Free float pedals - best other than speedplay/wahoo?

[oldguy00]

Been using speedplays for roughly 2 decades I think.

I've always had CAM/FAI in one hip, causing it to not track straight. The foot/heel on that side needs some rotation/freedom due to that. Speedplays have wokred well, but I'm tired of the cleats always developing rocking/clicking after a short period of time. I've tried to be careful about having the cleat and adapter flush to the shoe, but I still always getthe rocking develop. Over many sets, and with multiple different shoes.

I tried a set of shimanos with the yellow cleats, and the rotation really wasn't enough, nor 'free floating' enough.

Is there another pedal I could look at? In all this time, why has no look/spd style pedal developed a product that can match the speedplay float??

[windsurfer]

Eggbeaters

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by windsurfer

Eggbeaters

Hadn't thought of those. Just had a look.....looks like they only have 6 degrees of float. Though if it were truly 'free' feeling, maybe it would be enough, not sure. Can their cleats work with a three hole shoe?

Edit - I see they have an adapter kit for three hole.

[Mark McM]

How about Time pedals, the original pedal with free float?

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

How about Time pedals, the original pedal with free float?

Original? As in the ones LeMond used?

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

Original? As in the ones LeMond used?

Those, and all the subsequent Time pedals which also have free float. The Time pedal division was bought by SRAM, which continues to make road and MTB pedals:

https://www.sram.com/en/time-sport

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

Those, and all the subsequent Time pedals which also have free float. The Time pedal division was bought by SRAM, which continues to make road and MTB pedals:

https://www.sram.com/en/time-sport

I know I'm probably being really thick here....lol..., but when Time says:

"The XPRO and XPRESSO series pedals come with the ICLIC cleat, which offers +/-5° of angular float "

Can I read that as meaning 10 degrees total float, compared to the 6 degrees of float offered by shimano yellow cleats?

[charliedid]

TIME as others have said.

No recentering like other systems such as Shimano and LOOK

I gave up on Wahoo/Speedplay and ride TIME Pro 10

Cleats are a bit odd with little adjustability laterally (two positions) and no angular adjustment but...

Love em

[OtayBW]

I'm still spinning my stockpile of now, long-discontinued Campy Pro-Fit pedals....

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

I know I'm probably being really thick here....lol..., but when Time says:

"The XPRO and XPRESSO series pedals come with the ICLIC cleat, which offers +/-5° of angular float "

Can I read that as meaning 10 degrees total float, compared to the 6 degrees of float offered by shimano yellow cleats?

Yes. Here's a quote from the Shimano Road Cleat Guide:

SM-SH11 Yellow SPD-SL Cleats – 6 Degrees of Float

SM-SH11 Yellow SPD-SL cleats are the most popular option among casual fitness cyclists and a solid choice among many athletes. They have a six-degree float range (three degrees in each direction), allowing free foot movement and low joint stress.

Also note that different pedal systems rotate on different axes. The Shimano 2 degree cleat rotates at the front of the cleat. Speedplay pedals and the Shimano 6 degree cleat rotate on the center of the pedal/cleat. Time pedals rotate at the back of the cleat. Rotation point can affect how they feel when applying power, and how far the heel swings when the feet rotate. I personally liked the feel of Time rotation, and disliked the feel of the original Look floating cleats (which rotated at the front of the cleat).

[chrisroph]

Definitely try some Time.

[benb]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

Yes. Here's a quote from the Shimano Road Cleat Guide:



Also note that different pedal systems rotate on different axes. The Shimano 2 degree cleat rotates at the front of the cleat. Speedplay pedals and the Shimano 6 degree cleat rotate on the center of the pedal/cleat. Time pedals rotate at the back of the cleat. Rotation point can affect how they feel when applying power, and how far the heel swings when the feet rotate. I personally liked the feel of Time rotation, and disliked the feel of the original Look floating cleats (which rotated at the front of the cleat).

Thanks for finding this.. it's not stuck right out there on the pedals/cleats.

I've been using yellow SPD-SL basically the entire time I've been riding road.

I actually think the time being +/- 5 sintead of +/-3 might really benefit me.

The big thing is I have one foot that wants to angle out.. more float in the pedal will reduce the precision with which the cleats need to be positioned.

The other thing I guess people need to think about is release angle.

The Yellow SPD-SL requires you to rotate your foot 13 degrees to release, the Time ones say 16 degrees.

I could see that making a difference for people who get irritation in their knee from that rotation.

[oldguy00]

Thanks all, just ordered a pair of the Xpro 10's to try.

[trener1]

Another vote for the Eggbeaters.
Get the cleat with the extra float.

[BdaGhisallo]

If you want a truly free float, with no re-centering force, then Keywin Carbon pedals are what you want. That's assuming six degrees of float is enough for you. And, like Speedplay, Keywins float around the center of the axle.

They are agricultural looking, I will grant you, but they are the best floating pedals I've ever used.


Despite what many have said, the float of Time pedals is not free float. There is a re-centering force. You can certainly adjust it to the minimum of three available settings, but it is always there.