Does anyone have any experience comparing Wahoo Light Tension versus Standard Tension cleats? I was long a dedicated user of Speedplay X pedals (no moving parts in the cleat system, just wire springs), and when I got a KICKR Bike trainer, I got the cheapest Wahoo pedals and they came with the Light Tension cleats. I’m not sure if it’s the Light Tension or the lower resistance as my foot twists compared to the old Speedplays, but it sometimes feels like my foot isn’t stable and the cleat may disengage. I really need the float on my left foot, SPDs generally have too small a contact area for comfort, and I’m too uncoordinated to do one-foot drills without double-sided pedals, so Wahoo is the best option.
If anyone has tried both Light Tension and Standard cleats and has an opinion about whether there is a difference in how securely you feel you are attached to the pedal during a MAP-heavy workout, please share your experience.
I’m pretty sure the light are for novices. The standard tension has fully adjustable float, and I do track racing with standard tension cleats, never pulled a pedal. And you can do near zero float if you want too.
The light action cleats have adjustable float too, but on an indoor trainer mine collect enough holy water inside the cleat covers that the adjusting screws are corroded into permanent fixedness. I miss the simplicity of the old speedplay X cleat system, with enough float and no moving parts.
I’ve never pulled a pedal, but I think that the ease of release is causing me to wimp out early on the Half Monty. I recently re-tested (after a long recovery from several medical issues) where I slowly adjusted my numbers back up toward previous values. I have gotten to the point where FTP and MAP workouts seem easy, HR is below target ranges, and IFs regularly above 1.0 on simulator mode rides in FulGaz. Surprisingly, my re-test numbers were within a few watts of what I had worked back up to, and I’m pretty sure that’s too low. I blame the cleats. Or else I’m in serious denial about this whole aging thing…..
I’ve had the Light Tension cleats on my indoor bike shoes for about 14 months (probably 3000 miles on my Kickr Bike). I may have had one or two releases early on before adjusting the float in my left shoe to avoid it. The left is just at the point where I would start to twist to release (so no felt slop) but not enough to disengage from the pedal. On the Knight Rides I’m putting down both seated and standing sprints in the 700-1000 watt range without releasing and doing low cadence standing climbs at 3-4 w/kg.
I originally had the Light Tension cleats on my outdoor bike shoes but found that they WOULD release when I didn’t want them to do so. I think that is more due to lateral movement in the legs riding outside than indoors on the Kickr Bike. I changed to the standard tension cleats for the outdoor shoes and the issue disappeared.
Did A very Dark Place yesterday, and it was barely dim. I think I’ve isolated the worst feelings of instability to when I’m standing at higher rpm than the power load warrants. It probably has something to do with the way my rocker plate moves compared to how a bike moves in the real world when standing, an inevitable anomaly with rocker plates. I ordered a set of standard cleats to see if that makes me feel more secure, I’ll report back.
Speaking of rocker plates, I highly recommend them if the side-to-side rigidity of your trainer wears your butt out. Adds about as much to the immersive virtual cycling experience as a KICKR Climb does. The manufacturer I chose when I got one is going out of business at the end of February, they are called Velocity Rockers. If I were thinking of getting a rocker plate and lived in the US, I would think about acting quickly.
Sorry to hear they are going out of business. I’ve been using a Velocity Rockers rocker plate for almost three years now and it really makes all the difference
The owner of the company seems like one of the most decent people I have done business with. His email included pdf files of the installation manual for the products, and the part number of the bearing as well, which surely is the most responsible exit from business I can imagine. He also asked that the email be forwarded to the new owner if you passed your Velocity Rocker on to another cyclist.