Interbike Outdoor Demo: Speedplay readies Syzr mountain bike pedals

Speedplay is one of the best-known players in the road bike pedal scene, but it hasn’t had nearly as much success with riders in the dirt. The Frog series has some loyal fans, but they are few and far between.

Speedplay hopes to change the game with the long-awaited Syzr pedal system. Just like its road-going cousins, the Syzr features adjustable float between zero and 10 degrees, as well as an integrated platform that doesn’t rely on the shoe’s lugs for stability.

The two little rollers you see are ceramic bearings that help smooth the cleat release, while the wings help guide the cleat into position. Also the spring mechanism is on the forward edge of the pedal, rather than the rear like Shimano, which helps speed engagement.

The grub screws at the left of the cleat pictured are used to adjust the float. The black portion of the cleat is stationary while the silver portion swivels.

There will be a model with a stainless steel spindle for $229 and a Ti spindle for $420 when they go on sale later this year.