Speedplay
Speedplay
Speedplay do things a little differently. The lollipop styling may be striking and minimalist but Speedplay’s Zero road pedals attract a core following.
Even the entry-level Zero Chromoly pedals are going to set you back around £100 while the range tops out with the staggeringly-priced (and, at 130g per pair of pedals, astonishingly light) Zero Titanium Nanogram pedals at £599. Less certainly is more with Speedplay.
For some riders, one huge plus of Speedplay pedals is the amount of float that Zero pedals afford their owners: up to 15° of adjustable, knee-friendly float is available at your finger (toe?) tips. Speedplay pedals are also double sided, similar to Shimano SPDs, and allow ease of entry as there’s less faffing around trying to locate the working end of the pedal.
The other major difference with Speedplay pedals is that the mechanism end of things is in the cleat, not in the pedal. It’s a complete reversal of the system, and it’s one that works extremely well.
If there was one criticism, aside from the price, and the scarcity of four-bolt fitting shoes, is that some riders might find the float excessive and feel they’re not fully engaged in the pedal. This in turn might not make you feel fully connected to the bike. But then again, it’s just a different system and might only take a little getting used to.
Whatever your poison, dive straight in and convert to clipless pedals today – you’ll be a different rider.