Look Easy Pedals

[Megustalaplaya]

Can I get some opinions about the Look Easy pedals? I finally found a shoe and I'm ready to put on the pedals. However, when I was out shopping for shoes someone mentioned that I wouldn't be able to adjust the tension on the Look Easy and that I should upgrade to another Look pedal. I don't remember which one but it was going to be about $40 more. Now I'm not sure if I should stick with the Easy or go with something else.

What are your thoughts?

[indysteel]

The set tension on the Look Keo Easy pedal is 8 nm. The Look Keo Classic (which I think is the next model up) has adjustable tension, but the lowest it will go is also 8 nm. So, assuming that you want a very light tension, I don't think you'll lose anything by going with the Easy pedal. I don't know how the pedals otherwise compare in terms of weight, durability, etc., but for the money, the Easy pedal sounds like a good introduction to clipless pedals. I use the Classic on my bikes and, minus the learning curve you can generally expect in learning how to use clipless pedals in general and Looks in particular, I've been very happy with them.

[Megustalaplaya]

IndySteel, thank you for your response. I did go ahead and pick up the Look Easy. My LBS sold them to me for $55 so not a bad price at all.

Now, if I could just remember that I'm clipped in when I need to stop....

[zoom-zoom]

I have the Keo Plus which is 8-12...IIRC I have had them on the lowest setting the entire time and it's been just the perfect amount of tension.

[Miranda]

I have the Look Keo Elle pedal and love it. The tension setting goes down lower just as with the Easy pedal. Other pedals I tried were just too much tension and bothered my ankle joint. Besides the extra difficulty trying to get out.

Here is a tip on remembering to get unclipped that a lbs gave me as a new rider... plan ahead. Try to train yourself if you see a stop coming, unclip one foot BEFORE you get there- as the bike is slowing- versus almost stopped.

Everyone falls over learning how to use clipless pedals. Just aim towards the edge of the road if you feel yourself falling. Versus the traffic side. Once you have it figured out you won't want to go back. I love riding clipped in.

Good Luck.

[CarolinaCycler]

I too have the keo look easy pedals (they came with the bike) that I'm planning to install this week. If I decide later to change to the classic or another model pedal, do I have to change shoes too?

[indysteel]

I too have the keo look easy pedals (they came with the bike) that I'm planning to install this week. If I decide later to change to the classic or another model pedal, do I have to change shoes too?

You won't need to change the shoe or cleat if you stick with a Look Keo pedal. If you change to some other system, e.g., Speedplays, you'll likely be able to keep the same shoe but will have to change the cleat. If you change to an SPD pedal (the type that are recessed into the shoe), then you'll have to change both the shoe and cleat.

[CarolinaCycler]

Thanks Indysteel...!

[chatnoire]

Indysteel gave you tons of good advice, but I'm chiming in too.

1. Yes. You will fall. My knees are still a bit off looking, but the attached photo is from (not my first) ride with clipless pedals. The things that I found made me fall:

• Too many things needed my attention
• uneven ground
• not unclipping soon enough
• unclipping too soon and accidentally clipping back in
• staying in the seat when unclipped and rolling to a stop
• not having a stop spot planned

It took a lot of thinking/planning ahead, but as long as I unclipped (and for me, it's always the right side out first, coast into the stop on the left while standing on the pedal, then stop and lean right, unclip left) ahead of time, I was mostly ok. I couldn't talk to people until I was stopped, uneven/angled pavement was rough (cause of the attached photo) and if I let it, anxiety in general got to me.

I'm a bit better now, but still, I get anxious, and you will too for a bit, I'm sure, but planning ahead for possible hazards is the best way to mitigate that.

As far as pedals, I have the Look Kéo 2 Max pedals, and wear them with the grey cleats. The tension is adjusted into the middle area, and I like it a lot. The cleats do wear out though, if you do any walking on them. They also have different colored cleats for closing up the amount of float (freedom to move while clipped in) in your pedals.

I had the Speedplay Zeros for a bit, and hated them. Switched to the Speedplay Light Action, and ripped the cleat apart first time out, so I wasn't thrilled with speedplay. I've loved every minute of my Look pedals.

Good luck!

[CarolinaCycler]

I just wanted to give everyone an update on my Look Keo Easy pedals and my first pair of cycling shoes that I purchased today at my LBS. After reading so many accounts of prople's first attempt at clipless pedals I took extra precautions so that I wouldn't hurt myself if I fell. Don't laugh, (well I laughed at my ownself)...I put on all my inline skate pads (knees, elbows & wrists) and road around my neighborhood for 30 minutes. You can imagine how ridiculous I looked...(lol)! It's was so super easy and I never even stumbled. I don't know if it was because I've watched so many others clip-in or what, but I highly recommend these pedals!

[zoom-zoom]

This is why I gave up on Shimano 105 SPD-SL pedals:

That spot had JUST cleared-up after a fall a week earlier in the same pedals. I sent them back to Amazon after giving them nearly a month. I could not get the danged things to release, even on the loosest tension. My shoe uppers would get all deformed as my foot would twist in the shoe, but the cleat wouldn't move. At this point I'd been riding happily with mountain SPDs and never having issues unclipping--they simply weren't as comfortable for long-distance riding and gave me hot spots on the undersides and outsides of my feet. I've been in Look Keo Plus for nearly a year and have been much happier.

[funkbunny]

I have no experience with LOOK or Speedplay - I went for SPDs with mountain-style pedals (dual sided) at the recommendation of the guy helping me decide. He asked me several questions before even letting me look at shoes and pedals, explained the pros and cons of the different styles, and made recommendations based on my answers (not racing, want to be able to walk around in a convenience store if needed, don't want to have to think about which side of the pedal is up, etc). I love my shoe-pedal combo.

But I will share my lovely road rash! When I I started with my pedals, I was unclipping right, but ended up falling left a few times and really, it didn't feel that comfortable. I was always very nervoud about it.

So I took a Beginners clinic for women and the cycling coach suggested I unclip left and leave my right clipped in. This was the result of practicing making that change.

[Crankin]

Speedplay Zeros have no float... they are made for racers who need to be locked in that way. My son used them when racing and he couldn't get out of them a few times. Ten years later, they are sitting in my basement.
I have been using Speedplay X pedals for about 8 years; they are perfect. They are not advertised, as they were the precursors to the Light Actions, but you can't accidentally clip out as easily. They are still sold, though. I would recommend them to anyone. I switched from SPDs and that solved the knee pain I was having.
I have the Frogs on my other road bike. I don't like them as much, as I had a learning curve of not unclipping by accident. But, I needed/wanted mountain pedals on this bike and I know I can't ride 50-75 miles on spds without agony.

[murielalex]

The Zeros have adjustable float or you can choose fixed position. I just switched to the Zeros after clipping out accidentally when pulling up with the Light Actions one too many times. It took me about 50 times clipping and unclipping on a trainer to get used to them and, I guess, loosen them up. I now love them.