dddd

How does one distinguish Delta cleats and pedals from ARC cleats and pedals?

Is it just a matter of red vs. black?

I myself use SPD-SL pedals and cleats for their secure walking stance and availability at very low cost. Their added safety when walking about seems nearly priceless after once having my feet go out from under me on a polished brick floor at the post office while walking on LOOK-cleated shoes.

I also use the old Ultegra SPD pedals with MTB shoes, even raced with this setup some years ago.

mountaindave 

Now that's just brilliant! Clips on a clipless pedal. I've been trying to figure out how to French some clips onto my shoe+clear so I can fake out the "Heroic police@ of the Cino, but this might just do it. Christophe clips! Slots cut into pedal to accept an appropriately reshaped clip and then bolted on? Do tell!

So who here has such a pair they are willing to part with? Must be in rough cosmetic shape for me to even consider it. Can't do it to my nearly NOS white and red pedals I bought a while back.

I must do this!!

Oh, and I love Look delta pedals. I find them easier to engage than SPDs, to have better tactile feel. Not easier to walk on delta cleats, but who gives a rip?

jbchybridrider 

I use Arc pedals on my Ricardo and Keo Carbons on my other bike. I find the older ones better to use because the toe of the cleat is easier and quicker to get into the pedal, they have a more positive click in and easy to release the only downer is there heavy.

I happen to use them today.

Wildwood 

What year did they become available?

Was there a model name or number for the 'smoother' , rounded one pictured below?

due ruote 

I'm curious about this as well. Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, and sometimes the cleats are referred to as "Look Delta Arc cleats".

mountaindave 

Not sure about the round ones.

Check out some old Look catalogs (use Google Translate to read the French). Unfortunately the first one only goes back to 1987. If anyone happens to have earlier ones...

mountaindave 

Are you perhaps thinking of Delta vs Keo? The two cleats look similar, but are incompatible. There are "fixed" cleats (black - 0 rotation) and "Arc" cleats (red - 9 deg rotation) in both Delta and Keo. Keo grey cleats are also available with 4.5 degrees of rotation (can't find any Delta grey cleats).

There were also pedals labeled "Arc" because the rotation could be controlled on the pedal - use a "Zero-rotation" black cleat but the rear part of the clipless pedal would slide side to side and allow "float."

I believe the name arc comes from the curve created during rotation.

Wildwood 

I'll take a stab without being 100% sure.

If the pedal was designed to take the Look delta cleat both red and black will fit. The Red allows for some degree of heel movement, while the Black has less tolerance before clipping out. From my above 2 pics there are different pedal models both saying ARC. Soooo..., my guess is that ARC is an acronym used by Look across several models.

There were Looks and those who licensed the design, then there were other companies with a similar but competing design. I think Shimano did not license and therefore compatibility of cleats is not guaranteed. ?Am I correct in assuming the trailing edge of the Look had extensions on the outside portion, whereas, SPD-SL is a solid 'lip' across the entire trailing edge?

SJX426 

I am so ignorant about clipless pedals! I purchased Shimano several years ago and simply used them. Then I became a member of BF and now have a number of pedals, mostly Look. Since I only have one pair of Shimano's, I am going to transition over to the Looks. Just need to get cleats.

mountaindave 

Before Shimano came up with their own design, they did license the Look design starting in 1991. I have a PD-6402 (Tri-color era 600) pair and at least one pair of PD-7401 (Dura Ace) pedals from the early 90's that use the Look licensed design.

Wildwood 

Who speaks French?
ARC
Active Retention Controle**********???

maybe @mountaindave is correct - the heel spins in an arc to disengage.

mountaindave 

That's a creative guess! In English perhaps, but in French it would be CAR for le contrôle actif de rétention. And it's not really "active" in that it doesn't respond as you pedal.

Perhaps "Adjustable Retention Control"?

Unfortunately Mr. Google turns up nothing in regards to this conundrum, neither do the French catalogs.

Bandera

Look pedals are either Delta cleat compatible or Keo.
They are not interchangeable and Delta was the original design.

Black= No Float
Red = 0, to 3, 6, or 9° on all Free Arc pedals

-Bandera

due ruote 

So are you saying that Arc is a pedal, rather than a cleat designation? That I have old Look Free Arc pedals and they take Delta cleats, and that both red and black cleats would be called Delta?

Wildwood 

Yes, red and black fit. And @Bandera correctly gave their 'float' stats. Unknown is the meaning of ARC. It appears on more than one model of the Look pedals (see my 2 pics above).

Maybe we are too deep into the esoterica.
I was trying to determine the model numbers/names, so I could search for the rounded style in a particular color.

LECHERO531

When you have 15+ bike it's the only way to go. Both pedals and cleats are cheap and you only need one pair of shoes.

Homebrew01

I ride early Looks on 1 bike, and Dura-Ace "Look" on 2 other bikes.
I also have some plastic delta Look that are platform on the flip side.

Wildwood 

If I may ask - since you have both Look and Dura Ace Look -

1. How are the cleats different? Only at the trailing edge?
2. With the same pair of shoes/cleats, do they clip out from both pedals acceptably? Equally? Or within the 'range of adjustability' on the tension adjustable models.
3. Does the 'ARC' appear anywhere?

Also -- I thought the 2 sided pedals were a Shimano SPD + Flat. Never saw Delta cleats + Flat. Sounds very Shimano, not so Look.
Oh well.
Here to learn.

Thanks for your time & possible indulgence.

Wildwood 

Is there an online database for pedals?

Velobase, CR, CampyOnly, ...?
Or just bits & pieces?
Golly I get lazy at night.

I hear too much Google is bad for ya?!?

Homebrew01

@Wildwood, 1 pair of shoes fit all my pedals. Shimano "look" are the same cleat as Look. The Look double sided are plastic body, lower quality, & take the same delta cleat. All are pre 1990 (pretty sure).

I don't know what ARC is.

Wildwood 

^^^ = +1.
And I have 3 comfortable pairs of shoes. Although they are getting rather worn. Wonder what I should try next on a light bike? The Look Deltas are mostly kinda heavy, but durable.

FAIL, the 15+ bike test, unless counting those previous (ridden clipless) who are now passed to worthy owners.

LECHERO531

still own all of them

mountaindave 

Read my above post. Arc can apply to both the cleat and the pedal. The system that is pedal-specific is called "Free Arc" and they have four different positions of "float": 0, 3, 6, and 9 degrees. There is a dial on the back side of the pedals. The pedals will accept any Delta cleat.

My Shimano 6402 pedals had a similar option, but only two positions: 0 or 9 degrees of float.

due ruote 

I have a couple pairs of PD-1056 that are marked 'Look patent, made in France'.

JohnDThompson 

And so does Campagnolo "Look." All of these use the same cleat:



"ARC" is Look's implementation of pedal "float" to allow your foot to rotate slightly on the pedal without releasing the cleat. Some people, particularly those with knee problems, find this useful.