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Pedal Float

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Old 10-19-14, 05:43 PM
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LOOK Pedal Float

I actually managed to break one of my old Look A5.1 pedals. I've always loved these pedals because they have lots of float and solved all the knee problems I used to have. I can get a set off Ebay but I'm looking at newer ones, as in newer model Look KEO pedals, because the old Delta cleats might be getting hard to find.

Here's what I never could quite understand: the A5.1 pedal supposedly could be adjusted to allow for 9 degrees of float. The red cleats were advertised as having 9 degrees of float. Does that mean that, together, you get 18 degrees of float? Or does the cleat alone decide how much float you can get?....

How much float am I used to having, using A5.1 pedals on the 9 degree adjustment, and using red cleats?

The newer KEO pedals don't seem to have an adjustment for float. If I get a set of, say, KEO Classics, and use red cleats, will I get as much float as I am used to with the A5.1s with red cleats?

Any info appreciated.

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Old 10-20-14, 11:22 AM
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(Nudge) I know somebody knows this........
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Old 10-20-14, 11:56 AM
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My understanding of these things;

The cleat on Look pedals is what determines float, so your red cleat gets you 9deg float, and that's it. The adjustment that can be done on the pedal affects the tightness of the spring coil, and how hard/easy it is to unclip, not your float.

Also, Wellgo make Look Arc compatible cleats for less than the price of Keo cleats. I don't know for a fact, but can only assume, that Wellgo manufacturing Arc cleats and Look switching their whole line to Keo has something to do with the patent on the Arc design expiring, presumably some time in the 2000s.
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Old 10-20-14, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Thulsadoom
I actually managed to break one of my old Look A5.1 pedals.
you aren't alone. I broke my right A5.l(along with my nose and eye socket) a few years ago.
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Old 10-20-14, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Leinster
My understanding of these things;

The cleat on Look pedals is what determines float, so your red cleat gets you 9deg float, and that's it. The adjustment that can be done on the pedal affects the tightness of the spring coil, and how hard/easy it is to unclip, not your float.
With the pedals in question you are able to adjust/restrict the float, but the maximum is 9degrees.
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Old 10-20-14, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by BoSoxYacht
With the pedals in question you are able to adjust/restrict the float, but the maximum is 9degrees.
Ah. It's been at least 10 years since I had Arc pedals,and the pedals temselves would have been a good 10 years old at the time, so please forgive me if I missed some innovations in between.
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Old 10-20-14, 03:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Leinster
Ah. It's been at least 10 years since I had Arc pedals,and the pedals temselves would have been a good 10 years old at the time, so please forgive me if I missed some innovations in between.
No sweat.

I still have one left pedal in good condition, if you know anyone that has a good right one(and a death wish).
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Old 10-20-14, 04:19 PM
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If I got this right, than you'd have zero float with the black cleats and you could choose between 3, 6 or 9 with the red ones. Now as far as new pedals go, you might want to take a look at speedplay pedals. The zero's have up to 15 degrees of float and are fully adjustable.
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Old 10-20-14, 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by BoSoxYacht
you aren't alone. I broke my right A5.l(along with my nose and eye socket) a few years ago.
What happened?
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Old 10-20-14, 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Thulsadoom
What happened?
He used cleats with 15 degrees float on pedals that had 6 degree max
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Old 10-20-14, 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Thulsadoom
What happened?
The release mechanism failed at the hinge while I was standing on a climb/sprint, I face planted and got a fast ride to the hospital(head wounds bleed a lot). I got a few stitches to reconnect my eyelid, and the other cuts were mostly just road rash.
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Old 10-20-14, 08:26 PM
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Sorry. My joke was in poor taste.
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Old 10-20-14, 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by StanSeven
Sorry. My joke was in poor taste.
Pahleez!

I've had some nasty wrecks, but that's life. They had me in a coma for a few days this past Spring, but now I'm averaging 388 miles a week.

Everything is good.
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