Grrr...2nd bloodied knee courtesy of SPD-SL pedals!

I am going to look for the Look Keo Plus pedals. I took a ride today and almost found myself on the ground. I was coming down a hill and heading for an uphill and the light was about to change so I wasn't slowing much. Got to the light and it had not changed but I saw a police car at the turn in and decided to emergency stop to avoid a ticket. I almost fell trying to get my foot out in an emergency stop. I struggle getting the cleat back in. Most of the time it just slips off the pedal and I have to try four or five times to finally get it clipped in. Maddening cleat. I also have a sore spot on my foot right under the big toe towards the outside of my foot. Feels like I had a rock in my shoe and bruised a small area. Not sure what that is all about.

Tired of fighting these cleats. I need something new and less dangerous.

Wise plan. We actually ended up tightening my Look pedals 2 revolutions, since they were almost too loose on the loosest settings. Night and day difference between the 105s and the Looks in terms of function.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

Wise plan. We actually ended up tightening my Look pedals 2 revolutions, since they were almost too loose on the loosest settings. Night and day difference between the 105s and the Looks in terms of function.

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Just curious...but do the Look pedals "right" themselves into the proper position for clipping in? In other words, are the pedals weighted on the bottom so that the part where your toe clips into is pointing up after you unclip out of them at stoplights and such?

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Originally Posted by nscrbug

Just curious...but do the Look pedals "right" themselves into the proper position for clipping in? In other words, are the pedals weighted on the bottom so that the part where your toe clips into is pointing up after you unclip out of them at stoplights and such?

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Yup. In that respect the Looks and Shimanos are similar, though the Looks seem a hair easier to get into (especially before we tightened the tension a bit).

Have tried many pedal systems and NONE of them are as easy to get in and out of as Speedplay. YMMV. Good luck.

My husband has used SPD-SLs for about 100,000 km without a problem.

My experience with them - three different pairs, including one 105 and two Ultegra - was miserable. Mine had the issues you mention clipping out (and sometimes in as well, although it was less of a problem), would not work properly in wet weather (an issue in the PNW!) and as soon as the cleats got a little worn they'd be even worse. Go figure. I think their quality control is a bit hit and miss on pedals.

That was about 4 years ago. I have since returned to mountain SPD pedals with super-stiff mountain shoes (Sidi Dominators) and I couldn't be happier.