Look, Time or Shimano Pedals?
 

My cheap $30 pedals are wearing off. I have replaced the cleats and tighten pedals as much as I could. But still, I feel my foot is moving back and force, one foot more than the other :( I believe this is not a "float". I have inspected the pedals, and have noticed that the area that holds the cleat "nose" looks like wear off, it is more on the foot that I clip/unclip.

So, I'd like to try new pedals. I have looked at the speedplays of course, but would like to try first the look style pedals I already got used to.

I have looked at
Look Keo Max
Shimano 105 or Ultegra
Time iClic or First

What the difference between 105 and Ultegra pedals?
iClic and First?

I don't care vary much about the weight, but would like the pedals that will last for a long time and would like to have a 0% float option too.

What would you recommend?

Shimano SPD-SL. You have to buy the zero float cleats as they come with float cleats. But it's a solid platform. The cleat is designed so the surfaces that lock into the pedal don't wear from walking on the cleat. I have friends who have pulled out of worn Look cleats during a sprint... very dangerous.

The Shimano pedals are also very reliable, and they are rebuildable. The cleats have rubber bumpers on them so you don't fall on your ass when walking around. They're more walkable than Look cleats. Downsides: they are slightly heavier than the other pedals. The float is not adjustable. But since you (and I) use no float, that's not an issue. Even the no float cleats will start to have a little play after they wear. I have one set on my rain shoes that must have 12,000 miles on them. They're a little sloppy now but they still work.

The difference between 105 and Ultegra pedals? The color, 2 grams, and $50 or more.

New 105 pedals can be found here for under $50:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/roa...ls/SHIMPEDA845

I have the 105 pedals and they are awesome. HUGE difference(in clipping in and out) after using $25 pedals from nashbar. They also seem very tough since they are almost full metal.

Look Keo Max +1

Thanks, very useful information! What Shimano SDP pedals do you have?

Great find! these 105s are about $55 with shipment

Why? Can you share please more details?

I have only used Shimano SPD-Sl pedals, but I have had everything from R540 to Dura Ace. All have performed well. The upper models have a screw in replaceable skid plate where as the R540s just have a rubber sticker. The upper models are lighter and will supposedly last longer but my R540s are still going strong and they are on my rain bike.

I have only used Look's for the past 5 years. Never had any problems with them. Sometimes it takes a little time to get new cleats adjusted to the same position/angle as the old pair, but I think that is the case with most other cleats too.

Thanks!

Thank you, how ofter do you replace cleats?

My first pedals have been 105 and they have been great. I don't notice anything about float anyway since I'm a beginner and never had clipless pedals before. The only issue with 105 is that the black paint is chipping little by little. My bike is white, so I'm thinking if it get's chipped enough, I'll remove the entire paint. I wonder if Shimano covers that. They could have done a better job with the paint.

for the price, the 105 pedals are hard to beat. but every pedal system has its following.

Or, it can be painted )))))
Anyway, I can live with that, if it is not the paint that holds the cleats

I can certainly live with that. ))))

I have used Look Keos in the past, but I switched to Shimano SPD-SL (I bought the Dura-Ace from ProBikeKit) and I could not be happier.

Pedals are personal though, just like saddles.

That's true. And yes, paint doesn't affect function. However, black pedals are faster.

All the pedals you mentioned are outstanding.I have used all of them ( well the time rxs almost the same.)All have the good points shimano's have a wide platform very strong cleats, last forever.Time are much lighter and have lot of float.Look are light platform is not as wide unless you get the blade.

I could use any of them and be really happy,at the present I am useing the look keo max.I am fickle and might change my mind in a few months

Looks like I'm the first respondent who has Time pedals... :lol:

*edit -- nope, maybe the second, after bartholomew mic above ;) *

I'm sure you've seen these already:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/sho...d.php?t=201213
http://university.tri-sports.com/201...i-clic-pedals/
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...-pedals_120504
(among others)

Anyway, I've got RXS First pedals. I haven't tried the iClic models yet, although they're pretty interesting.

My RXS's replaced some Crank Brothers Quattros. I wanted to see what "road-specific" pedals were like, and I liked the mechanism that Time uses. It's fundamentally similar to CB in that they rely on foot position instead of spring tension to hold the cleat in place (if you catch my drift; I can't think of a good engineering-style description). I never liked hearing about setting spring tension on Look and SPD-SL higher to prevent accidental clip-outs with the drawback of making it harder to unclip on purpose.

Compared to the Quattros, I like how the pedal is flat (makes it easier to ride in non-cycling shoes, mainly), engages with a nice loud pop, and has a lower stack height. They're not double-sided like the Quattros were, of course, but they settle nose-up almost every time. They also seem as clog-free as CB pedals are -- I haven't had problems no matter what I've walked through (not yet, anyway).

I've had one cleat break, though. The "nose" broke off, but I don't know when it happened. It still works (obviously ;)), but that foot is just harder to clip in now. The forum thread in the first link above starts talking about the durability of iClic cleats, too. I've ordered a new pair of cleats from my LBS, and may contact Time about a replacement for the broken one.

I mentioned that I'm interested in the iClics. I'm not so sure whether I'll get them, though. The light effort required to engage them, like "triggering a mousetrap" as a user in the RBR thread said, sounds like it makes it too easy to mis-engage them. Other than that, they appear to be pretty slick. Maybe I'll try them if I ever wear out the RXSes.

All in all, I'm pretty satisfied. :thumb:

I have the Time iClics. I've only had them one season. My previous pedal was the old Time (I forget the name) with metal four hole cleats. The iClics are easy to engage. I haven't had any unintended pull outs - and I've had a couple of times when that could have been an issue, but wasn't.

Thanks, everyone!

Got my new Shimano's 105 for about $65 on eBay. Have not tried them on the road yet, but it feels much better on trainer. The cleats are really wide and more stable.
It's also much easier to clip in and out.

I took a picture of them while they are new and shiny :::::))))))))))

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/...94dff5e20f.jpg
XK8V4540 by Genna B, on Flickr

Now I want new shoes. If you give a mouse a cookie......

I use shimano 105's and I love them. They're my first clipless pedals, so I don't have experience with Looks, but my teammate uses Look pedals, and in the final 100m of the sprint during his crit, his worn out cleat came out of the pedal and he went from 1st to 6th. It was his only non-podium finish of the season.

I switched from Shimano R540's and PD-7800's to Look for the weight drop.

I'm happy with the weight but the Look cleats are much smaller so harder to walk in and a tad harder to catch the toe into the pedal for initial clip in.

The wear indicator on the Shimano's are also much easier to read.

Look FTW.