NYCommuter

For those who commute using clipless pedals... how do you deal with the excessive wear on your cleats ?
I just changed mine (look compatible) about a month ago and they are worn out already!!!
I try not to unclip at intersections, but sometimes traffic is so brutal in the city that I have to....

I also have a pair of Shimano SPD pedals, and since the cleats are recessed, I haven't had an issue with them in almost a year!!!

Is there some more resistant Look compatible cleats out there ?

slvoid

I need to walk around a lot so SPD's the only way to go. In fact, with the specialized carbon shoes I had the other day when we did the century, the SPD's felt just as comfortable as look's, no hot spots cause the bottom was so stiff.
I tend not to trust look cause in heavy stop and go traffic when I have one foot unclipped, I used to slip on Looks and mash my nuts against the top tube when I put my foot on the pedal w/o clipping in.

Avicycle

To protect Look cleats from excessive wear and at the same time walk safely with your cycling shoes, I recommend these: Anti-Sliding covers and protectors for LOOK cleats

markw

Try frogs or spd's. Bebops aren't bad either. You want something that will be recessed if you are going to be a commuter. The Looks wear out too quick.

RainmanP

I switched to mtb pedals/shoes/cleats for commuting. I started off with Looks, but it quickly seemed pretty stupid to me to waddle around on big cleats wearing them out. If you commute on a road bike and don't want to be hassled by your roadie buddies, it only takes a minute to swap pedals for those serious weekend rides. I see a lot of "serious" roadies using SPD, too.

operator

People using look cleats, how many times are you unclipping on average on a commute? How long do they last?

Just wanted to know as i'm going to be commuting with clipless (Looks) soon.

slvoid

At least 2 times each way on my commute to and from work on a good day. Most days I average 4 over 12 or so miles each way through the city.

markw

All you have to do is drop them, then they don't make fun of the mtb or touring shoes. Besides, being able to walk in a cycling shoe is nice.

RainmanP

I can't drop 'em, but off the bike I can beat them to the restroom. It's all a matter of priorities.

Becca

For a couple of years now, I've had Odyssey Shark Bite pedals (https://www.bicyclebuys.com/Items01.a...fo&SKU=0404386) on my bicycle, and using ordinary trainers. I've never liked the idea of locking my feet onto the bicycle - I'd fall and hurt myself *so* bad! But with my Shark Bite pedals, my feet don't slip and slide, even when they're wet.

markw

clipped or clipless, you are more effiecient than with flat pedals. You find that you will start pulling with one leg while pushing down with the other. I've been riding clipped for so long that I have trouble spinning on flat pedals. I tend to lift my foot off the pedal as it's coming up.

Another benefit of clips is that because you are using more muscles, you tire less easily for the same speed, and at the same effort you tend to go faster. After awhile you don't even think about unclipping, it just comes natural.
Also rat trap (like your sharkbites) really hurt when you slip a pedal and it hits your shin. They probably named those after the pattern they leave on your shin.

slvoid

I have a dozen craters on my shin cause of those.

propagandrew

I have just over 1300 miles on my cleats (look) and I commute through downtown Minneapolis and on campus at the University of Minnesota so I probably unclip and put a foot down up to 10 times each way on my commute. As such, my cleats are getting very very close to needing replacement so about 1,500miles is what I'll get out of this pair. Could probably get a bit more if I swapped the cleats (only put my left foot down at lights).

Laika

I love my SPDs and for commuting, I have a pair of MTB shoes. Marble-floored lobbies...gotta have traction!

junioroverlord

Ride fixed gear, that way you can just track stand at intersections and wont have to unclip

inja

As others have testified...
SPD is the way to go.
I actually use eggbeaters and am in love with the "organic feel"

slvoid

What do you mean by "organic" feel?

RainmanP

"Organic" feel...
No! No! No! M U S T R E S I S T natural urge to respond.

I ride Egg Beaters also. Bought one pair as an experiment when they first came out and was so impressed I outfitted all 5 of my bikes with them.

slvoid

Ahh.. you guys HAVE to tell me the difference between the egg beaters and the SPD's.

Paniolo

Eggbeaters here too. I love the looks I get from the roadie crowd when I show up for a weekend ride on my cross bike with fenders, lighting and eggbeaters wearing SPD sandals

markw

My craters are less severe, since I used shimano DX and MKS pedals back in the day on the freestyle bikes.

greywolf

Are you saying the cleats are wearing through the constant cliping & uncliping or through walking in the shoes ?
If its through the constant unclipping you could try swapping the cleat from the left to the right shoes to even out the wear ?

propagandrew

if you meant that to me, i mean that since i only take my left foot off the pedals the left cleat is the one that i'm always standing on at lights and such. you wouldnt think that just putting a foot down at a light would grind them down much but it does. if i were to swap the cleats i could probably use the set a bit longer since the left is significantly more worn than the right. i never walk farther than from the garage to the house.

kgatwork

I use the original Time pedals, they have a brass and aluminum cleat that seems to wear a long time. I'm still on the original cleats. Too bad they don't make the pedal and cleats anymore. I try to do track stands as much as possible when at a stop. Unfortunately these cleats are terrible to walk in compared to the look cleat, but not as bad as the pair of Sampson clipless pedals that I have laying around.

Sounds like the SPD recessed cleat is the way to go for wear characteristics.