masi61

Hello- I am a bit of a retrogrouch who has been quite happy to be using my 1990 era clipless pedals: MKS Mapstage. There actually the only clipless pedals I've ever used, aside from the SPD's used in spin class. The MKS pedals use a "turntable" locking mechanism that has never failed me. I have some extra sets stashed away, mainly for the backup cleats. I tend to wear the cleats for years before switching them out.

Well lately I have been amazed at how Shimano is able to be so innovative for reasonable money. I love Dura Ace stuff and feel it is time to get some Dura Ace 9000 SPD-SL clipless pedals. These are advertised at 248 grams a pair. That is 220 grams lighter than my old reliable MKS's. Could fold opine about whether the savings of 220 grams in the pedal department is something I can benefit from, feel or gain some other magical benefit from?

Are there design feature about the current Shimano road pedals that will improve comfort on longer rides? I wear Sidi shoes and for the most part am happy with the comfort of these. It appears that the wider platform, combined with what might be a lower mounting cleat could be positive benefits.

Maelochs

You can get Wellgo 41s for $22 and they weigh 250 grams per pair and take SPD cleats.

I looked at lightweight pedals. If you want to spend a couple hundred you can get Time Xpresso 10 (192 grams/pair) for about $120. Everything else seems to be considerably heavier unless you want to pay considerably more. I just got a set of the Wellgo 41s and weighed them---under 125 grams per pedal, for $22.

I can wear them on the bike, wear them in spin class, use the same shoes on my mountain bike----unless they absolutely suck (which I cannot imagine---Wellgo has been making pedals for years; I have never had a problem with their wares) I might be switching all my bikes to Wellgo 41s.

However, I am also pretty sure that I will not notice any difference, even though I am saving between 50 and 100 grams over my existing pedals. That's only a couple ounces to a quarter pound---I doubt I would feel a difference.

I am only contemplating switching because it is the perfect intersection of cash-cheapism and weight-weenieism.

Well, also, because I had a combination of Crank Bros, Time, SPD, and SPD-SL pedals, which meant I had to find four pairs of shoes. I opted to find one type of pedal instead.

Low stack height is a plus for me---but if your bike is already set up for your current pedals, and you are happy with your current shoes ... I wouldn't make any changes.

rpenmanparker 

Weight reductions all add up. A little here and a little there. Just do eet.

2lo8

It's slightly noticeable when you pick up the bike.

chaadster

That's what I was going to say...otherwise no, it is not noticeable.

I gotta believe, though, that any pedal in regular use since the '90s, barring major overhaul or total replacement, has got to be worn out in one way or another which you may not be aware of until you try new stuff.

I agree: do it. No reason not to. Donate your old stuff to the bike co-op. Be the hero.

TimothyH

220 grams is 7.76 ounces. That's nearly half a pound.

I wish I could take a half pound off my bike with one part swap.

Marcus_Ti

This. Lots of people spend a lot more money to lose a 1/2 pound of weight off their steed.

StanSeven

Your pedals are a quarter of a century old. Even if they work fine, something will go soon. So since you need new pedals, going for something light makes sense. I've got those DA pedals and couldn't be happier

2lo8

I got a lot of things that aren't consumables that are more than a quarter century old.

ThermionicScott 

+1. It's pretty low-hanging fruit. Even if you never race or feel the difference while riding, it's nice to save 1/2 lb whenever you pick up and carry the bike.

American Euchre

It sure does. Try getting in better shape and losing weight.

velociraptor

Are you a closet clyde or something?

CliffordK

Is 1/2 pound reduction noticeable? Probably not.

Do that 10 times on your bike and you've lost 5 pounds which may, in fact, be noticeable. Lighter pedals, shoes, wheels, tires, tubes, where will it all end? Even if you can notice it, whether or not it makes a big difference in your overall ride may be another question.

Cycling, however, is a very dynamic process. Your cranks don't spin uniformly, but you have a micro-acceleration/deceleration with each stroke. You never quite ride in a straight path. Stand up and you wobble the frame from side to side. And, you have to start and stop several times in each ride.

And we all hit hills sometime.

I'm tentatively planning another hilly half century ride next year, and really think every gram may help, from lighter clothing to less support gear to lighter pedals and shoes. And I will probably try to lose a couple of pounds of body weight too, but I don't want to do anything unhealthy either. Lose fat, build muscle, but try not to also lose muscle.

jesspal

I swapped to lighter carbon ultegra pedals and hate them, idk what it is but they don't function as well as the old metal ultegra pedals

tarwheel 

If your pedals are that old, they are probably due for replacement and why not shave some weight in the process? However, I seriously doubt that you will notice any improvement in performance.

wphamilton

It may be ironic coming from me since my light bike is over 22 pounds, but I think that you can notice 220 grams off the pedals. I have some plastic toe clip pedals, 170 grams each or something like that, and over the course of many rides I noticed a different feel.

Not any tangible performance difference, and nothing you can really put a finger on except a tiny difference in the feel of the pedal stroke. I took those off btw because I didn't like the straps and the difference in weight is so minute that you have to be really looking for it.

f4rrest

There was a thread here a few months back where the guy strapped 5 lb weights to his shoes to see if he could discern a difference.

According to him, it could be felt, and it fatigued him faster.

Maelochs

Right but were aren't talking about 5 pounds per side, we are talking about four ounces per side. Do that test and post the results.

In any case, I am buying two more pair of the W41s ... and I will only be saving 80 and 100 grams per pair per bike. On the other hand I will only be spending $45.

Drew Eckhardt 

Yes. When you're like me with a 137 pound riding weight and a 15 pound bike which is out of my price range that'll make you 0.3% faster up the steepest climbs.

On your next ride in the hills when you're waiting to regroup after climbing 30 minutes, your wait time will increase from 12 minutes 30 seconds to 12 minutes 35.4 seconds.

You might be able to use those extra 5 seconds to tie your shoe or something else useful.

More weight will make the effect proportionally smaller.


If you want the pedals because they're pretty or coordinate nicely with your frame (I use titanium hardware for that reason) and they fit your budget buy them.

dksix

I bought some Wellgo 41's used them a few rides and didn't like them. If you want them at a fair price let me know and we'll work something out.

2lo8

Do Wellgo W41s use an actual inboard ball bearing, or do they cheap out and use bushings like a lot of their other pedals.

Also, you can buy XPEDO Thrusts for less money than Dura Ace, which will be lighter, cheaper, use road cleats, and usually have all ball bearings.

Maelochs

At the price, and given that Wellgo pretty much makes budget gear, i;'d assume they use bushings. I haven't disassembled them yet.

I will check out the XPEDOs though. Thanks fro the tip.

2lo8

Ritchey makes premium gear and still uses bushings. I ask because it has a bulge near the spindle, which means it might actually have bearings.

f4rrest

The nice thing about Dura Ace SPD-SL pedals is that they use needle bearings which better distribute the load and last longer.

My cheaper shimano SPD-SL use regular ball bearings, which have already worn... due to extended 400 watt sessions, of course.

Next time, I'm getting Dura Ace.

CliffordK

Wellgo W41 lists a ball bearing, 258g
XPedo R-Force lists 3 cartridge bearings, and 170g
M9000 is 285g. Bearings not listed, but I assume loose balls.

Would there be a difference in bearing resistance? Perhaps that would make up the difference in 88g. I do, however, like the concept of titanium spindles plus cartridge bearings.

So far I've been happy with the Wellgo double sided pedals that I've used, and think they're more secure and easier to adjust than the equivalent Shimano pedals. Although, I will admit that I like Shimano's cartridge spindle design. They are easy to rebuild.

I have been riding a pair of Ultegra 6500 single sided SPD pedals lately. A bit on the heavy side. The jury is still out on single sided vs double sided. My maiden voyage with them was a wicked hill climb... not the time to test a new pedal entry system.