• Home
  • Gear Reviews
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
    • Bike Commuting
    • Trail Running
    • Skiing
    • Outdoors
    • Water Sports
    • Vehicles
  • News
  • Trip Reports
  • Videos
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram
FeedTheHabit.com
  • Home
  • Gear Reviews
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
    • Bike Commuting
    • Trail Running
    • Skiing
    • Outdoors
    • Water Sports
    • Vehicles
  • News
  • Trip Reports
  • Videos
FeedTheHabit.com
Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Review
Gear Reviews

Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Review

Jason MitchellBy Jason MitchellApril 14, 2022No Comments6 Mins Read

The good folks at Speedplay did a great job for many years delivering arguably the most knee-friendly road pedals on the market. But, expanding their reach with a sometimes confusing pedal offering did cause riders and retailers alike to scratch their heads. In 2019, Wahoo Fitness acquired Speedplay to take their Zero Pedals to the next level — and also develop a pedal-based power meter. The midrange Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals are the sweet spot in the line and Wahoo’s changes can be felt.

Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Features:

  • Adjustable float (up to 15-degrees)
  • Stainless steel dual-sided design
  • Walkable, areodynamic cleats
  • 3-axis cleat adjustment
  • Low stack height (11.5mm)
  • Standard-tension cleats included (easy tension available separately)
  • 53mm Q-factor (56mm , 59mm and 65mm may be ordered)
  • Weight: 220g (pair)
  • MSRP: $229.99
Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Review - Full Set
The new Zero’s now feature a full metal ring.

Zero-to-hero pedals

With Wahoo’s 2019 acquisition, the goal was to simplify the supply chain, manufacturing and product offerings while also developing a pedal-based power meter (called POWRLINK ZERO). With the POWRLINK ZERO pedals, Speedplay aficionados can finally have happy knees and power measurement. Someday, I’ll give those a whirl, but I’ve been testing the regular Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals without an integrated power meter.

For many years, I used Speedplay Zero pedals exclusively on the road. I tried Shimano Ultegra PD-R8000 pedals for a bit, but the style of float didn’t suit my knees. Subsequently, I did switch over completely to Time XPro 10 Carbon pedals and have been very happy with them. They offer excellent float, great engagement and simple cleats. quite liked them overall — enough to switch to them for several years now.  but have recently switched to Time XPro 10 Carbon Pedals. Coming full-circle to the updated Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedals has been an excellent experience that reminds me just how knee-friendly the lollipop design is.

Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Review - Climbing Three Falls
Heading up Three Falls with the Speedplay Zero’s.

Since I’m harping on float, let’s dive in a little further. No other pedal system that I’m aware of has the type of float that Speedplay offers. Being a circular design, the pedal body lends itself to perfect rotational movements. And, the float is infinitely-adjustable between 0-15 degrees. The unique difference here is that all adjustments are made in the cleat itself without having to purchase a different set of cleats. For that reason, the cleats are fairly cumbersome to install and set up. With it, you’ve got multiple sets of screws, plates, retention rings and dimpled covers.

Luckily, the walkable cleats are MUCH better than the old bare metal designs. However, getting and keeping that aero/walkable rubber cover in place is rather difficult. It’s not uncommon to see one of those at stoplights around town where a rider has unclipped and lost their cover.

Speedplay Walkable Cleat Installed Correctly
Installed properly, the walkable cover will stay put.

Initial setup tips

So, a little more on installation. The beauty of the Speedplay cleat is its adjustability. I have used Precision Bike Fit for many years and Jeff always appreciates working with a set of Speedplay pedals. With it, he can fine-tune the cleat placement in ways that other pedals can’t. I actually had a major brain fart when installing the cleats for this test and found sprinting to be a little odd. I dropped in and Jeff immediately corrected things, which was my bad. So, as you’re installing these cleats, it’s wise to triple-check and maybe even drop into your bike fitter or shop for validation. Because there are both fore/aft and side/side adjustments, it’s easy to get lost in the sauce — even for someone as experienced as myself.

Wahoo Speedplay Walkable Cleat
I had my fore/aft adjustment all wrong (but got it corrected).

Once set up, make absolutely sure you get the walkable cleat cover firmly in place. It takes extra effort and I find that working from the bottom in a clockwise fashion results in the easiest placement. But, before doing that, get your float dialed in using a small Phillips screwdriver. While you’re at it, be sure you have your fore/aft position set correctly as well. Ride some neighborhood laps–including a few sprints–make any necessary tweaks and then put the covers on.

Wahoo Speedplay Walkable Cleat Cover
Start at the bottom and go clockwise — any gaps like this are BAD.

Wahoo Speedplay Zero ride impressions

As a Speedplay fan, there wasn’t really much to get used to. The dual-sided entry is fantastic great to have when clipping back in after a stop. But, the full metal outer ring does seem to make for harder engagement compared to previous designs. That was confirmed as I did some head-to-head testing with an old pair and these. Clipping into the new design did require more effort. And, the lateral float is a little tighter as well. To aid entry, dropping some dry lube in there makes things easier. I just use a couple of drips of White Lightning chain lube for that.

Wahoo Speedplay Zero Pedals Review - Old vs New
The new pedals felt tighter (of course), but they feel great.

Disengagement is consistent, but it does require a little extra effort compared to the Look XPro or older Speedplay Zero models. That’s something you’ll want to get familiar with on friendly roads before venturing about. Again, I believe most of this has to do with the full metal ring which may improve with time.

Once the cleats were situated properly, sprinting and standing climbs felt natural and powerful. On the first ride or two, I had the cleats too far forward and sprinting felt awkward. In the right position, I could comfortable lay down the power and feel connected to the bike in every way.

The Good

  • Superb float adjustments
  • Dual-sided design makes for easy re-entry
  • Full metal ring adds durability and looks great
  • Wide cleat adjustability for proper fit
  • Way better walking in these cleats versus other brands
  • Grease port makes for easy servicing

The Bad

  • Cleat setup can be tedious
  • Avoid dirt and grime and lube often
  • Requires some extra force for engagement/exit

The Bottom Line: Wahoo Speedplay Zero

As an updated twist on the proven lollipop design, Wahoo has taken the new Speedplay Zero’s to another level. Going with the metal ring adds durability and improved aesthetics, but it does seem to make entry/exit just a touch harder. I love the dual-sided design and the adjustable float really puts these over the top.

Buy Now: Available from REI

In Summary

9.5 Zero to hero

Wahoo's updates to the Speedplay Zero are all on point. The classic lollipop design makes for dual-sided entry, but be prepared for a little extra effort to get in/out of them. Walking in these cleats is a breeze compared to the competition and overall your knees will love you forever with all that smooth float.

  • Float 10
  • Adjustability 10
  • Entry/Exit 8
  • Retention 10
76
SHARES
ShareTweet
Pedals Wahoo
Jason Mitchell
  • Website
  • Twitter

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

You Might Also Like

Adidas Terrex Agravic Pro Trail Running Shoes Review

May 26, 2022

Gore Wear Torrent Jacket Review

May 24, 2022
9.5

CADEX AR Handlebar Review

May 19, 2022

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Most Popular
8.9

Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

November 4, 2021

Salomon Ultra Glide Review

May 9, 2022
9.1

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

September 9, 2021

Hoka One One Anacapa Mid GTX Hiking Boot Review

November 2, 2021
9.4

Roval CL 50 Disc Wheelset Review

September 13, 2019
9.0

Bontrager XXX Road Shoes Review

October 9, 2015
9.0

Canyon Endurace CF SL 8 Disc Di2 Review

August 13, 2020
9.1

Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

June 18, 2020

Review: SRAM GX AXS Upgrade Kit

December 21, 2021

Pearl Izumi Expedition PRO Bib Shorts Review

May 4, 2022
Advertisement
Our Latest Posts
  • Adidas Terrex Agravic Pro Trail Running Shoes Review
  • Gore Wear Torrent Jacket Review
  • CADEX AR Handlebar Review
  • Tifosi Rail Sunglasses Review
  • Outdoor Vitals Ventus Active Hoodie Review
  • Salomon Ultra Glide Review
  • Pearl Izumi Expedition PRO Bib Shorts Review
  • Louis Garneau Garnott LS Jersey Review
  • Fresh Wheels: Campagnolo Levante Gravel Wheelset
  • Review: Scott Gravel Tuned Bike Shoes
About Us
About Us

Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

© 1999-2022 FeedTheHabit.com All rights reserved // About Us // Privacy Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.