Switching Pedal Styles-Need Advice

[Em-a-Lee]

Hi all,

I am training for a half iron and time's running short for me to make many changes and feel comfortable on race day. However, I have been told (rightly so I think) that I should switch out my SPD mountain bike pedals for a more road friendly Look or SPD-SL style. However, everyone I talk to says that the Look and SL's are much harder to clip out of than the SPD's. I'm looking at some Shimano A600 which use the non-SL cleats but have a bigger platform that's better for road biking. Any thoughts on how easy/difficult Look styles are and/or if people are going to think I'm a weenie for using SPD's.

Thanks for your input!

[indysteel]

I have zero problem clipping out of my Look Keos so long as the tension is set pretty light.

[OakLeaf]

I love my Look Keos, but there's definitely a learning curve clipping in (probably with most other systems). It honestly took me over 3,000 miles before I could reliably clip in without looking.

ETA: Clipping in is easy. Unclipping is easy. Finding the pedal and tipping your foot to the exact angle that will let you clip in and not send the pedal spinning, all without looking at the pedal, takes a bit of practice. You want to be able to do that in a race and I assume you can with the pedals you're using now.

In your mount/dismount area you're going to be hurrying, jacked up mentally, distracted by other competitors and spectators. I'd stick with what you know unless you have a LONG time to train for this one and a specific reason to switch.

[Caddy]

Stick with what you know best and feel the most comfortable with.

I started out with the Look pedals and can now clip in without effort, but I would not make the change before a race.

[azfiddle]

I have the Look Elle pedals - have used Shimano Look style with delta cleats, SPD ( a little) and Time pedals.

Big "no!" on the Time pedals- they were really hard for me to get

The Look Elle pedals are very light tension, easy to get in to - sometimes I have to look down but not often.

They are pretty lightweight, as well.

Hope that is helpful

[pll]

Stick with what you know best and feel the most comfortable with.

I started out with the Look pedals and can now clip in without effort, but I would not make the change before a race.

+1. Don't change before the race. I have Look Keo 2 Max and love them, I had SPDs before. There is a learning curve to clip in, as the Look pedal is one sided. In addition, you may have to change to road shoes.

[indysteel]

I love my Look Keos, but there's definitely a learning curve clipping in (probably with most other systems). It honestly took me over 3,000 miles before I could reliably clip in without looking.

ETA: Clipping in is easy. Unclipping is easy. Finding the pedal and tipping your foot to the exact angle that will let you clip in and not send the pedal spinning, all without looking at the pedal, takes a bit of practice. You want to be able to do that in a race and I assume you can with the pedals you're using now.

In your mount/dismount area you're going to be hurrying, jacked up mentally, distracted by other competitors and spectators. I'd stick with what you know unless you have a LONG time to train for this one and a specific reason to switch.

I find that my timing in hoisting myself up into the saddle as I clip in is what makes the difference between clipping in easily without looking and fumbling around for the pedal. Some rides, my timing is spot on; others it's off.

[Em-a-Lee]

I actually have a little under 2 months, sorry if I put weeks in there, but I think you are right that it's worrisome to try and switch anything out without certainty that I will be able to get used to it before the race. The ones I'm looking at that use the mountain bike style cleats with the bigger base are also one sided so I will have to deal with flipping them over if they're not in the right position.

I guess the bottom line is that I could get something that I will plan on using after the race is over and if I get comfortable enough with it by race time I'll use it, and if not switch is out.

So, Look sounds like the way to go from what you're recommending?

[Em-a-Lee]

Oh, and do the Looks automatically flip to the side you need to clip in or do you have to fumble around with flipping them over? Mine now are two sided so I can do etiher side and no flipping.