$85 Silca Titanium cleats
#1
ignominious poltroon
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,045
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2241 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times
in
1,802 Posts
$85 Silca Titanium cleats
Anyone have these? Do they really last 4X as long (I could possibly see this in the case of brass, but steel)? Does the enormous weight savings make you go any faster?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,887
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6972 Post(s)
Liked 10,968 Times
in
4,692 Posts
Likes For Koyote:
#3
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,997
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4955 Post(s)
Liked 8,097 Times
in
3,832 Posts
#4
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,992
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6196 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
Status!
If you have them, then your place in the grand scheme of things will be higher than others of us.
And if you have a Rolex even more.
If you have them, then your place in the grand scheme of things will be higher than others of us.
And if you have a Rolex even more.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,053 Times
in
4,479 Posts
I've used Shimano SPD cleats on mountain bikes since about 1993, I think, and have used them touring and even the road bike for a few years. I have never worn out a steel SPD cleat.
When I'm on my mtb with Camelbak the total weight is about 240 pounds. I don't think a 24 gram weight savings would be noticed.
When I'm on my mtb with Camelbak the total weight is about 240 pounds. I don't think a 24 gram weight savings would be noticed.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,053 Times
in
4,479 Posts
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,904
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,933 Times
in
1,213 Posts
I'd expect the titanium to wear out as fast as, if not faster than, standard cleats. It's not generally used in high-wear applications.
But it won't rust! And you'll save a few grams! And it's not just weight, it's rotating weight! And it's Silca!!
(I asked for a couple Rene Herse tires for Christmas instead.)
But it won't rust! And you'll save a few grams! And it's not just weight, it's rotating weight! And it's Silca!!
(I asked for a couple Rene Herse tires for Christmas instead.)
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,880
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1461 Post(s)
Liked 1,486 Times
in
870 Posts
Regular cleats are $15. Silca titanium cleats are $85. So you'd be paying 5.7x the cost for 4x the lifespan. From that perspective this isn't a good buy.
This is purely a weight weenie item. The SPD titanium cleats save 30g over brass.
In the weight per dollar chart, $60 to drop 30g is on the high end of the scale at $2.66 per saved gram. This is roughly on par with someone spending $1000 on a set of wheels that are 385g lighter than stock. Of course cleats are a lot less bling than wheels, since no one even sees your cleats, and telling anyone that you purchased titanium cleats immediately outs you as a compulsive weight weenie who enjoys incinerating cash.
So... this is a tough one.
This is purely a weight weenie item. The SPD titanium cleats save 30g over brass.
In the weight per dollar chart, $60 to drop 30g is on the high end of the scale at $2.66 per saved gram. This is roughly on par with someone spending $1000 on a set of wheels that are 385g lighter than stock. Of course cleats are a lot less bling than wheels, since no one even sees your cleats, and telling anyone that you purchased titanium cleats immediately outs you as a compulsive weight weenie who enjoys incinerating cash.
So... this is a tough one.
Likes For msu2001la:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,880
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1461 Post(s)
Liked 1,486 Times
in
870 Posts
I don't know that I've ever "worn out" an SPD cleat, but popping a new pair on once in a while does make the pedal engagement feel a bit more snappy. I replace my cleats every few years.
Likes For msu2001la:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,931 Times
in
2,556 Posts
~$2/gram weight saved. It is (barely) rotating weight. Will be harder on floors than brass (and roughly comparable to steel). (Edit: had a conversation regarding year end tax stuff, piles of paper on my keyboard and that keyboard ran away with this post and sent it. Sorry!
Last edited by 79pmooney; 12-16-22 at 12:12 PM.
#11
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,638
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4736 Post(s)
Liked 1,533 Times
in
1,004 Posts
Do they work with Speedplay X ? ;-)
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,904
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,933 Times
in
1,213 Posts
#13
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,222
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2584 Post(s)
Liked 5,642 Times
in
2,922 Posts
My old school Shimano SPD cleats were so long lasting, that the bolts/screws holding them in place were so worn down, it was impossible to get an Allen wrench on them. Just think what the Silca bots will look like, unless they are made of unobtanium
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#14
ignominious poltroon
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,045
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2241 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times
in
1,802 Posts
Wait, there is more:
Now we couldn't just stop there, but by combining 3D printing technology with this material that is 1/3 lighter than steel, we are able to achieve a cleat with internal lattice structure (called a gyroid) which maintains stiffness and strength while reducing weight to create a cleat set that is HALF the weight of a standard cleat set.
25gm reduction * 100 rpm = 180kg of mass not lifted per hour of riding, 90kg per leg!
25gm reduction * 100 rpm = 180kg of mass not lifted per hour of riding, 90kg per leg!
#15
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26425 Post(s)
Liked 10,381 Times
in
7,209 Posts
Wait, there is more:
Now we couldn't just stop there, but by combining 3D printing technology with this material that is 1/3 lighter than steel, we are able to achieve a cleat with internal lattice structure (called a gyroid) which maintains stiffness and strength while reducing weight to create a cleat set that is HALF the weight of a standard cleat set.
25gm reduction * 100 rpm = 180kg of mass not lifted per hour of riding, 90kg per leg!
25gm reduction * 100 rpm = 180kg of mass not lifted per hour of riding, 90kg per leg!
__________________
Likes For 3alarmer:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,880
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1461 Post(s)
Liked 1,486 Times
in
870 Posts
You can definitely obtain all of this (the term "unobtanium" implies that the products are never actually available to buy, doesn't it? ). Silca will sell direct to consumer, plus these cleats are available at fine retailers like REI, Jenson USA, and your LBS (though they'll probably make fun of you) etc.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,053 Times
in
4,479 Posts
Have to admit I'm not super picky about bike stuff, just want it to work.
#18
Senior Member
This. Titanium is not as hard as steel, and will wear out faster. Whatever that means. I've lost track of how old my current steel cleats are. I'd see Ti cleats more as a status thing rather than as a weight savings.
#19
Newbie racer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
974 Posts
But that's maybe once every like 3 years or so? Given that, I wouldn't buy it unless I was making like 3x what I make in a year then it would become irrelevant as a cost.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,246
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18420 Post(s)
Liked 15,564 Times
in
7,333 Posts
#21
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,997
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4955 Post(s)
Liked 8,097 Times
in
3,832 Posts
This is an item for folks with a bunch of money who have run out of things to buy for their bike. The Silca titanium computer mount is in the same category.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
Likes For Eric F:
#22
With a mighty wind
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,594
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 862 Times
in
490 Posts
For the people who say they have never worn out their cleats. I bet you have.
That feeling when your shoes get a touch sloppy on the pedals, or chatter when you hit trail chatter. I’ve seen this be improved by using brand new cleats.
I’ve noticed it more on some types of shoes than others. It does occur though.
I don’t think that an SPD cleat can wear out enough that it’ll fail to hold though.
That feeling when your shoes get a touch sloppy on the pedals, or chatter when you hit trail chatter. I’ve seen this be improved by using brand new cleats.
I’ve noticed it more on some types of shoes than others. It does occur though.
I don’t think that an SPD cleat can wear out enough that it’ll fail to hold though.
#23
ignominious poltroon
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,045
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2241 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times
in
1,802 Posts
They can start to become harder to disengage.
Likes For Polaris OBark:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,447
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4236 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
These are for the folks who are on the waiting list for that $1000 Rene Herse rear derailleur that you have to have a bike custom-built around who need something to buy while they're waiting.
Likes For himespau:
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,659
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1248 Post(s)
Liked 1,323 Times
in
674 Posts
What everyone is missing is the amazing vibration absobing nature of titanium. With those cleats, it will feel like you floating on a cloud as you power up the hills, they will offer an amazing ride how could you go wrong. Lastly as mentioned earlier, your rotational weight will be noticable less allowing for faster and easier acceleration leaving everyone in your dust for the town line sprint.