Speedplay (bicycle pedal)


Speedplay is a brand of clipless bicycle pedal manufactured by Speedplay Inc. in San Diego, California. Models include Zero, Light Action, and X for road cycling, Frog for mountain biking, and Drillium for downhill. Speedplay pedals are used by many top professional racers, such as Cadel Evans, Fabian Cancellara, Jens Voigt, Taylor Phinney, and Thor Hushovd. Speedplay road pedals are popular with triathletes.

History

The first Speedplay pedal, the X, was patented in July 1989 by Richard Byrne. The company was founded in July, 1991. The Frog, the lightest recessed-cleat pedal system at the time, was patented in September 1992

Technology

Speedplay road and mountain pedals are characterized by double-sided entry, a rider can step on either side to engage the cleat, and float; the foot is free to rotate from side to side about the center of the pedal. The float is reported to be easy on the knee joints.
Metrigear designed a cycling power meter to fit inside the hollow spindles of Speedplay pedals, but the company was acquired by Garmin in 2010 and the technology incorporated into Garmin's Vector pedal system.