Quote:
Originally Posted by djg21
This presumes that Wahoo cares about the X-series, Frogs, or Szyrs. The X-series and Frogs are 30-year old technology (and the patents have now expired). The Szyrs never sold particularly well, and even Zeros have been around for 20 years now. While the Zeros are great pedals, Speedplay missed the boat when it stopped working with Metrigear to develop a pedal-based power meter and got scooped by Garmin, which ended up purchasing Metrigear and ultimately developed the Vectors.
To make Speedplay (more) profitable, Wahoo likely will reduce the number of SKUs it sells and come to market with a Zero-based power meter (and perhaps an updated Zero). There is no reason to continue with the X-series or to support them, as the Zeros are better pedals that are the functional equivalent. If Wahoo is concerned about preserving goodwill, it can discount the Zeros or allow trade-in’s for X-series users. But like I said, the X-series is dated technology, and it’s not uncommon for companies to stop supporting legacy products. You can’t blame Wahoo — it is a corporation that exists to maximize revenue for its investors, and not to incur losses to keep a relatively small number of cyclists who still use the X-series happy.
As to Szyrs, given that Shimano’s patents on SPD pedals have expired, there are now a large number of alternatives in the MTB pedal market, and it may not make sense for Wahoo to continue offering an MTB pedal unless it can come up with a substantial innovation, or perhaps a pedal based power- meter much less expensive that the SPD model offered by SRM.
I’ve ridden on Speedplay since 1991. I started with the X-series when Speedplay was just getting going, and then switched to Zeros in 2000. I rode Frogs for a while, but disliked them and went back to SPD. I recently gave up my Zeros to switch to Garmin Vector 3 pedals. When Wahoo comes to market with a Speedplay-based power meter, I’ll be all in. I had hoped that we’d see a Speedplay power meter by Eurobike in November, and maybe in the TDF. All bets are off now.
If someone is going to manufacture rebuild kits for X-series pedals, they should have significant insurance coverage. This could create significant liability for both Wahoo/Speedplay and the rebuild kit manufacturer.
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While some of what you say is true, I can't agree with most of it. The main issue now isn't that Speedplay may be discontinuing some of its older products; what has happened is that the supply chain for
all Speedplay products has recently dried up. It is generally not a good business practice to buy a company, and then essentially put a halt to its output, if it plans to continue in its field of business.
As far as X series pedals being "old technology": While the basic principle of the X series pedals hasn't changed in 30 years, the design of the X pedals and cleats has been continuously improved over the years. Today's X-series pedals are a far cry from the original model from the '90s. And what's wrong with proven technology, anyway? Look pedals are still a strong market player, and their design concept is even older than the X-series. There are other bicycle technologies that are far older than Speedplay pedals; I mean, why are we still using roller chains and round chainrings? Aren't those technologies so 19th century?
I also disagree that the Zero pedals are an improvement in every way of the X-series. The X-series are easier to get into and out of, have more float, and are also lighter than Zero pedals. Zero pedals are more adjustable than X-series, but that leads to compromises: The X-series can't do everything that the Zero pedals can, but the things it does do, it does better.