Speedplay X vs Zero?

[Sboat]

I have been ridding x-2 speedplay pedals since they came out. Thinking about trying the speedplay zero’s, anyone try the Zero going from the x series and stick with them, or go back to the x series.

[batman1425]

Rode x-2's for a season in 2007 before switching to Zeros. Have been on zeros ever since. The ability to adjust the amount of float is key.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Sboat

I have been ridding x-2 speedplay pedals since they came out. Thinking about trying the speedplay zero’s, anyone try the Zero going from the x series and stick with them, or go back to the x series.

I made the switch from X series to the zero's several years ago and like the zero's much better. I can adjust the amount of float on the zero's, this is the only reason i like them better.

[weiwentg]

Some relevant commentary here:

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...eedplay+pedals
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...eedplay+pedals

Basically, the Zeroes don't have the same walking on ice feeling as the Xs. They'll feel different. I got used to my new pair of Zeroes quite fast. I think the Zero cleats are a bit more resistant to fouling from dirt than the X cleats, but you don't really want to do much walking in dirt on either type.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Sboat

I have been ridding x-2 speedplay pedals since they came out. Thinking about trying the speedplay zero’s, anyone try the Zero going from the x series and stick with them, or go back to the x series.

'Feeling' been mentioned but why switch? What 'problem' are you trying to solve or just want to try 'em and see? There might be a LBS that has loaners around you.

I tried X series but every pedal stroke, tried to center my foot..Zeros fixed that.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by weiwentg

Some relevant commentary here:

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...eedplay+pedals
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...eedplay+pedals

Basically, the Zeroes don't have the same walking on ice feeling as the Xs. They'll feel different. I got used to my new pair of Zeroes quite fast. I think the Zero cleats are a bit more resistant to fouling from dirt than the X cleats, but you don't really want to do much walking in dirt on either type.

With these, the X's don't feel that way, either.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Kovers-S...BBV67T0QTFK58K

[Sboat]

The reason I was thinking of switching, is the fact I acquired a nice pair of zero’s on a bike I purchased, and instead of just selling them, thought I might try them out.

[berserk87]

Rule #1 on pedals is don't switch unless your current setup is causing you problems. That being said, there's probably not that much difference between the X-Series and the Zero Series. The Zero cleats do appear to be more expensive lately though.

[djg21]

The zero cleats don’t wear as quickly because the retaining clips/springs are flat, rather than round like in the X. The clips in the X pedals IME developed flat spots and it would feel like my foot wasn’t flat on the pedal and tilted to the outside.

With the float adjustment on the zeros, the zeros als0 can be set up to come out of with less heel rotation, and to keep the heels of your shoes from hitting your crank.

I used Speedplays for over 25 years until this season, when I switched to Garmin Vectors. Now that Wahoo purchased Speedplay and it seems imminent that a Speedplay power meter will be available, I likely will switch back to Speedplay.

[weiwentg]

Originally Posted by djg21

...Now that Wahoo purchased Speedplay and it seems imminent that a Speedplay power meter will be available, I likely will switch back to Speedplay.

I don't think one is imminent. The announcement came out of the blue. There's no public knowledge that anyone at Wahoo or Speedplay have done any sort of development work for this. I think knowledgeable parties like DC Rainmaker say it would take at least a few years to get Speedplay power meters.

Metrigear initially developed a Speedplay spindle-based PM, but they got bought by Garmin. Brim Brothers did a cleat-based PM, but they went under. If Wahoo acquired their IP, it's not public knowledge. So, we are likely talking about developing from scratch.

I certainly wish Wahoo well. More competition is good! I just don't think that anything can possibly be imminent.

[djg21]

Originally Posted by weiwentg

I don't think one is imminent. The announcement came out of the blue. There's no public knowledge that anyone at Wahoo or Speedplay have done any sort of development work for this. I think knowledgeable parties like DC Rainmaker say it would take at least a few years to get Speedplay power meters.

Metrigear initially developed a Speedplay spindle-based PM, but they got bought by Garmin. Brim Brothers did a cleat-based PM, but they went under. If Wahoo acquired their IP, it's not public knowledge. So, we are likely talking about developing from scratch.

I certainly wish Wahoo well. More competition is good! I just don't think that anything can possibly be imminent.

I haven’t read any patent claims, but I’m not sure to what extent the use of strain gauges in hollow pedal spindles or elsewhere in pedals to measure power (like Metrigear/Garmin/Powertap/Assioma/SRM, etc.) is non-obvious or covered by patents. I just don’t know.

Speedplay missed the boat here, and needs to have a power meter to stop losing market share. I’ll be that there will be news of a Speedplay powermeter by next season.

[Bentley]

Originally Posted by makoti

With these, the X's don't feel that way, either.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Kovers-S...BBV67T0QTFK58K

The X's when on the bike can feel like "walking on ice" he did not mean that walking with X's felt like walking on ice. I think that would not be the right way to characterize walking with the X's, I would say its uncomfortable, difficult to walk with the X's. The new walkable cleats for the Zero's fixes walking with the cleats.

[weiwentg]

Originally Posted by djg21

I haven’t read any patent claims, but I’m not sure to what extent the use of strain gauges in hollow pedal spindles or elsewhere in pedals to measure power (like Metrigear/Garmin/Powertap/Assioma/SRM, etc.) is non-obvious or covered by patents. I just don’t know.

Speedplay missed the boat here, and needs to have a power meter to stop losing market share. I’ll be that there will be news of a Speedplay powermeter by next season.

I am not an engineer. From the little bits I can decipher of Keith Wakeham's YouTube vids, every spindle is a bit different, so the placement and arrangement of the strain gauges will differ by brand. Plus one has to find space for batteries and transmitters, and then find a manufacturing partner, and then make sure they do the job consistently. There's probably a lot of processes we can't even conceive of. Recall that Brim Brothers thought they had it nailed, and then they took delivery of the first shipment, and they found out they were skunked. It looks simple to us when it's done, but getting there is not simple.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by Bentley

The X's when on the bike can feel like "walking on ice" he did not mean that walking with X's felt like walking on ice. I think that would not be the right way to characterize walking with the X's, I would say its uncomfortable, difficult to walk with the X's. The new walkable cleats for the Zero's fixes walking with the cleats.

That feeling lasts about 3 minutes, then it just feels natural. Personally, I love the full float of the X's. Anyone tossing their X's, send them my way.

[Bentley]

Originally Posted by makoti

That feeling lasts about 3 minutes, then it just feels natural. Personally, I love the full float of the X's. Anyone tossing their X's, send them my way.

Agree, but not all people make that adjustment. I would say it was a periodic distraction, generally occurred when I came up out of the saddle and started a hard push... its something you either get used to or dont, but my point was that it was not about walking in the cleats, it was a sensation when you are on the bike, the covers dont do anything for that.