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

[Mama Coosa]

It does kinda sound like the Shimano pedals are defective. Just out of curiosity, what color are the cleats?

Look makes a great light-action spring pedal that's easier to get out of than their regular pedals.

And you should always keep an extra pair of cleats around regardless of what pedals you ride.

[zoom-zoom]

It does kinda sound like the Shimano pedals are defective. Just out of curiosity, what color are the cleats?

Look makes a great light-action spring pedal that's easier to get out of than their regular pedals.

And you should always keep an extra pair of cleats around regardless of what pedals you ride.

The cleats are black with the yellow walking "pontoons." They came with the pedals, so compatibility shouldn't be an issue.

I looked at the "easy" pedals and it appears that the tension setting is 8, without the option of adjusting tension. Keos have 8-12, and are adjustable. I can't find advertised #s for Shimano SPD-SLs, but I've found a few comments online that suggest that Looks are generally easier to get in and out of than Shimanos.

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Hubby picked up a set of Look Keo Plus pedals...I have high hopes that they will work well for me.

[RubyTuesday]

I am also riding with Shimano 105's that I purchased from Performance (aka Nashbar). They were pretty easy to use when I first got them and I left them on factory settings. I have since moved my right foot back to the easiest setting and still find them hard to upclip now and then. Getting my right foot clipped back in after a stop is really getting annoying. I need to find something else, I think.

[zoom-zoom]

Are yours the black ones? I'm really starting to wonder if there was a wonky batch. Either of the pedals or the included cleats. Our LBS buddy was perplexed, too.

[RubyTuesday]

Yes Kristen, they are the black ones. Purchased about a month ago.

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Yes Kristen, they are the black ones. Purchased about a month ago.

I am very suspicious, indeed. All 3 of us who have had issues with this pedal have the exact same model purchased within about a week of one-another.

Got my Look cleats on my shoes. I will get in a ride tomorrow. Going to have to get different cleats, though--the ones that came with the pedals have none of the rubber grip things on them (why would Look even make cleats without them--they are slippery!?), which will be a no go for running through duathlon transition area.