Please help me choose some new pedals

[kenyonchris]

Look pedals are designed to hang so that you can slide your foot right into them, toe first. There's a learning curve with any new retention system, but the only time you need to take action to orient the pedal is when you miss on the first try and send it spinning. Once you get used to them, that doesn't happen often.

I like Look for the range of adjustment of cleat position and the large platform. They also offer three different levels of float (0°, 4.5° or 9°) by choosing different cleats.

A note on Looks. I have them and like them ok....HOWEVER, the cleats don't do well if you plan on walking. While the goal is, of course, to RIDE in your bike shoes, sometimes walking is unavoidable...I finished Sea Otter only to find that I had to WALK my bike a mile back to the car through a vendors venue, over a few bridges, and up a gravel drive (cycling not possible). After this little hike, my cleats were shot and would not clip in properly. As I had a race the following weekend, I stopped to get new ones and the LBS told me that it was a problem in the hilly area where we were...some people walk hills, and that the Look cleats, in particular, did not hold up well. I guess I had managed to avoid walking in them up to that point. I went ahead and replaced them...I am a pretty good climber and have yet (knock on wood) had to hoof it up a hill, so I know now to keep them covered for any pre or post ride hiking. BUT, it might be worth a note for anyone who lives somewhere where there are stretches of unrideable road, or if you know you have to walk up some hills.
Just my .02.
BTW, my DH, a CAT 2 rider, switched from Speedplays to the Looks. The new retention system was irritating him after the switch, and he was busy messing with his pedal when he did a slow speed coast across the road and into a ditch, propelling himself, the bike, our camera, and his new helmet into the lawn on the opposite side. Careful with those new pedals!

[TsPoet]

egg beaters - simple, medium/high float, lots of different style choices.

[aicabsolut]

Based on your reasons for disliking Time, I'd go with Shimano SPD-SL over Looks. Look cleats tend to wear faster, and when they start to get worn, clipping in gets tricky. Also, the newer grip style Look cleats (while have much longer life) require a little extra accuracy for clipping in over the non-grip ones.

The platform and hang of the Shimano and the KEO Max pedals are comparable. Older style KEOs have slightly smaller platform, but I haven't had any problems comparable to a tiny contact area like regular SPDs.

Also, Look pedals tend to wear out faster than Shimano, at least the composite ones. I'm not sure about the carbon ones, but the rear retention piece (under spring pressure) will get worn with KEOs to the point where clipping in is again a problem. I'm not sure how much of the wear on the rest of my composite pedal body contributed to this. In any event, I had to start really pushing HARD on the pedal to get it to engage. I guess my first set lasted about 2 or 2.5 years. I haven't heard of this problem with Shimano users. I have with other KEO Sprint (composite) users. Since it seems to be the rear springy plastic part, I'd guess that it would also wear out on the carbon pedals.

I don't have good knowledge of Speedplay.

[nscrbug]

Based on your reasons for disliking Time, I'd go with Shimano SPD-SL over Looks. Look cleats tend to wear faster, and when they start to get worn, clipping in gets tricky. Also, the newer grip style Look cleats (while have much longer life) require a little extra accuracy for clipping in over the non-grip ones.

The platform and hang of the Shimano and the KEO Max pedals are comparable. Older style KEOs have slightly smaller platform, but I haven't had any problems comparable to a tiny contact area like regular SPDs.

Also, Look pedals tend to wear out faster than Shimano, at least the composite ones. I'm not sure about the carbon ones, but the rear retention piece (under spring pressure) will get worn with KEOs to the point where clipping in is again a problem. I'm not sure how much of the wear on the rest of my composite pedal body contributed to this. In any event, I had to start really pushing HARD on the pedal to get it to engage. I guess my first set lasted about 2 or 2.5 years. I haven't heard of this problem with Shimano users. I have with other KEO Sprint (composite) users. Since it seems to be the rear springy plastic part, I'd guess that it would also wear out on the carbon pedals.

I don't have good knowledge of Speedplay.

Yes, this seems to be the general consensus. Now I'm torn again... I thought I wanted the Speedplays, but I keep looking at those Shimano Ultegra 6700's...AND...Nashbar has them on sale for $99 PLUS an additional 20% off today only! That would bring them down to $79...almost too good of a deal to pass up.

[nscrbug]

egg beaters - simple, medium/high float, lots of different style choices.

Sorry...I can't do eggbeaters because the contact platform is too small for my needs.

[nscrbug]

A note on Looks. I have them and like them ok....HOWEVER, the cleats don't do well if you plan on walking. While the goal is, of course, to RIDE in your bike shoes, sometimes walking is unavoidable...I finished Sea Otter only to find that I had to WALK my bike a mile back to the car through a vendors venue, over a few bridges, and up a gravel drive (cycling not possible). After this little hike, my cleats were shot and would not clip in properly. As I had a race the following weekend, I stopped to get new ones and the LBS told me that it was a problem in the hilly area where we were...some people walk hills, and that the Look cleats, in particular, did not hold up well. I guess I had managed to avoid walking in them up to that point. I went ahead and replaced them...I am a pretty good climber and have yet (knock on wood) had to hoof it up a hill, so I know now to keep them covered for any pre or post ride hiking. BUT, it might be worth a note for anyone who lives somewhere where there are stretches of unrideable road, or if you know you have to walk up some hills.
Just my .02.
BTW, my DH, a CAT 2 rider, switched from Speedplays to the Looks. The new retention system was irritating him after the switch, and he was busy messing with his pedal when he did a slow speed coast across the road and into a ditch, propelling himself, the bike, our camera, and his new helmet into the lawn on the opposite side. Careful with those new pedals!

Hmm...good info on the Looks..thanks! When you stated that the "new retention system was irritating" your DH...was that on the Speedplays or the Looks? I can't tell if that statement was in reference to BEFORE he switched to the LOOKS, or after.

[kenyonchris]

Hmm...good info on the Looks..thanks! When you stated that the "new retention system was irritating" your DH...was that on the Speedplays or the Looks? I can't tell if that statement was in reference to BEFORE he switched to the LOOKS, or after.

It was on the Looks. He has Speedplays on his TT bike, his cross bike, and his Madone. He changed to the Looks on the Madone...I kind of think he is going to change back to the Speedplays. I am probably going to change to Speedplay as well, as I am riding now in a new city that has a gazillion lights. I want to be able to clip in on either side.

I have Shimano SPDs on my MTB and love them for THAT. I wouldn't put them on my road bike, tho.

[kenyonchris]

BTW, BOTH of us had problems with the Look cleats.