Speedplay Pedals -These Simple Pedals Are Complicated
There’s a whole lot more going on with Speedplay pedals than I ever imagined. These are the guys who really tackled the issue of float, but they didn’t stop there.
One rather insignificant feature that immediately caught my eye is the dual side entry. In my first race, I went from starting near the front of the lineup to ‘off the back’ within the first 100 meters of the race.
The embarrassment of pawing at the Dura Ace pedal with my left foot in an attempt to clip in left a real scar in my bike racing psyche.
Lest you question the advisability of me lining myself up so far forward (I’d question it too, if I was reading this!), I did end up finishing 3rd in the race.
I just looked over at the Nashbar site and they have 18 Speedplay items listed, including some accessories.
Cycling Gear?
With the ability to clip into either side of the Speedplay pedal, my clip-in ineptness would
have been reduced by a factor of two.
Speedplay pedals have a very low stack height. The surface of the sole of the shoe essentially sits on the pedal itself. Set up like this, just about all the force you can get to the bottom of your shoe gets to the pedal.
Low weight is taken to an extreme with the 2009 Speedplay Nanogram Zero Titanium pedals. Using titanium for the spindle, aluminum for metal parts, and carbon for the body, the Nanogram is weighs in at 65 grams per pedal. That’s 2.3 ounces per pedal. For purposes of comparison to other models, that’s 130 grams (4.6 ounces) per pair.
When a racer starts doing crits, the ability to pedal through a corner becomes important. Speedplay bike pedals excel in this department since there is no pedal sticking out beyond the shoe and less pedal extending below your shoe.
On my mountain bike pedal page I wrote about the importance of being able to lubricate the pedal. On the Speedplay pedal you can remove the screw at the spindle on the ‘frog’ side of the spindle and lubricate it with a dry lube or grease.
There Are Three Speedplay Families
The Speedplay Light Action pedals are built for riders under 175 lbs. The combination of
the title ‘Light Action’ and the rider weight limit may lead a reader to conclude that these are characterized by low weight. This isn’t the case as the spectrum of Speedplay Light Action models ranges from 164 grams per pair for the titanium version to 210 grams per pair for the chrome-moly set.
The term ‘Light Action’ actually denotes that these pedals employ a unique low-force, high- security latch mechanism.
The next family of Speedplay pedals is the X series. These seem to be the Chevrolets of the line. Not too much sexy to write about them.
The high end group is the Zero series. This is where the $630 Nanogram lives. The Zeros feature a cleat system that allows for some real customization in the ‘float’ department. There are two screws on the cleat that add 
or reduce the amount of float on that pedal. You can have different amount from pedal to pedal. Additionally you can adjust the float to be more or less with regard to internal or external rotation.
If you put the bike on a trainer, your assistant (or fitter) can adjust your float while you’re still clipped in. Pedal for a while, adjust, and pedal some more, adjust, you get the picture…
Speedplay Even Has Accessories
***Longer bolts are available to attach Speedplay cleats to cycling shoes with extra deep recessed threads in the sole.
*** There is a protector shim to go between the shoe and the cleat. This protects the clear coat on the carbon sole and it keeps the cleat from ‘riding’ where
you don’t want it to go when you’re tightening the cleat onto the shoe.
*** Coffee Shop Caps are elastomer protectors you put over your cleats when you’ve stopped at a coffee shop to show off your high end
Speedplay Nanogram pedals. They supply a bit more traction so you won’t fall on your Assos shorts while strolling along with an espresso.
*** The Speedplay Platformer is a removable platform-style add-on that enables you to pedal to the registration table before your race without having
to put your cycling shoes on. It temporarily transforms your Speedplay pedal into a platform pedal. Brilliant!
*** A Speedplay Fore/Aft Extender Base Plate enables more variation in the ability to position your foot forward or backward in relation to the spindle.
With this accessory you get an additional 5mm forward positioning and 14 mm rearward positioning.
*** A Leg Length Kit allows you and your hardly trained professional to attempt to equalize any perceived leg length discrepancy.
*** Of course there are also replacement cleats, although these are hardly accessories, but rather necessities.
*** And then there is the collectible tin that the $630 Nanograms come in…
The guys at TriSports.com have done an excellent job of explaining Speedplay pedals in this YouTube production.
