embankmentlb

All my modern rides use the two sided SPD pedals. I like them mainly because I can walk comfortably & ride comfortably with the Same shoe. I am getting old. When I take out an old bike, I generally rob a set of SPD's for them also.
I have been thinking my 80's bikes need real 1980's clipless pedals. I am thinking of going with some original Time clipless because I at one time owned a set. I have never used Look's Do you folks have any preferences? Thanks

Chombi

I like 80's Look PPs much more than Time pedals as they have a reputation for very good bearing reliability. Time pedals tend to be much bigger and heavier too. My first clipless pedals, first series PP76s are still working perfectly after more than 24 years. Never even had to bother with the bearings and they still spin real smoothly!

Chombi

RFC

+1 I use SPDs on my cyclocross bikes, but when it comes to road bikes, Looks are the real thing.

funkflex

I'm currently using SPD's on one of my bikes and am also looking to make a change to something different. My SPD's are single sided and are a pain to get into when riding in traffic. I have a set of Campagnolo Pro Fit's that I just need cleats and hooks for. They are similar to Looks, but the cleats are not compatible.

4Rings6Stars

I use SPD's on ALL of my bikes. Vintage, modern, road, mountain, touring, cyclocross, commuter, the one on the trainer.....


That being said I have NO use for these ol' Time Sprint pedals I have. Yours for the cost of shipping if you want 'em. They came to me with a few other parts I bought and have sat in my parts bin ever since. Don't know anything about them besides the fact that one of them spins a little smoother than the other. Not sure what cleats they take. I also have some random plastic things that may or may not go with the pedals....

(pedals only not the hub)

John E

You are askin' the wrong guy -- I am a die-hard fan of toeclips and straps.

JohnDThompson 

Agreed. I have first-edition PP76s still in use and they work fine. And the cleats are still readily available as well.

Robofunc

I got a pair of of pp76s on a bike I purchased recently and want to try them out. Do you know of a place to order cleats for them?

rivas7200

@4Rings6Stars

I like that 63 Vette in your avatar. The split window is one of my favorite.

atmdad

I have spd's on all my bikes that go out for more than 10 miles on a spin. Get the release tension set right (what you are comfortable with) and there should be no problem getting in 'n out.

noglider 

You would switch to Look or Time to make the bike period correct? Forget it. SPD's!

I had Looks. They were good at the time. I still have them lying around. I don't know what I'll do with them.

MetinUz

I like the old Time pedals, though I switched to Time Impact and then to Speedplay. Just weighed some old pedals, Look was 450g/pr, Time Criterium 475g/pr, Time Impact Titanium (not really C&V) 245g/pr. I had C&V Time Mag/Titan Equipe's, they were probably around 300g. I only had good experiences with Time bearings, the only issue was with the dust clips breaking. The metal cleats also lasted forever.

cyclezealot

Love clipless, cause the ability to pull up takes some of the pressure from your feet's souls by not always having to push down.. Plus increased security when you choose to stand on your pedals.. Look is more annoying when walking about , while off of the bike. Yet, I find them slightly easier when unclipping. I have SPD on my touring bike, when the chances are , I'll be walking more. And Look on my road bikes , which I normally use for club rides..

embankmentlb

Yep, SPD's are very hard to beat! Do the early Look pedals have float? I seem to remember that being Time's advantage cerca 1988. I also remember the time cleats being huge! Impossible to walk in. Like walking in clown shoes....

Chombi

I think it goes Black cleats = 0 degrees, Grey cleats = 5 degrees, Red cleats = 10 degrees of lateral float You can still easily buy the different colored cleats from big bike stores like PBS and Mike's Bikes...etc., as the cleat work on many different brand clipless pedals. Whether the early versions of the pedal gives the variable float per the color cleat you use, I'm not sure, but the later versions sure did specially with the late 80's/early 90's "Arc" models.

Chombi

Chombi

The Look "Delta:" style cleats are still widely available at most bike shops...PBS...etc. as many other brand pedals use the same cleats. Remember to get the "Delta" Style and NOT the "Keo", which is the smaller newer style cleat which will not work.


Chombi

shrinkboy

in my experience, there is no need to try and find compatible Look cleats, if you already have SPD-SL cleats, they will work perfectly with Look pedals.

Robofunc

Thanks, Chombi.

Shrinkboy, don't know about others in this thread, but I've only ever used clips and straps--have to buy cleats and shoes.

shrinkboy

so, if you secure shoes and cleats, don't be afraid to go with the readily available SPD cleat-- i use them interchangeably with SPD clipless pedals, and varying vintage Looks, no problems

due ruote 

Same here. I also have a few pairs of old Shimano pedals and some Mavics. All are very nice; well-used but still spinning smoothly.

I have had good luck with knock-off delta cleats that I picked up off Ebay for around $11 shipped.

IMHO traditional quills with straps are great if you wear street shoes or if your bike shoes are vintage with slotted cleats. SPDs are great if you want to go clipless and need to be able to walk around in your cycling shoes. Hence, they're perfect for commuting, touring, mtb, cross, etc. The larger platform, solid connection and float of Looks gives them clear superiority over the other choices, as long as you don't need to walk in the shoes.

brockd15 

I use Shimano SPD-SL pedals for most of my bikes (spd for others)...nice to know Look pedals could be an option. Do Look cleats work with SPD-SL pedals?

Catnap 

i use Time ATAC pedals on my bikes. they're "MTB" pedals but I prefer them because of the small cleat, and more secure / reliable clip-in action than Shimano SPD.

i don't worry about using vintage clipless pedals because I find they're less reliable than using new ones (mostly due to wear & tear) and that's one area that i'm not willing to make sacrifices for just to be "period correct".

bobbycorno

Sounds just like my experience with Time ATACs. 12 years, half a dozen pair of pedals (most purchased used), zero maintenance, zero problems. Well, except for the one that broke when I smacked it on a rock MTBing. Never did like the Look road pedals - the connection always felt very sloppy, yet restrictive at the same time.

SP
Bend, OR

bobbycorno

Well, Time ATACs smoke 'em every time, AFAIAC. 'Course I've only been using ATACs for 12 years with zero maintenance and zero failures. And I've bought most of em (well) used.

SP
Bend, OR

Catnap 

Really?! I love ATAC's but I have sworn off buying them used. I have at least 4 pairs of ATAC's that I have bought used and found they had too much play in them. the only ATAC's i'm happy with are ones I've bought new.

I can't find any decent tutorials on how to tighten up old ATAC's... any suggestions?