Wahoo Buys Speedplay
#1
I eat carbide.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627
Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times
in
560 Posts
Wahoo Buys Speedplay
Wahoo bought Speedplay. Another shot in the war between Wahoo and Garmin. Discuss pros and cons.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
#2
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
I'm wondering what Wahoo will do about Ye Olde Speedplay's MAP policy.
#3
I eat carbide.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627
Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times
in
560 Posts
I don't think that will be much of the big overlying issue
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
#4
I eat carbide.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627
Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times
in
560 Posts
For those that remember - back when Garmin was developing a power meter for pedals they were working with Speedplay. That fell through towards the end of development. If you know much about stories with Speedplay then you know they are the fiercest when it comes to control of image, market, pricing, etc. During the breakup Garmin grabbed Exustar as a pedal platform - Look Keo clone.
Garmin and Wahoo have been going head to head. GPS units, New radars that are all ant+ compliant. Smart trainers (Tacx acquisition).
SRAM bought Powertap mainly for the pedals with little to no warning and seemingly quickly. I know the product manager who was there. He said, "I had no idea it was coming. It was an instantaneous thing. Next day I am packing up product and equipment and moving it to SD".
Garmin and Wahoo have been going head to head. GPS units, New radars that are all ant+ compliant. Smart trainers (Tacx acquisition).
SRAM bought Powertap mainly for the pedals with little to no warning and seemingly quickly. I know the product manager who was there. He said, "I had no idea it was coming. It was an instantaneous thing. Next day I am packing up product and equipment and moving it to SD".
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
#6
Banned.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 3,061
Bikes: Homebuilt steel
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2193 Post(s)
Liked 425 Times
in
337 Posts
I've been riding Speedplay going back to the solid aluminum puck version X-series jobbies. Love um. A little sad to see them gobbled up by a conglomerate but that's the way of the world these days I suppose. Hope the product quality stays high and they support the end users like days of old.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 740
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 359 Post(s)
Liked 85 Times
in
58 Posts
I've been riding Speedplay going back to the solid aluminum puck version X-series jobbies. Love um. A little sad to see them gobbled up by a conglomerate but that's the way of the world these days I suppose. Hope the product quality stays high and they support the end users like days of old.
Won't ride anything else.
#8
Full Member
Can Wahoo fix the Frog? Seriously, put a bigger bearing in it and make the body less prone to water ingress.
With all the Shimano clones out there, Speedplay is the only unique product out there. A PM won't fit in a current speedplay body though, so they'll need to lose some of their weight/packaging advantage. It looks like Speedplay key IP expires in 6 years and they're moving manufacturing overseas, so Wahoo pretty much just wants the built-in audience or to prevent someone else from grabbing them.
With all the Shimano clones out there, Speedplay is the only unique product out there. A PM won't fit in a current speedplay body though, so they'll need to lose some of their weight/packaging advantage. It looks like Speedplay key IP expires in 6 years and they're moving manufacturing overseas, so Wahoo pretty much just wants the built-in audience or to prevent someone else from grabbing them.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,035
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 297 Times
in
207 Posts
Can Wahoo fix the Frog? Seriously, put a bigger bearing in it and make the body less prone to water ingress.
With all the Shimano clones out there, Speedplay is the only unique product out there. A PM won't fit in a current speedplay body though, so they'll need to lose some of their weight/packaging advantage. It looks like Speedplay key IP expires in 6 years and they're moving manufacturing overseas, so Wahoo pretty much just wants the built-in audience or to prevent someone else from grabbing them.
With all the Shimano clones out there, Speedplay is the only unique product out there. A PM won't fit in a current speedplay body though, so they'll need to lose some of their weight/packaging advantage. It looks like Speedplay key IP expires in 6 years and they're moving manufacturing overseas, so Wahoo pretty much just wants the built-in audience or to prevent someone else from grabbing them.
#10
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,635
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
The salient bit from the article below. I have to wonder though -- wouldn't there have to be a lot of Speedplay patents coming up or already past expiration; ie. sooner or later the knockoffs would legally be on the market?
"Wahoo founder Chip Hawkins said he thought Speedplay had the best pedal technology and felt the brand could benefit from product line tweeks and improved distribution. He said when he went to buy Speedplay pedals for personal use a few years ago, they were hard to find and difficult to choose between models. He hopes to fix both problems.
"I think Wahoo has always evolved from pain points I had in my personal life," Hawkins said.
He only half-dodged the question from those who follow this market segment: Will the acquisition lead to a pedal-based Wahoo power meter?
“We never talk about upcoming products,” he told BRAIN. But he made clear that if Wahoo did offer a power meter, it would be pedal-based."
"Wahoo founder Chip Hawkins said he thought Speedplay had the best pedal technology and felt the brand could benefit from product line tweeks and improved distribution. He said when he went to buy Speedplay pedals for personal use a few years ago, they were hard to find and difficult to choose between models. He hopes to fix both problems.
"I think Wahoo has always evolved from pain points I had in my personal life," Hawkins said.
He only half-dodged the question from those who follow this market segment: Will the acquisition lead to a pedal-based Wahoo power meter?
“We never talk about upcoming products,” he told BRAIN. But he made clear that if Wahoo did offer a power meter, it would be pedal-based."
#11
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,635
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
Likes For Sy Reene:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
Competition is good. More research, more new toys. Hopefully, more competitive pricing.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,569
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 678 Times
in
429 Posts
Putting a PM in Speedplay has been an ongoing challenge that no one has figured out yet.
Brimm Brothers was closest and tried doing the PM in the cleat. They had a working prototype. DC Rainmaker hyped it up. And they opened to pre-orders and started taking money. Then it never happened - lots of people lost a lot of money when Brimm closed shop suddenly.
Brimm Brothers was closest and tried doing the PM in the cleat. They had a working prototype. DC Rainmaker hyped it up. And they opened to pre-orders and started taking money. Then it never happened - lots of people lost a lot of money when Brimm closed shop suddenly.
#14
I eat carbide.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627
Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times
in
560 Posts
Putting a PM in Speedplay has been an ongoing challenge that no one has figured out yet.
Brimm Brothers was closest and tried doing the PM in the cleat. They had a working prototype. DC Rainmaker hyped it up. And they opened to pre-orders and started taking money. Then it never happened - lots of people lost a lot of money when Brimm closed shop suddenly.
Brimm Brothers was closest and tried doing the PM in the cleat. They had a working prototype. DC Rainmaker hyped it up. And they opened to pre-orders and started taking money. Then it never happened - lots of people lost a lot of money when Brimm closed shop suddenly.
Point here being though that Brimm didn't just go buy Speedplay. That's not done lightly and without a solid agenda and need.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
#16
Senior Member
Tried Speedplay pedals, ended up taking them off. I was actually slower to clip in with the SP's. The engagement force was too high and after a few times where the cleat slipped off the side of the pedal while trying to engage, I went back to Look.
A power meter integrated into the cleat sounds great though and Speedplay has the configuration to do it across road and MTB. Wahoo probably has the R&D dollars to make it happen. Should be interesting.
A power meter integrated into the cleat sounds great though and Speedplay has the configuration to do it across road and MTB. Wahoo probably has the R&D dollars to make it happen. Should be interesting.
Likes For Caliper:
#17
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Tried Speedplay pedals, ended up taking them off. I was actually slower to clip in with the SP's. The engagement force was too high and after a few times where the cleat slipped off the side of the pedal while trying to engage, I went back to Look.
A power meter integrated into the cleat sounds great though and Speedplay has the configuration to do it across road and MTB. Wahoo probably has the R&D dollars to make it happen. Should be interesting.
A power meter integrated into the cleat sounds great though and Speedplay has the configuration to do it across road and MTB. Wahoo probably has the R&D dollars to make it happen. Should be interesting.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/...roduction.html
#18
Senior Member
Was already a thing 5 years ago...granted I don't know what happened to BB since:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/...roduction.html
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/...roduction.html
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
I didn't realize Wahoo was big enough to buy Speedplay.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
9 times out of 10, when someone new to Speedplay has these kinds of problems, it's because they didn't RTFM and they overtightened the screws.
#22
Blast from the Past
Hope that Wahoo doesn't fiddle with them too much, don't want to start having pedal problems on my SRM crank.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,473
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1743 Post(s)
Liked 1,281 Times
in
740 Posts
Maybe it's just me but I just want Speedplay to stay the same. Power meters are irrelevant to me. I love what I've been riding for 20 yrs.
Likes For bruce19:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
The new walkable cleats are amazing compared to the old design. My GF uses them because she likes the dual sided clip in, I do all the setup and service every few months and they keep chugging along. The older design worked best with keep on covers to keep some dirt/grime out but they can last 10,000+ miles if taken care of
#25
Senior Member
I used a torque wrench, because I know how to use a search engine. The clip in the cleat was free to move and release was never an issue, I just never felt confident on engagement.