them, but when you pull up as well. No more sliding around – When you're clipped into your pedals, you don't slide around on them.

What shoes go with Speedplay pedals?

Manufacturers of Shoes that feature the Speedplay-Approved 4-Hole Cleat Mounting Standard:
  • IMPORTANT!
  • Speedplay's V.
  • Aero Walkable Protector Shim Kit (#14135): compatible with Zero Aero Walkable™ Cleats and Ultra Light Action Walkable™ Cleats:

How do I identify my Speedplay pedals?

Generally speaking, the ti spindles are more polished (shiny) than the stainless. The CroMo spindles are black. The CroMo pedals have different bearings are have a higher Q factor, you are better off with the stainless. The ti pedals are really light, but really expensive and have a 185 lb weight limit.

Do look cleats fit Shimano pedals?

For example, Shimano SPD-SL cleats are based on the Look system but Shimano cleats are not compatible with Look pedals and vice versa. Some companies, like Ritchey and Wellgo, do make cleats and pedals that are compatible with other brands but it is important to check compatibility before buying.

Do clipless pedals make a difference?

Vastly Increased Efficiency While that is generally the most powerful part of your stroke, clipless pedals make it way better. Not only can you stomp down, but because your feet are solidly anchored to the pedals, you can sweep back and pull up.

Can I use SPD pedals on a road bike?

I still use SPD on the mountain bike, but for road riding riding, including hill climbing, long distance and even commuting, it's SPD-SL.” “The physical benefits of SPD-SL over SPD's are the wider platform of the cleat and pedal means there is more lateral stability for your foot on the pedal.

What are Look Delta cleats?

Shimano® SPD® Cleats - Designed to be small, simple and will clip into the pedals of nearly all indoor cycling bikes. LOOK® Delta Cleats - Featuring a 3-hole arrangement that is adjustable for ultimate stability. TRIO® pedals support the use of Delta-style cleats.

Are clipless pedals bad for your knees?

Taken together, these three things result in a lot of stress on the knees, which leads to knee pain during and after rides. You can move your cleats back in your clipless pedals or move your foot back on your flat pedals and you still won't get the foot stable and balanced enough to take the stress off the knees.

Which clipless pedals are easiest?

  • 1) Shimano M324: Among the best, easiest clipless pedals for new riders.
  • 2) Crank Brothers Candy 1: A great first clipless pedal for mountain bikers.
  • 3) Shimano R540: One of the best road bike pedals for beginners.

What are the best clipless pedals for beginners?

Comparison table – Best Clipless pedals for beginners
Brands Best Use Ratings
Brands Best Use Ratings
CrankBrothers Eggbeater 3 Road / All Around 4.5
Shimano SPD Pedal clipless All Around 4.7
Funn Ripper Pedal All Around 5.0

What shoes do pro cyclists wear?

  • Specialized S-Works 7. Peter Sagan will be riding in Specialized S-Works 7s this season.
  • DMT D1. DMT D1s are available in fluro, black or white.
  • Fizik infinito R1. Fizik's new infinito R1 shoe.
  • Giant. Giant's latest generation pro road shoe is yet to be named.
  • Giro Prolight Techlace. The light weight Giro Prolight Techlace.

Will clipless pedals improve speed?

Secondly, clipless pedals will improve pedalling efficiency and invariably allow a rider to put more power through the legs and feet and into the drive train of the bike. The more power transferred simply means more speed and faster times.

Why are clipless pedals called clipless?

Essentially, manufacturers needed a way to differentiate toe-clip and strap pedals from this new type of pedal that didn't have the toe-clip, but rather a cleat. The term “clipless” really refers to the lack of toe-clips, rather than the action of connecting your shoe with the pedal.

What bike pedals should I get?

Bike pedals at a glance:
  • The two most common types of pedals are clipless (or clip-in) and flat.
  • Clipless pedals require cleats, which are attached to the shoe and snap into the pedal.
  • There are various clip-in pedal systems, including Shimano's SPD, SPD-SL, Speedway, and Crank Brothers.

What are the best flat pedals for a road bike?

Best Road Bike Pedals
  • SHIMANO PD-A530 SPD Dual Platform Bike Pedal.
  • Trade 3 Bearing Road Bike flat Pedals.
  • SHIMANO PD-R540 Road Bike Clipless flat Pedals.
  • Imrider Lightweight Polyamide Bike Pedals For BMX Road MTB Bicycle.
  • Lumintrail PD-603B Road Mountain Bike.

How do you learn to ride clipless pedals?

Tips for learning to use clipless pedals
  1. Learn that stopping = unclipping.
  2. Practice indoors.
  3. Practice on grass, or somewhere quiet.
  4. Adjust the tension levels or go for cleats with more float.
  5. Remember you can pedal until you clip in.
  6. Clipping in on a hill.

How do I change my bike pedals?

At a Glance:
  1. Use a pedal wrench or hex key to unscrew the pedals from the crank arms. Right pedals loosen by turning counter-clockwise, left pedals loosen clockwise.
  2. Apply bike grease to the new pedals and screw them in at an even 90 degree angle.
  3. Screw in until each pedal is fully inserted and tight; then hit the road!