Hi all,
I am looking to purchase a set of triathlon pedals for a 2013 Cannondale RS Black SRAM Red. I came across the Look Keo 2 Max and wanted your opinion. Also, keep in mind, I am not looking to spend too much.
Thank you!
It’s a preference thing. Speedplays are my favorite. The pedals and cleats seem to last forever (the plastic cleats on Keos wear out QUICK where metal Speedplay cleats take a long time to wear), you can get parts at any bike shop (unlike the more proprietary pedals like tririg, for example), and the best part is you can clip in on either side of the pedal so no need to look down or flip over your pedal to clip in. On training rides I’m always the first to get going from stoplights and such because I can just mash my foot down without looking and clip in where people with Shimano/Keo/etc. always stumble a bit or have to look down, or fudge the clip-in occasionally. An additional benefit for tri bikes (mostly) is that Speedplays have a lower stack than most bike pedals, lower than Keos/Shimanos anyways, and so the same tri bike coordinates on the Speedplay bike will have a lower saddle height than on a Keo bike. This opens up your hip angle a little more and will likely allow you to produce a little more power.
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Thank you for your in-depth analysis, which Speedplay do you recommend to purchase? The Speedplay Zero?
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I think it is personal preference. I have Shimano SPD-SL pedals (105 version). I think they were $100 with my bike.
It depends on how much you want to spend.
The light action seem to be more for the casual rider who wants clipless (i.e. advanced casual?)
The X series has unlimited float. Tried them and didn’t like them. i.e. your foot can rotate as far around in a circle as you want while clipped in.
The major ones people use are the Zero series of pedals in CroMo, Stainless, or Titanium.
The Zero CroMo ones are the cheapest. The spindles are painted black and can rust if the paint is scratched off. I have these on my aluminum frame bike and have never had an issue over thousands of miles. Not quite as strong as the stainless ones, but practically the same weight. I’ve heard people say they wouldn’t use them on a mountain bike where they plan on doing crazy jumps and such.
The Zero Stainless ones are more expensive and weigh practically the same. Spindles are stainless and unpainted. They will never rust and are stronger than the CroMo. Not sure how much stronger. I have two pairs of these and can’t tell a difference between them and the CroMo ones while riding.
The Zero titanium are weaker than the stainless. Their big draw is that they’re lighter. I have one pair of these. Downsides: 190lb (?) rider weight limit and are much more costly. I only got them because I got a great deal. Can’t honestly tell a difference between these, the stainless, and the CroMo while riding or in weight or anything.
Then there are some super fancy nanogram pedals that are much more expensive than titanium, lighter, and practically fragile I’m told. I don’t know anything about them.
I think the CroMo is the best bang for the buck, but would probably pay a little more for the Stainless as they look better, are stronger, and won’t ever rust. But that’s assuming I’m not paying retail and picking them up on the forums. I don’t think the Stainless are worth the retail premium over the CroMo. I think if I were able to get any pedal free of charge, I would ride stainless.
If you have your shoes already clipped in, a pedal is just a shoe clamp.
I like the older style Look pedals and the Shimano pedals that use the same cleat. I have a pair of Look pedals that have been in constant use since about 1990. I may be lucky in having routes that involve only one or two stops, so cleat wear is pretty much a non-issue for me. Cleats are available for $10-15.