So I was using Garmin vector pedals and now I’m looking for something new. What’s everybody else using and how do you find them? I want to feel secure when sprinting so I’m after something with strong retention.
Posted Aug 19, 2018, 4:36 PM UTC
Speedplay Zero. Love the adjustible float and super low stack height. The cleats are more durable than anything else.
Having to reinject grease is minorly annoying, but its so rare that I don't care that much.
Dual sided engagement. Don't have to look down to clip in.
👌👆
Look Keo. Have like them and have run them through hell and back and they have held up. I have the first gen blade and 2 pairs of the standard ones. The blades have 60,000km on them and going strong.
This. Started on Dura Ace pedals, had to get Look cleats for my PowerTap Pedals so I swapped to Look Keo blades for my other bikes. Don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner... just feels excellent and much more “engaged” from the bigger contact area. They’ve been running solid for years, love them.
Truthfully Look, Shimano and Time are all pretty close. The feel is personal and varies even from model to model. Some times adjustable tension makes a difference and even cleat choice. I have raced all 3.
The decider for me was the look easy release worked really well for my gf who races too. Highly recommended for smaller/lighter people and people just learning. Makes it easier just to have all the bikes the same.
Yeah I thought that was the case. Doesn’t make my decision any easier though :(
Kinda does. Get most any of them and you will be fine. If you get the Keo blade get the 12nm version for added retention. Most others are adjustable.
Bit of a non-sequiter: how well do standard look cleats clip into the power taps? Is it just all the same?
Yep it's basically the same, never noticed a difference (also vice versa with PT cleats into Keo pedals). Even with fairly worn cleats, they were cross-compatible just fine.
I keep reading how the carbon blades have a different feel to springs. The reviews I’ve seen mention it, but don’t really describe it. How do they feel?
Wish I could tell you but I went straight to the Blade... no regrets though, it's a lovely pedal and worth the money IMO.
Dura ace for me. The price was money well spent. I've had them for a few years with 0 issues. Super secure feeling too and the bearings are super duper
What were you using before? I’m assuming you didn’t go straight for dura ace? Was there really a noticeable difference to what you were using before?
Had the cheap alloy ones, then 105. Big notice in quality of bearings and security of being clipped in. Big thing for me is DA comes in a wider axle which I need
Ultegra has the +4mm spindle as well
Aw shit that must be for the newer Gen! Good to hear
Favero Assioma Duo (Look Keo). No issues at all.
Why did you decide not to use the Garmins?
I had the older version with the pods. Honestly I’d had them since they launched (back in 2013 maybe?) and they’ve worked perfectly the entire time. But I’m vain, I upgraded to the black pods but I still didn’t love the look. I’ve sold them and will replace with either a 4iiii or stages. I know how my l/r balance works and for me, there’s a variance at zone 2 and below but anything above that I even out to 50/50 so it’s fairly irrelevant.
Shimano Dura-Ace here. Faultless for the last two years, yearly maintenance added though
Dura Ace master race.
Look PP-357, I guess I just don't know what I'm missing.
Other than some weight you're not missing anything. A rock solid pedal.
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Look Keo Classic with the grey (4.5°) cleats adjusted, I think, up to max tension (12Nm). Pulled out of them once a few years ago when they were set to 10Nm or so. Other than that they've been fine and, importantly, unclipped every time I've needed them to in a hurry. I top out at about 1200W though, so not exactly sprinter material.
I've only had to grease the spindle on one pedal out of three pairs over the six years I've been riding so they're reasonably durable.
Various models of SPD-SLs on my road going bikes. 80s steel bike I have old DA PD-7800, race bike I have PD-R9100, everything else has Ultegra level stuff. My main training bikes has close to 30k miles and the pedals still spin smoothly and engage nicely.
Shimano PD-R540 SPD-SL. About £27 and you get the cleats with them. I've been using them for 5 years, never come unclipped, never had difficulty clipping in and if somebody says that can tell the difference between R540s and Dura Ace I don't believe them. Probably the one area of the bike where I can't see any point in spending more (the weight difference is seriously tiny for the cost).
Shimano Ultegra PD-R8000 with blue cleats. Good retention (adjustable from “why did I just unclip” to “I’m going to tear my ACL before I get out”), perfect amount of float for me - three degrees versus the yellows’ six and reds’ zero.
Shimano road are my personal favorite. I ride the 5800 105 and they are light enough and share the same feel as their more expensive counterparts.
Yeah that’s one set I’ve been looking at. After so much time spent using look cleats / systems I’m a bit wary of moving to something new.
I’ve been riding Shimano SPD-SL pedals since ~2001 and have NEVER accidentally unclipped.
Did you run the yellows before you used the blue cleats? If so, what are your thoughts on the transition?
Yes, in the past I used yellows. The transition was mostly painless as I had my cleat position dialled in. There was a minor bit of tweaking with the angle on one foot when some knee pain came my way (really just tenderness after a long ride early on), but I was the ideal candidate since my feet, knees, and hips kind of stay all in one plane while pedalling.