Wahoo Acquires Speedplay Pedals

Yes, you read that headline correctly, Wahoo has acquired Speedplay. I’m not going to lie that when I saw the email in my inbox, I was a little surprised, but the more I think about it, it could mean there are bigger things on the horizon for one of the leaders in connected fitness devices and an innovative brand in the pedal business.

Both brands have made a name for themselves when it comes to innovation. Wahoo has long been a leader in the indoor training world, creating new categories of products that we never knew we needed, like the KICKR Climb and Headwind. These products round out a KICKR line that has helped make indoor training segment that is more realistic and tolerable, especially when paired with apps like Zwift. Their ELEMNT cycling computers and sensors have historically been feature-packed, easy to use, and integrate seamlessly with the rest of their product lines. I’ve been using an ELEMNT for three years and have found it to be much more reliable than the previous 500 and 800 series Garmin products I used before.

Speedplay, on the other hand, has been pushing the clipless pedals since their first X pedal. While most pedals have their retention systems located in the pedal, Speedplay puts theirs in the cleats (except for the Szyr). Their double-sided pedals like the Zero are unique in the road world and they offer independently adjustable amounts of float in each direction through their cleats.  I’ve used the Zero for many years and they are one of my favorite pedals for both of these reasons. To my knowledge, the Syzr is also the only off-road pedal that allows independently adjustable float and the ability to use spacers in the pedal to adjust for leg length differences.

Speedplay isn’t the only acquisition for Wahoo recently. They also brought The Sufferfest onboard, which makes a bit more sense with their indoor training product line. The Sufferfest adds an app for testing your power with their unique 4DP approach and training plans that provide structured workouts with engaging race footage videos and motivating storylines and soundtrack. It also offers yoga, strength training, and mental training all through one app.

So what does the acquisition of Speedplay mean for Wahoo? We aren’t sure yet. Maybe a pedal-based power meter is on the way. Metrigear had previously worked on a spindle based power meter for Speedplay, but the brand was purchased by Garmin in 2010 and the technology went into their Vector pedals. There could be a connection with the KICKR Bike, as all of the marketing photos include Speedplay Zero pedals mounted on it.

Here is the press release announcing the acquisition.

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Wahoo, the leader in connected fitness devices, has today announced its acquisition of Speedplay, the iconic pedal brand found on the bikes of athletes such as Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins, two-time Ironman World Champion Jan Frodeno, and two-time Time Trial World Champion Kristin Armstrong. Speedplay products have a long heritage of providing unique, cutting-edge pedal technology to a passionate community of athletes. Wahoo seeks to build on that legacy by bringing its commitment to smart training, its extensive suite of products, and its history of innovation to the Speedplay brand. By focusing on the needs of cyclists across all
disciplines, Wahoo intends to put Speedplay pedals on as many bicycles as possible and continue to drive creativity at this celebrated brand.

“Wahoo and Speedplay share a common approach of leveraging technology to develop products that enhance the performance of cyclists. Speedplay pedals are the most innovative, high-performance pedals available so it’s a perfect fit with Wahoo,” says Chip Hawkins, Founder of Wahoo Fitness. “We welcome the opportunity to offer another edge to Wahooligans around the world with the best pedals in the business.”

“When Sharon Worman and I founded Speedplay, it was because I wanted to solve problems performance athletes were having in reaching their full potential,“ said Richard Bryne, CEO of Speedplay, Inc. “By becoming part of the Wahoo family, we can carry that mission to more athletes with more compelling products than ever before.”

The Speedplay portfolio is a perfect complement to Wahoo’s growing ecosystem of best-in-class outdoor cycling products, and together, Wahoo and Speedplay will be able to deliver unmatched excellence in the pedal category.
Learn more about Wahoo’s full line of products at wahoofitness.com.