If you use Speedplay pedals, chances are you’ve found yourself in this situation: Shoe wedged upside-down between your knees while you attempt to unscrew one of seven (!) screws only to find that the head is completely worn down. This is, of course, precisely why you are in said situation—your cleats are worn and need replacing. But when removing them becomes an exercise in frustration, you begin to forget why you liked this pedal system in the first place.
You appreciate the fact that you can clip in to either side of your pedal and avoid the frantic slip and slide that often happens with one-sided pedals. But you’ve had other issues with this system that are hard to ignore: The flat, metal face makes the cleats slippery, awkward, and loud to walk in, while the circular center cavity (where the pedal goes) gums up any time you step into tacky dirt or mud, making it nearly impossible to clip back in.
Fortunately, Speedplay has remedied these problems with a new walkable system for its Zero, Ultralight, and Aero pedals. The cleat itself has been redesigned: Instead of a flat face, it’s now contoured in such a way that it helps contribute to a more natural walking gait. It also positions the screws away from the cleat face, ensuring they can’t wear down.
That benefit is somewhat moot because the show-stopping feature on this new design is the rubberized cleat cover. Simply snap the overlay onto the cleat (press firmly on all four corners so that it grips securely) and your days of slipping and clomping and shearing the heads off screws are over. You can also purchase “cleat buddies,” round plugs that you can insert in the cleat’s center cavity for walking in messy terrain.
The cleats become slightly heavier with the covers. The four-hole version I tested is 100 grams per pair, compared with 56.5 grams for the V.2 cleats (the version with no cover). I didn’t notice the difference while riding. But the rounded and dimpled cover design also makes the cleat more aerodynamic, according to Speedplay. Bradley Wiggins used the system, along with the dimpled Aero pedal, for his 2015 record-breaking hour attempt.
After several months of testing, I can definitively say that the walkable cleat system is a great improvement over the previous version. Clipping in and out was easy. I clambered over rocky trails, smooth flooring, and sidewalks without slipping. In coffee shops and convenience stores, my stealthy cleats kept me under the radar and didn’t ignite the ire of shop owners worried about their floors. As for the aero benefits, only wind tunnel testing can confirm. I’m just happy to stay upright.
- For Zero, Ultralight, and Aero pedals
- Rubberized surface prevents slipping while walking
- Helps prevent wear on cleat bolts
- Replacement Zero Aero Walkable Covers available for $20
- Replacement Cleat Buddies available for $6
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