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Thoughts on Speedplay

tbt_22's picture
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904 days
started by tbt_22 on October 6, 2008

I have used Shimano SPD pedals for over two years and have had no complaints. When I upgraded my bike the LBS threw in a pair of Speedplay Titatanium Zeros with my bike and like most people I was thrilled. After using them for around 7 months now, I am not so thrilled. They are difficult to snap in and almost impossible to get out of. This is not so much of a problem when I do solo rides because I rarely stop and when I do I usually come all the way out of my shoes, but when I do Sat morning group rides with the roadies it is always a battle. I have tried tightening the cleats, loosening the cleats, and even applying generous amounts of WD-40 to both cleats and pedals with no avail. Do I have the one defective pair or has anyone else noticed this?

thesonicson's picture
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559 days
thesonicson posted 1 year ago.

I have had my Ti Zeros for about 6 months now and have loved them since the beginning with no problems. Have you done the suggested maintenance on the cleats? is the problem on both sides or one side? One thing they do say is to never use wd-40, but only use a "dry" lubricant. Sounds like you have a bunch of debris in your spring. I would recommend disassembling, do some cleaning and proper lubricant. and they recommend lubing the spring every 1-2 rides (yeah right).

overcome's picture
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overcome posted 1 year ago.

I have had my speedplay pedals for about a year and a half. I have never had any problems with them and I have never done any type of maintenance on them.

" 'I hate this day, I hate mornings, I hate the weather' You bring yourself down and others down with you. That's not the way it should be." Jens Voigt in Overcoming

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 1 year ago.

tbt_22 wrote:
WD-40 to both cleats and pedals with no avail.
There's your problem: Operator error. WD-40 goes nowhere near any part of your bicycle, cleats and pedals included. Said product - whose name I cannot even speak - attracts dust, which combined with product, turns into black sludge that has gummed up your perfectly servicible Speedplays. You could go to your LBS and ask them sheepishly if they can resurrect your Speedplays. They can be taken apart and properly lubed. However, the wrenches at your shop may shun you in the future at the mere whiff of said product.

catwood's picture
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catwood posted 1 year ago.

I've had some for 4 years and I love them. They are a little stiff for the first week, but no longer than that. The only other time I've had trouble getting in or out is when I get muck gummed up in them. I put a little bit of lube on the little part of the cleat where it actually clicks into the pedal about once every 6 months, but that's all the maintenance I've ever done. Except that I need to get some new cleats because I've worn them out.

fpugsley's picture
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fpugsley posted 1 year ago.

I love my speedplays and have them on my roadie and tri bike. If anything, i find they disengage too easily.

Like the others have said. WD-40 is really not a bicycle related product.

sharkbait's picture
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546 days
sharkbait posted 1 year ago.

Had Look Keos, switched to Zeros and then back to Look's. I made the decision for the float, but after a couple of knee surgeries found that the free float wasn't necessarily a better thing for me. It might have been only because I was "new" to Speedplays, but I never found them as easy to get into as the Looks. After the initial learning period, I was okay with them, but I never felt disengaging was "fast." Again, it might have been that the movement of getting out with my post knee surgery was odd, and I couldn't just "rip" it sidways left. Thought about going to the Light Action, but then just went back to what I knew. Good Luck.

trigirltina2's picture
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trigirltina2 posted 1 year ago.

Speedplay for 9 years! ( I think the year before I had Thomas!) Love them! I want the pick ones, but these still have not been replaced yet.

Ironmom's picture
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.

I've ridden Speedplays forever and never had any problems with general tightness or stickiness. The only thing that has ever caused them to be difficult to get out of is if a little piece of twig, stick, or gravel gets stuck in that one little gap on the cleats. This has been a problem in races where you run through gravel or mud in T1 (and yes I know, a real triathlete would run in their bare feet and leap onto their bike and clip in then, but I'm just not that coordinated).

As for WD-40, we need to perform an exorcism for you and remove that devilish substance from your cycling toolbox.

Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/

beads1985's picture
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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.

WD-40 has its place but it is named WD for Water Displacement.
It is not really a suitable lubricant.

As stated above use a suitable lube

'Nothing to it, but to do it!'