Speedplays

The quality/durability of the Time ATAC Pedals has taken a dive of late. I have had 2 springs snap within 6 months of purchase on XC2 pedals. On both my commuter bikes. My previous pair, also bottom of the range lasted for years (but also failed on the dominant foot spring). I'm on XC4s now, hoping they last longer.

You'll get used to the slippery feeling, will.
Took me a while.

You can adjust the unclip tension on Look Keo, just like on SPD.
I have a basic put knocking round somewhere I think, you're welcome to try them.

Speedplay also do a 'track' pedal now with a stuffer release mechanism

Yes, that would be good.

Yeah, cheers. Will have a go with the 105s, and then try the Looks.

I'm not sure Speedplay need an even stiffer release mechanism...

I'll bring the 105s into work. We will meet up somehow.

Good plan!

Speedplay also do a 'track' pedal now with a stuffer release mechanism

Really? Do they have stiffer/thicker springs in them?

I'm not sure Speedplay need an even stiffer release mechanism...

They do. Beefcake Beefcake! BEEFCAKE!!!

Nah, it's the pedal that's different - grooves are shaped differently.

I guess it's not technically stiffer or more tension, it's just that the exit point is less gradual and needs a bit more force to unclip.

Hmm, ok, thanks.

With pedals other than Speedplay can you align the float range to be off-centre in any way?

So, if (like me) you have a foot that naturally points out a little, can you set the cente of the float to be the natural foot position (i.e. a bit wonky), and then be able to twist the foot equally in either direction?

(You can do that with Speedplays by fiddling with the screws which set the limit for the clockwise/anti-clockwise rotation)

Yeah, you just rotate the cleat.

My right foot doesn't point straight forward (points out a bit) so when I was on Looks I had the cleat rotated accordingly so I wasn't bumping up against the edge of the float.

So simple but devastatingly effective.

No no no you need to hack your legs off at the ankle and wait for your feet to grow back. You might need to use a splint arrangement in the early stages of regrowth to ensure accurate alignment. It's at this stage you can optimise for sprinting or steady-state efforts.

Hmmmm. Interesting point. But when do you drink the beetroot juice? Pre amp? Post amp? Peri operation?

Mmm peri peri operation...

You can change the amount of float you have on Look pedals. Dead easy. It's just about cleat choice and set-up

If I were to go for any pedals other than speedplays, I would do SPD-sl.

Surprised to hear you struggle with clipping in - it's pretty much the best thing about Speedplay. Plonk your foot down any old how CLUNK and you're in. I <3 double sided pedals for commuting too.

Yeah, that's one advantage Speedplay has (like SPD) although you get fast with SPD-SL.

I guess it depends on muscle memory...

For me SPDs go straight in (or at worse one pedal rev)

Whereas Speedplays sometimes go straight in but otherwise can take up to 5 minutes :)

SPD have a "grab" factor with all the pointy out bits that can provide assurance and confidence. Even if you fluff the connection, you will get some grab.

Speedplay Zeros, and other pedal systems, are more smooth so you have the potential to slip off the pedal, which is something I still have in my mind with them (I have probably only used them a dozen times). Still like them though.

They're crap when they get dirty. That's one thing that concerns me with any mountain biking - midfoot setup is all speedplay and they're worse than shit as soon as they get grit near them.

Presume you're talking SPD-SL?

But the Speedplays have the 'sink' into the cleat so you can ride them easier than say an SPD. I've broken the C-spring a number of times and pedal around not actually being clipped in. Just have to remember if you want to pull your foot up to align pedals or something that it won't move.

I'm now ready to meet up to borrow the 105s. How shall we do that?