What cleats does everyone use?
01-02-21, 09:43 AM
#76
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
They're essentially a sealed system, so provided they stay dry and don't get dust working its way past the seals, they could/should last a long time.
I live on the west coast, get caught in the rain more often than I'd like, then have to wash off the bike, so mine do get "dry" (they spin like a top if you give the pedal body a push).
I'll pump some new grease into them a couple times a year (tops), at ~12K km/yr split between two bikes - and a few years ago I let them go a bit too long and then noticed some play in the axle/pedal body.
I haven't bought new pedals in at least a decade, but both sets of pedals have seen new axles (Ti) and bearings in the last couple years.
I live on the west coast, get caught in the rain more often than I'd like, then have to wash off the bike, so mine do get "dry" (they spin like a top if you give the pedal body a push).
I'll pump some new grease into them a couple times a year (tops), at ~12K km/yr split between two bikes - and a few years ago I let them go a bit too long and then noticed some play in the axle/pedal body.
I haven't bought new pedals in at least a decade, but both sets of pedals have seen new axles (Ti) and bearings in the last couple years.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
01-02-21, 10:37 AM
#77
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,634
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Kovers-S...9605415&sr=8-2
Exactly, spinning at all freely is a sign for need to regrease.
01-05-21, 11:07 PM
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,760
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times
in
760 Posts
I use the RXS version and don't really know how they compare to the cleat hook up on the newer models. But what sold me was the feel of the float - metal on metal. It just felt better to me than the SPD-SL I was comparing them to. Plus the cleats are very "walkable" and last very long becuse the working part is metal.
05-19-21, 02:13 AM
#80
Junior Member
Look Keo Easy on road bike, OneUp flats on MTB.
I'm quite new to road clipless (13y ago I used eggbeaters and SPD for some time).
Is there any reason to upgrade my clipless pedals? (I know, weight, haha, and maybe possibility to adjust tension).
better Keos ? maybe SPD-SL ? (shimano, exustar), Crank Brothers ?
(my shoes accept 3 and 2 bolts cleats)
I run 20mm axle extender on left axle, because my leg problem (my left foot is rotated ~10* toe out - broken tibia long time ago), and I have 4.5* cleats.
My used Keo Easy came with second-hand bike...
strange feeling with float play - I mean, there is no resistance at all, different feeling than on flats - like not connected to a bike at all.
I'm quite new to road clipless (13y ago I used eggbeaters and SPD for some time).
Is there any reason to upgrade my clipless pedals? (I know, weight, haha, and maybe possibility to adjust tension).
better Keos ? maybe SPD-SL ? (shimano, exustar), Crank Brothers ?
(my shoes accept 3 and 2 bolts cleats)I run 20mm axle extender on left axle, because my leg problem (my left foot is rotated ~10* toe out - broken tibia long time ago), and I have 4.5* cleats.
My used Keo Easy came with second-hand bike...
strange feeling with float play - I mean, there is no resistance at all, different feeling than on flats - like not connected to a bike at all.
Last edited by razorjack; 05-19-21 at 03:39 AM. Reason: clarify
05-19-21, 02:35 AM
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 702
Bikes: '23 Poseidon Redwood, '07 Specialized Roubaix Comp Triple, '12 Gravity Fixie, '21 Liv Rove 4, '06? Giant EB Spirit
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 345 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
151 Posts
SPD SL yellow. Just works
05-19-21, 05:46 AM
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,112
Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 986 Post(s)
Liked 584 Times
in
439 Posts
SPD-SL for the road bike (yellow cleats), SPD for the gravel bike.
Tried SPD for the first time last month when I picked up the N+1 and it's OK, but I still prefer the SLs. I feel more stable when my shoes are clipped.
Tried SPD for the first time last month when I picked up the N+1 and it's OK, but I still prefer the SLs. I feel more stable when my shoes are clipped.
05-19-21, 09:04 AM
#84
Senior Member
Speedplay Walkable Zeros/carbon sole shoes for the fast bike; SPD (standard black ones) for the "all road" bike. No racing (except occasionally on Zwift) and mostly do solo rides. If the shoes are comfortable and adequately stiff out on the road either system works well however:
- More leisurely ride with stops or walking?: SPD shoes
- Faster ride, workouts, trying to best a PR or Zwifting (every watt counts!): Speedplay + road shoes
05-19-21, 11:11 AM
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,399
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4393 Post(s)
Liked 4,837 Times
in
2,991 Posts
SPD-SL yellow cleats here (Shimano 105 pedals). Faultless for road use. A bit of a pain to walk in.
For mountain biking I used Cranks Bros cleats for a long time (Mallet pedals mainly), but switched to flats about 6 years ago and never went back. I don't feel like I lose any power on climbs and much easier to dab in tech sections. So I think any advantages of being clipped in for power transmission are a bit over-stated. For me the main benefit is consistent positioning and no risk of slipping.
For mountain biking I used Cranks Bros cleats for a long time (Mallet pedals mainly), but switched to flats about 6 years ago and never went back. I don't feel like I lose any power on climbs and much easier to dab in tech sections. So I think any advantages of being clipped in for power transmission are a bit over-stated. For me the main benefit is consistent positioning and no risk of slipping.
Likes For cbuddy2005:
05-19-21, 08:04 PM
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,410
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 850 Post(s)
Liked 344 Times
in
247 Posts
SPD-SL yellow cleats here (Shimano 105 pedals). Faultless for road use. A bit of a pain to walk in.
For mountain biking I used Cranks Bros cleats for a long time (Mallet pedals mainly), but switched to flats about 6 years ago and never went back. I don't feel like I lose any power on climbs and much easier to dab in tech sections. So I think any advantages of being clipped in for power transmission are a bit over-stated. For me the main benefit is consistent positioning and no risk of slipping.
For mountain biking I used Cranks Bros cleats for a long time (Mallet pedals mainly), but switched to flats about 6 years ago and never went back. I don't feel like I lose any power on climbs and much easier to dab in tech sections. So I think any advantages of being clipped in for power transmission are a bit over-stated. For me the main benefit is consistent positioning and no risk of slipping.
I guess I'll chime in despite this being a zombie thread. I've used SPD-SL yellow cleats for the past 4 years. Always hated the shimano float, nay, slop system. So this week I bought shimano blue cleats. Maybe I'll eventually go red. I'll report back if my knees shred themselves.
05-19-21, 09:04 PM
#88
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
SPD-SL for the road bike with yellow cleats
PD-M520-SPD for the mountain bike
PD-M520-SPD for the mountain bike
05-20-21, 04:09 AM
#89
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,399
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4393 Post(s)
Liked 4,837 Times
in
2,991 Posts
I don't notice any obvious loss in power riding flats on my mtb. I just find flats more comfortable and convenient for casual trail riding, especially technical slippery, rooty singletrack. If I was racing XC around a field I would probably go back to my Crank Bros cleated pedals.
05-20-21, 08:33 AM
#90
Newbie
SPD-SL blue. Like most I started on yellow but the generous float on them wasn't conducive to good pedaling form. The blues give me just the right amount of float to be comfortable, without allowing my knees and ankles to splay and develop bad habits. Haven't tried the reds but imagine those would be too unforgiving.
