Cycling Gear: cleats/pedals look or shimano?

Hi

 

I am in the process of buying new pedals I have never used cleats before and have been recommended to get look but when going in to buy have been told that shimano are now more popular! any comments please

I prfer the look keo sprints. They are with 3 grams of the duara ace pedals and $75.00 cheaper. usd

 I ride Time RXS Carbon pedals.  I like the solid feel when clicked in and how easy it is to get the cleat lined up with the pedal.  I've never had a problem with coming out unintentionally.  The float is really smooth on them.  They are quiet to ride.  The cleats are easy to walk in.  They do take a little getting used to when out of the saddle as the float has very little resistance.

No complaints about them what so ever.

 

 

Take a serious look at the Shimano M324 pedals if you do a lot of biking without cleats. They are "meant" for mountain biking, but I got 'em because on one side, they are SPD compatable for cleats, and the other side is just a normal platform pedal. I also like the SPD cleat set, because if you get the right shoes, they are completely walkable. I have Pearl Izumi M4 Vagabonds on closeout from their website. It has all the normal stuff; adjustable tension, single or multi-release compatability, oh, and I like the chrome finish.

jp1 makes a great point. I use LOOK style on my road bike because they seem to me to be easier to get in and out of because they provide a bigger "target" to slip into. I ride my mountain bike on the road a lot so I got a set of Performance Forte Campus pedals because they have SPD type on one side and you can turn them over if you want no cleats and can use sneakers, etc. They are great. I think it's all a matter of personal preference. They all seem to provide the same security, and ability to increase pedaling efficiency. Zeegeezers recommendation of trying different ones at a bicycle shop is a good one. Good luck and happy cycling!

Whatever you get, make sure it has enough float. I used to use Look pedals with 9deg of float. They were very nice, but I really needed to swing my foot far out to get unclipped. This caused me to fall after a 60mile ride. I was just too tired to get out of the pedal.

I then switched to SPDs. Easy to get out of, but my model had zero float, so my leg/knee was locked into place. After riding for only a few miles, I developed pain in my knees.

My LBS recommended I use egg beaters, with 4deg float. These have been great and relieved the pain.

I've ridden Look since they were introduced (almost).  I have my first pair, and am now on my second.  This is two sets since the mid-80s.  I would (and have) go with Look.

 I had Shimano at one point, but didn't like them.  As was mentioned above, the Looks give you a bigger target, and a bigger platform, as well.

 I am currently looking to replace my PP396 with one of the Keo models.

pilot.sharma:  your cleats were positioned improperly if you had knee pain.  you should not NEED float.

 

I ride the shimano ultegra spd-sl.  Fantastic pedal.  The new ones are improved, but if you can find a pair of the old style get em.  There was a mild design flaw in the old model where they made a piece plastic that should be metal (and is now), which you need to replace every 1 or 2 years.  But it's a cheap part and isn't a big deal--just pop it out and pop a new one in.

I like the shimanos because the cleats have guards on them so you're not walking on the business end.  Makes 'em last longer. 

The platform on the 105, ultegra, and DA pedals is larger than the Keo platform. 

At comperable levels, the Look Keo is lighter than Shimano.

 

The float is usually needed as most cyclists have rotational movement in their natural pedal stroke (the heel moves left and right a bit.)

 

Anyone fumbling around with a road pedal isn't used to them.  One sided pedals tip the front up and the back down so they are easy to start the cleat into the mechanism.  

 

Crank Bros pedals have 6 degrees of float and either a 15 or 20 degree release angle.

 

Get a road pedal for a road bike, get a mountain pedal for a mountain bike.

Just bought a pair of Look Keo classics and love them.  Light, easy to clip in  and out, and a decent price (around $120).

I use Look Keo Sprints on my track bike and Shimano M450 on my road bike. i find both are great although I prefer the spds for the roadie (makes cafe stos a tad easier!)!

I've used LOOKs since shortly after their intro, as well. I still have a few sets and they are a great product, although I don't have any mounted on any current bike. If you have KEO pedals, please make sure they are not affected by LOOK's recent recall of some early models. I've also got a lot of time on Shimano pedals. I've been most satisfied with the higher end shimano pedals, but that means more $$$. I do not use speedplay because, until recently, there hasn't been a health reason pushing me toward them. As mentioned above, the moving parts are on the cleat & this can present a problem. Furthermore, installation of the cleats on some shoes can be difficult (relatively difficult, that is). They're a great product, though. Especially if you have knee, ankle or hip problems. I have used Crank Bros. pedals since their introduction on my personal mountain bikes. 2 years ago I made the switch on the Rd bike, as well. This way I can get on any bike with any of my shoes and ride it. The Crank Bros mech is elegant and class-leading, although they have had some issues with durability. However, the customer service is quite good. The cleat for Rd shoes actually uses a 3 bolt setup a la LOOK shoe interface or another spd-type cleat is available if your shoes require. In my experience the larger shoe/cleat interface not only provides a better platform and distributes force across the foot better, but also tends to produce less wear on the shoe than a spd-type cleat. If you're looking to add to your list of consideration, I'd say add Crank Bros and Campagnolo. This is very much a personal decision, so follow your constraining factors and you'll be happy. Best wishes!!!