Bike Setup: Alloy frame with full ultegra and Ritchey wcs components
Summary: I've read the reviews posted about these pedals and while most are positive, I felt the need to point out some of the issues other riders have presented with these pedals. I have ridden my Speedplay pedals now for 5,000+ miles (lost a computer and had to guess) and my only other experience was with SPD cleats. The issues other reviewers had with the Xseries included; difficulty with the extra float, small platform area, cleat replacement and clogging.
I can only speak for myself in this review but I'll start by saying I'll only ever own Speedplay. First, the extra float only took about two rides or 50 miles to get used to. I have absolutely no mechanical problem mashing the pedals in a sprint or accelerating up a hill/mountain. Additionally one comment from a rider suggested the extra float my have caused his knee pain. Again, I cannot speak for him but my switch from spd relieved toe, foot and leg numbness and any and all earier knee pain.
The comment on small platform area perplexes me. Yese the cleat is small but the platfom is attached to the shoe and provides substantial area in my opinion. Additionally, any good road shoe should provide a solid platform for power transfer and I believe this to be a non-issue.
The last comment I have is regards to clogging and wear. I once stepped in some mud and the dirt made it difficult to both clip in and out. I do not recommend stepping in dirt with this pedal system unless ou invest in a pair of platform covers. Problem solved. Aside from the ill advised stepping in dirt, I hve had absolutely no ware or mechanical issus with the pedals. I have replaced no part of the pedal and have only once regreased inside the cleat. The are a solid construction, at least for this 160lb rider, and I highly recommend!
Strengths: Easy on the knees
Comfortable and unrestrictive
Reduced numbnesss
Excellent power transfer
Weaknesses: walking is cumbersome (better to stay on bike :)
avoid walking in dirt
Similar Products Used: Shimano SPD
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Bike Setup: Serotta Ti with Campy Record and Litespeed Ti TT bike with Campy Chorus
Summary: I've ridden the X/1 and X/2 cleats for over 40,000 miles and have them on both my road bike and time trial bike. The pedals are well designed and will go forever as long as you maintain the grease in the pedal body. I even replaced the stainless steel "bowties" on the pedals with aftermarket aluminum ones to save a few more grams.
I do have issues with these pedals though, enough so that I have recently swithched to Look Keos. For having such advanced pedals, the Speedplay cleats are a real pain. They clog easily when walking in sand or dirt, and they can wear down groves in the expensive titanium spindles of your pedals if the cleats are not regularly replaced. Also, the cleats are heavy, they bring the combined pedal/cleat weight up to more than the steel spindled Look Keo/cleat weight. Another interesting thing about the switch to the Looks has been the disappearance of knee pain. I thought that the free float was better for bad knees, but now I think that the knee needs to be held firmly in position, especially when climbing out of the saddle.
Strengths: Double sided entry. Lightweight (but not the lightest, as advertised). Parts are available, but pricey.
Weaknesses: The cleats are a nightmare if you have to walk very far, especially in loose sand or dirt. I've tried the cleat covers but inevitably end up losing them after one or two uses.
Similar Products Used: Shimano SPD (too small a platform) and Look Keo (the best pedal on the market today).
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Bike Setup: Look KX, 10 spd Dura-Ace, Rolf Elan Aero wheels, and other asorted FSA parts
Summary: I’m primarily a mountain biker so I’m used to double sided entry. I once tried Look 396 pedals and could not get the hang of getting into them. Got frustrated and left road biking for a couple of years. Decided to get back into it recently so I purchased the X1’s and absolutely love them. Entry is a breeze. You pretty much just step down and you’re in. Just like mountain bike pedals. Why everyone doesn’t use these is beyond me. I didn’t notice very much of the gliding on ice feeling unless I really paid attention. And the contact point is plenty large especially if you match it with stiff carbon sole shoes. And these are of course wicked light. Overall the best pedal out there.
Strengths: Easy entry
Very light
Weaknesses: Maybe price
Similar Products Used: Any double sided pedals
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Bike Setup: Colnago CT1, Record Triple, ITM Milennium, Xero wheelset
Summary: These are my first true roadbike pedals – previously I used single-sided SPD pedals with Diadora MTB shoes. I bought the pedals and Sidi Energy shoes at the same time.
Took me a couple of rides to set up the cleats right – moved them inward a bit, so my foot moved outward, because my heels were clipping the seat-stay. And it took a few rides before I stopped noticing the ‘walking on ice’ feeling of zero resistance to float.
It also took a couple of months before I could click onto the pedals without conscious thought – although I never reached this stage with my old setup. But none of these adaptations made me feel insecure – it’s just a matter of becoming one with the machinery...
Strengths: What I like most about these pedals (apart from their weight – is there a lighter pedal anywhere?) is that they are genuinely forgettable. Clipping in at a busy intersection, on an upward slope, or at the start of a crowded race, is no longer an issue – just step down and that’s it (once your foot has ‘learned’ exactly where to step).
I’ve always found it easy to clip out of the pedals. I think it’s unlikely anyone would clip out by mistake, because you need to swing your heel out a little further than you would do unconsciously. But there’s no sensation of unclipping – you swing your heel out and you’re free! I have followed Speedplay’s advice about cleaning and lubing the cleat with White Lightning, and had no problems.
Weaknesses: While I like the Sidis, I miss the ease of walking around on my MTB shoes – but it’s no biggie. A week ago we stopped at a smart hotel where Team Telekom stay during their winter (our summer) training camps. The hotel staff were happy about us leaving our bikes in the foyer (in fact they have a perfectly good TT Pinarello hanging on the wall above the reception desk) but it felt a bit odd walking through the hotel and sitting in their plush coffee shop in our socks. But better than clattering across their marble floors in cleats…
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