Speedplay Frogs

Speedplay Frogs constitute chapter three in my lifetime cleat history.

I cut my teeth on slotted cleats.  That's dating me, for sure.

And them came Looks.  They attracted my attention because they offered float, something occasionally lacking with slotted cleats.  They required less precision with the placement of the cleat, so were more forgiving.

After many years of using Looks, the temptation to try something more walkable caused me to take a look at Speedplay Frogs.  I chose them ... simply because there was a pair lying around the house.

After using them on my commuter for several days, here are my thoughts:

I notice the smaller platform.  Perhaps this isn't completely a factor of the size of the platform but also the flexibility of the sole of the shoe.  I SUSPECT this causes a slight loss in power transfer to the pedals, though maybe it's not a huge issue.

A brief note on the shoe: it is quite comfortable.  Easy on/easy off, with a toggle to draw the lace through.  Just don't forget to put the lace through itself, so it doesn't flop into the chainrings.

Pearl Izumi X-Alp Drift II MTB Shoe

Riding this setup, compared to Looks, feels a tad like now being barefoot.  Just a tad.  I have yet to do a long ride, so will learn more ... soon.

Now the big question: what is getting in and out like?  The clicking in motion is fairly similar to Looks: place foot on top of pedal, slide forward until something catches.

In contrast, the click is quite small.  With a Look pedal, there is a snap that can be felt through ones entire skeleton.  With the Frogs, the connection is so subtle that I find myself wondering if I'm actually in.  A slight pull back will confirm, however, so no need to be uncertain.

The double sided feature is necessary because, unlike Looks, which always have their connection surface facing back, these can be in any orientation.  Stepping down on them, however, causes one or the other of the two connection surfaces to be in the same plane as the sole of the shoe.

The configuration of the sole helps guide the shoe onto the cleat

The release is just like with a Look: rotate your heel to the outside ... and viola!  This too is quite subtle, compared to a Look: there is no spring to work against, in order to release.  So, in a sense, you can just "float" out.  The inward float is limited by a ridge on top of the pedal.  The cleat installation instructions suggest aligning the cleat so the inward float stops just before ones ankle hits the crank arm.  This works out quite well.

The next question: how are they in traffic?  This is another way of asking how are they to get in/out of quickly.  As mentioning, getting out is so easy that I find myself worrying I might come out during riding.  This has NEVER happened however, so confidence builds over time.  Getting in quickly involves NOT looking (IMHO), but instead placing the foot on the pedal, moving foot back (if necessary, to have the cleat behind the pedal), then sliding the foot forward.  The design of the sole of the shoe assists with the alignment, prior to the engagement, making the process surprisingly smooth.  Sometimes it feels as if there is a magnet pulling the two surfaces together!

The mating surface of the Speedplay Frog pedal.
Note ridge (upper right corner of pedal (in photo)).
This limits inward float.  Also note grease port on
outside edge of pedal.

The float is nearly frictionless, which is a slight contrast to Looks (even without factoring in the spring that limits the float).

In summary, so far so good.  Next step is to put them on the front of the tandem (which was the main reason for this investigation).  In the world of tandeming, MTB shoes are generally recommending.  The reason is to have a more secure footing WHEN putting the captain's foot down.  That being said, after nearly 20 years of captaining tandems using Looks, I can say that it's not that big of a deal: just use the BRAKES to stop the bike!  :-)

Close up of the cleat.

So now the big question: how are these beasts for walking (which is supposed to be their forte, compared to Looks, eg.)?  The shoe is a compromise.  The sole is NOT as flexible as a regular walking shoe.  If it were, it would be TOO flexible for pedaling.  So, for walking, one is still not quite using ones normal gate.  I find I don't walk nearly as fast as I would in a regular walking shoe.  But then again, normally I'm not trying to get particularly far.