How long do clipless pedals last?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Washington
Posts: 864
Bikes: MTB Agressor for now.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How long do clipless pedals last?
How long does it take to wear out clipless pedals? I never thought of it until after I bought some. I have the speedplays and they have no springs.
#2
Isaias
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 5,182
Bikes: Ridley X-Fire (carbon, white)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#3
Thread Killer
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Marfan Syndrome-Clyde-DFW, TX
Posts: 1,845
Bikes: Fuji Touring Xtracycle, Merlin Road, Bacchetta Giro 26 (Sold), Challenge Hurricane, Cruzbike Sofrider
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What kind of speedplays did you get? Zeroes, X5, Light Action, Frogs or ??
Reason I ask is because with Zeroes and Light Action at least it isn't the pedals to worry about since they are easy to maintain with some grease and are rebuildable. It is the darn cleats. The brass lid on the cleats and those screws get ruined in short order even just putting them down at stops. I see alot more wear on my right foot then my left, I primarily touch down with my right foot when riding.
Reason I ask is because with Zeroes and Light Action at least it isn't the pedals to worry about since they are easy to maintain with some grease and are rebuildable. It is the darn cleats. The brass lid on the cleats and those screws get ruined in short order even just putting them down at stops. I see alot more wear on my right foot then my left, I primarily touch down with my right foot when riding.
#4
POWERCRANK addict
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: North Acton, West London, UK
Posts: 3,783
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
As long as you replace the bearings before they loosen from wear then the pedals should last many, many years.
My Time pedals work great years later.
My Time pedals work great years later.
__________________
shameless POWERCRANK plug
Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
Condor Cycles - quite possibly the best bike shop in London
Don't run red lights, wear a helmet, use hand signals, get some cycle lights(front and rear) and, FFS, don't run red lights!
shameless POWERCRANK plug
Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
Condor Cycles - quite possibly the best bike shop in London
Don't run red lights, wear a helmet, use hand signals, get some cycle lights(front and rear) and, FFS, don't run red lights!
#5
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
I tend to agree with others... it has taken me about 20 years, riding about 2000 miles a year, to actually wear out my LOOK pedals. I have gone through several cleats in the mean time, several shoes, and lots of grease to keep the bearings happy.
But now the surface of the pedal is well worn and the pedals are sloppy; they creak and moan when mated to new cleats and there is just nothing else to do but buy new ones.
May your pedals last as long.
But now the surface of the pedal is well worn and the pedals are sloppy; they creak and moan when mated to new cleats and there is just nothing else to do but buy new ones.
May your pedals last as long.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lynn, MA
Posts: 472
Bikes: 60's lowrider, 80's Cavaletto Centurion, 94 Specialized Rockhopper sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My friend Reed is worst case scenario when it comes to bike parts, and he's gotten two years out of some spd's that's roughly 35 years for the rest of us.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,277
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Too many variables to say exactly.
Some of them are:
1) Quality level of the component
2) Frequency of maintenance
3) How many miles the rider puts in
4) Conditions riding in
5) Do you wreck often?
Some of them are:
1) Quality level of the component
2) Frequency of maintenance
3) How many miles the rider puts in
4) Conditions riding in
5) Do you wreck often?
Likes For DataJunkie:
#8
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
My SPDs last anywhere from 6 months to about 10 years.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I buy the cheapest ones I can for my commuter (~$25) from performance or nashbar and tend to get 2-3 years out of them before the mechanisms are so messed up (bent, corroded, etc) that I can't easily get my foot in and out.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 1,654
Bikes: SS Surly Crosscheck; '91 Cannondale 3.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Have some LOOK pedals from the early '90s, still work like a charm. Have some Ritchey's from '94, still work like new...another pair of Ritchey's from '97 that are easily as functional as my '07 Shimano 520s. I've gone through a few cleats, but I think as long as you keep the pedals clean and with a light layer of oil you can prevent breakdown and rusting. As others said, bearings usually go first, but I've never had to replace the bearings in any of my pedals. I do fear my LOOKs are dust as of this fall, though...they started wobbling a minor bit. I don't know if it can be remedied, but even if it can I won't be the one doing it!
#11
Daily Rider
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 639
Bikes: 89 Bridgestone MB-3, 93 Bridgestone RB-1,93 Bridgestone MB-1, 95 Klein Fervor, 02 BikeE AT, 06 Surly Cross-check, 8? Schwinn Frontier
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I still have a set of first generation SPD's (circa 1988). They've been through New England winters, one season of racing, and general thrashing over 10 years of faithful service. I have them in semi-retirement on my rarely-ridden mountain bike. I am guessing they should have the bearings overhauled but they still spin pretty nicely.
__________________
[FONT="Verdana"][SIZE="1"]
2006SurlyCrosscheck]
1995KleinFervor
1993BstoneRB1
2007IROSSBFGS
1986PanasonicDX4000
2014E-JOE
[FONT="Verdana"][SIZE="1"]
2006SurlyCrosscheck]
1995KleinFervor
1993BstoneRB1
2007IROSSBFGS
1986PanasonicDX4000
2014E-JOE
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 11,375
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
I've got a pair of Shimano M545 pedals from 1992 which I just swapped over to my new bike after having them on my previous ride for 15 years. They still work great. Solid lock onto the cleat, no accidental clipping out, and the bearings still feel smooth and light.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Washington
Posts: 864
Bikes: MTB Agressor for now.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I got the frogs. Do I need to lube them up? They dont have any springs. Anything I need to know or do to keep them as long as possible?
#14
Newbie
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My look keo classics
I burned through these pedals in 9 months. Went through three sets of cleats in that time too. Depends on how hard you ride.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I had a pair of Ultegra pedals that lasted 15 years.
#16
Senior Member
My Look Keo's (road) and EggBeaters (Commute) have both lasted longer than this thread! Now cleats? too many to count
Which makes me wonder if Speedplays that cost more initially but sound like they are much lower on cleat replacement would be a better value ... but thats another thread
Which makes me wonder if Speedplays that cost more initially but sound like they are much lower on cleat replacement would be a better value ... but thats another thread
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Dang it. I hate when I reply to a zombie thread.
#18
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
Zombie Thread had been asleep for 13 years before it was resurrected a few days ago.
Answer to question: A long time.
Answer to question: A long time.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#20
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,498
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7345 Post(s)
Liked 2,452 Times
in
1,430 Posts
I have never worn out a pair of pedals of any type.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#22
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,498
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7345 Post(s)
Liked 2,452 Times
in
1,430 Posts
Sure, there are some very poorly made pedals which break quickly. I've seen many pedal failures, so I guess my failure rate of zero means I don't ride with bad pedals.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#23
Full Member
I meant to suggest pedals breaking is atypical. I got that bike for $110 at Wal-Mart over a decade ago.
Likes For seibaatgung:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 7,236
Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 830 Post(s)
Liked 2,110 Times
in
553 Posts
After reading your post, I realized I liked a post above from 2008. Sorry, @DataJunkie