Wahoo Speedplay Nano pedals review
Wahoo takes a divergent approach to pedals with the top-end Speedplay Nano: should triathletes switch to them?
The Speedplay Nano is Wahoo’s top-of-the-range pedal without power measurement, featuring titanium and carbon materials to bring the weight down.
After a hiatus following Wahoo’s purchase of Speedplay in 2019, the popular, unique breed of pedal was revamped in 2021, with four models initially introduced. Then the Powrlink power meter pedals followed in 2022.
Signature double-sided entry
Some triathletes might favour the Speedplay Aero (£239.99 / $279.99), with a dimpled cover on one side to supposedly improve aerodynamics.
But that means you lose the double-sided entry that Speedplay pedals are arguably best known for. This is more convenient for the real world with traffic lights and such.
If £379.99 / $449.99 seems steep and you don’t mind sacrificing some grams, Speedplay’s Comp pedals start at £134.99 / $149.99.
Involved set-up
The Wahoo Speedplay Nanos are essentially small discs with spindles attached, and most of the hardware is inside the cleats.
Unique to Speedplay is that you can adjust float from 0° to 15° and the release angle from 0° to 7.5°. Knee-pain sufferers sometimes find such a generous float resolves their discomfort.
It’s worth noting that Speedplay cleats are quite complicated to set up. Being four-bolt, you’ll need to fix adaptors (supplied) to most bike shoes to use them.
Once your cleats are fitted the pedals just thread onto your cranks with an 8mm Allen key.
The large cleats also have covers, making them more walkable than other road cycling cleats to minimise duck-walking at the café stop.
Similar system weight to Ultegra
While 86g per pedal is light, I weighed each cleat plus bolts and gubbins at 82g, for a combined total system weight of 168g.
This is slightly more than a Shimano Ultegra pedal and cleat, so worth knowing that if you just want the lightest pedals going, these aren’t it.
The benefits of low stack height
There are numerous other reasons to use Speedplay, and the Nanos represent the best of the claimed advantages.
The stack height is very low at 11.5mm (or just 8mm if you have Speedplay-specific shoes with four bolt holes), making you feel very connected to the bike and able to hammer down the power.
It also means marginally more cornering clearance, ideal for competitive sprint-distance triathletes who may regularly encounter tight, twisty bike courses.
An idiosyncratic entry system
I don’t find clipping in and out of Speedplay pedals particularly intuitive. It’s more of a wiggle rather than a stamp or click like other popular systems.
You can’t adjust the release tension either and they’re quite stiff, which beginners might find difficult.
When you get used to it, they’re no more difficult to clip into than Shimano or Look pedals, just different.
Wahoo Speedplay Nano pedals bottom line
I’m glad Wahoo revived and arguably improved Speedplay, because they still offer something unique in the samey world of road bike pedals.
I prefer the simplicity of Shimano, Look and Time pedals.
But I can appreciate the very connected feeling Speedplays offer that could make triathletes feel more powerful and efficient.
They’re also well worth looking into if you find other pedals restrictive on longer rides.
220 Triathlon verdict
Expensive and tricky to set up, but Speedplays have many fans for good reason Score 78%
Pros
- Could reduce knee pain
- Solid foot to pedal connecion
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Complicated to fit
Wahoo Speedplay Nano pedals spec
| Price: | £379.99 / $449.99 |
| Weight: | 168g |
| Stack height: | 11.5mm or 8.5mm |
| Q factor: | 53mm |
| Material: | Carbon composite body, titanium spindle |
Jack Sexty
Editor at road.cc 
