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TECH NEWS
Can Speedplay’s new Zero Aero Pedals help you go faster?
Speedplay, makers of the unique lollipop shaped clipless pedals favoured by Sir Bradley Wiggins, has unveiled its new Zero Aero Pedal System at Eurobike.
Unlike Speedplay’s regular double-sided pedals, the pursuit of aerodynamics has led the company to develop a one-sided Zero pedal with a dimpled surface that sits flush with the similarly dimpled Zero Aero Walkable cleat.
- review: Speedplay Zero Chrome-Moly Pedal system
It’s clear Speedplay has looked to smooth airflow over the entire cleat and pedal. Bradley Wiggins put the new pedals to good use in his successful UCI Hour Record ride earlier this year.
The US company doesn’t offer any wind-tunnel or even any claims for the Aero Pedal System, so how much faster they are than the regular Zero pedals is unknown.
“With a tiny frontal area, a dimpled surface, and a streamlined profile, the Zero Aero is the ultimate aerodynamic pedal system,” claims the company.
The Zero Aero pedals aren't weighted. That means they won't sit at a useful angle to make clipping in easy, like regular one-sided pedals from the likes of Shimano and Look. For general road use that means you need to make sure you're engaging the pedal on the correct side. For racing and time trialling, where you're unlikely to unclip during a ride, that's less of an issue. Does rule them out just a bit for general cycling duties mind.
If you’re a current Zero pedal user you’ll be interested to know that the new Aero Walkable Cleat is compatible with regular Zero pedals. If you’re less interested in aerodynamics and more interested in being able to walk with some grace across the cafe floor, these could be a good upgrade over the regular cleats.
Also new is the Cleat Buddy, a plastic cap that screws into the cap to prevent dirt and grit penetrating the metal springs inside the cleat.
- Clipless pedals - how to get started the easy way
The new Zero Aero pedals are available in stainless steel (105g, £229.99) and titanium (79g, £324.99) and are available to buy now. The Zero Aero Walkable cleat weighs 130g for a 3-hole mounting kit, and cost from £59.99.
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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21 comments
Mixed with Keep-on-covers.
Had a pair of the first ones on zeros for several years with no problems. changed cleats and lost one, bought the version two and lost them far too often. Decided it's better finish the current cleats and try the covers on a new set at the end of the year.
The covers on my X-series look well shot but have stayed on.
ebay, got the last lot for around £15.
Keep on Kovers work well for me, have lasted several thousand miles (of cycling not walking!), though they are due for replacement and seem to be very expensive at the moment. Possibly no UK distributor..
Another bump for Keep On Kovers, still on my first pair after a year, walking in them is also a doddle
+1 for KeepOnKovers. Brilliant. New Z.3 versions even better.
Never seen the point of the Coffee Shop covers, when you can buy Keep on Kovers that do the same thing, and stay on all the time. My cleats look like new after 14 months.
Stuff the one-sided pedal, I've been waiting for the walkable cleat for ages. The coffee shop covers take up space in my jersey pocket and you practically need a crowbar to lever the damn things off when you want to get back on the bike. Still, adding 50% to the RRP is a bit steep.
Interesting that they are staggering the release of the cleats though - at least I assume so, since I believe their is also a treaded version of the same cleat surface - no word on that one yet?
The Speedplay Walkable cleats have been out for a while - not cheap but Wiggle have them in the UK, available in lots of US outlets probably Europe too but not looked. As far as covers go, i'd recommend the KeepOn Kovers over the coffee shop ones - i've had both and it's night and day IMO... very walkable, stay-on fine despite a lot of abuse on various surfaces (apart from once when I hadn't put it back on properly), fairly reasonable price and of course no faffing around taking on and off.
I have had the opposite experience with the Keep on Kovers. They don't keep on keepin' on. I'm forever having to trek back to where they fell off. Last week I had and admittedly awkward clip in, then had to ride back to that spot because I noticed the cover had fallen off at the next lights. When I got to the lights again I put my foot down and got that familiar metal on tarmac crunch, so set off back _again_ only to eventually find the cover hanging off the crank.
Perhaps I'm using them incorrectly
Dunno - they do need a firm-ish push to click on but expect you'll have done that. Once on you should be able to pick your shoes up by the covers easily, do they pop off if you try that. Failing anything else, dodgy lot ?
The Z.3 ones are much better than the older ones if that's helpful. Mine have remained firmly attached to my Zeros after about 2000km.
I lost one of mine after two rides; not a clue where it is.
A waste of money.
Ah, I stand corrected. If I haven't looked at Wiggle in a while does that mean I'm no longer a 'proper' cyclist?!
Thanks, I'll have a look.
I want Speedplay because they ARE double sided.
These get rid of the one USP Speedplay have.
I'll stick with the standard ones.
They look like upside down Garmin Edge 500's!
Me too.
Keep in mind that these might shave a few seconds or Watt of effort off a pro riders performance. For them, especially an hour record attempt, it really matters. Its worth remembering that pros can't use any equipment that is not available to the public to buy. So for pros to have access to these, they _have_ to be made available to the public, regardless of whether we "need" it.
Unrelated to performance gains, I'm interested in the fact that these might make walking in speedplay cleats a bit easier and with less bulk to carry when riding.
Surely the most marginal of gains...
Yeah but there'll be a whole load of middle aged dentists queuing up to buy these pedals/cleats along with the all the other expensive tat on sale that helps them get to the cafe 3.7 seconds faster than their riding buddies. Common sense left the building some time ago I'm afraid.
That's not 100% accurate! my dentist asks me for all his kit advice and uses the cheapest Look Keo's.
*other dentists are available.
Are you sure he's REALLY a dentist?
The cleats are on my 'add to basket' list as the coffee shop covers are a pretty bad fit and keep coming off. Don't really need aero pedals, a bit more work on the diet will suffice for now!