speedplay x/5 vs. zero

After reading about problems about walking with the cleats and getting dirt, etc. in them, I'm guessing it would be a good idea to get the coffee shop cleat covers?

jahona said:

After reading about problems about walking with the cleats and getting dirt, etc. in them, I'm guessing it would be a good idea to get the coffee shop cleat covers?

I have the cleat covers and rarely use them. It's true that a peice of dirt or grit can get in there and muck up your cleat, but it's never happened to me and I've been using speedplays for three years now. The feel or "freeness" of the float is the same between the X5 and the Zero's. The difference is the amount of float you choose with the Zero's. If you like less float, go with the Z's, if you don't care or would think you would use the whole range, go with the X's.

I know that from running I overpronate a good deal, should I choose the x/5s because of this?

jahona said:

I know that from running I overpronate a good deal, should I choose the x/5s because of this?

I would go with the X5's. Both pedals offer the same amount of float, but the X's are a "set it and forget" it type of pedal. The Zero's are a little more involved. If you're unsure, go with the X5's. You can always upgrade to Zero's later.

The X's (no adjustability) and Zero's adjusted to wide-open have almost the identical amount of float. Both are great pedals.

Reasons to get the Zero's:
- Coming from Look, it's likely going to take a few rides to get used to a ton of free float, especially when out of the saddle...you might want to start with 6-12 degrees and open it up gradually.
- With X's, I'll occasionally hit my heal against the crank arm or chain stay...the Zero's allow me to set my float to stop precisely before shoe-stay/crank contact.

Reasons to get the X's:
- you won't use the reduced outer or inner float settings.