djohannsen

I have been riding Look pedals since they first came on the market in the late '80s (trading my old toe clips for those new fangled clipless). I generally feel like at a given price point most components are of similar quality and so you should stick with what you're comfortable with. However, I have recently had several people (including my LBS guy) preaching to me about how much better Speedplay are. I will admit that Look cleats can wear quickly (though I never walk in my cycling shoes) and are prone to squeaks. However, I love the Look entry: the pedal hangs with the heavy rear down, so I just kick and catch the toe of the cleat and I'm in. I've never missed a clip in at the start of a race and I've never had an inadvertant unclipping, even when sprinting.

As you can tell, my basic inclination is to stay with Look. However, my old A5.1 are getting really beat up and I'm starting to look around, so I will consider Speedplay. Is there anyone here who was a (longterm) user of Look who made the switch? How was the transition? Are you happy on Speedplay, or are you looking to move back? I don't really need to hear technical arguments about why one is better and I certainly don't want to start some sort of Look-Speedplay flame war, I would just be interested in hearing some comments from those who have made the transition.


Dave

Carbon Unit

I use both Look and Speedplay. I have Look for my spin class and Speedplay for my road bike. For me Speedplay is much easier to clip in and out than Look. For a Spin class Look is fine and i feel good once I am clipped in. I would never move from Speedplay to Look on my road bike.

merlinextraligh

I switched from Look (actually the Dura Ace licensed Looks) to Speedplay shortly after Speedplays came out.

The major reason I switched was that you can pull out of Looks in a sprint, particularly as the cleat begins to wear. Conversely, in 20 plus years I've never pulled out of a Speedplay.

There are a number of other reasons I like Speedplay better, but the security of not pulling out trumps everything else for me.

ScoJo

Where's the best deal online for the stainless speedplay zeros?

bike_boy

I transitioned from Look to Speedplay Zero pedals. I like double sided entry of Speedplays & float of Zeros. However w/Speedplays, I have to take a bit more care to ensure pedals & cleats are clear of debris. With Looks, I had to get new cleats once a year. I can lean more on turns w/Speedplays. Speedplays are sometimes a bit hard to break-in...IIRC, took about a month before I could smoothly clip-in on first try with one of the pedals.

djohannsen

The additional clearance is one of the chief reasons that I would consider switching. Twice in crits I've clipped a pedal when exiting a turn (once going down hard, and once with no great consequence), so this is one thing that Speedplay have going for them. Getting used to the new entry is definitely one thing that has me a bit apprehensive (since the racing season is more or less in full swing), as I find Look entry very easy (I guess I've been doing it for more than twenty years).

Thanks to everyone who have taken the time to comment.

Dave

topflightpro

I switched from Look Keos to Speedplays recently.

The Keos were fine - never had an issue with cleat wear or unclipping unexpectedly, though squeaking was annoying - but they always flipped upside down. And that made it much harder to clip in quickly at the starting line.

I dont' have those issues with Speedplays.

motorthings

i too switched from look to speedplay, mostly due to it being easier to clip in without looking/feeling around on the road. i always carry my cleat covers with me and put them on whenever i get off the bike. I don't miss the looks at all.

merlinextraligh

You definitely have more cornering clearance. With a 4 bolt shoe (no adapter) the side of your shoe will drag the ground before the pedal hits.

As for clipping in, it should take you about one ride to get it.

The only times Speedplays are at all difficult to clip into are 1) when the cleat has dirt in it. (solved by smacking the cleat on the pedal or a squirt from a water bottle), or 2) when the cleat has been overtightened.

Don't overtighten the screw, keep cakes of dirt out of the cleat, and speedplays are a breeze to clip in.

orcanova

Let me Google that for you...

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=Speedplay+Zero+stainless+pedals

clx1

I've got Look Keos on three bikes and decided to try a set of Speedplays as they get such good reviews. I liked them a lot and would recommend them, however, not over Look pedals. If you have knee problems the Speedplays definitly have the edge, if you are proficient at clipping into your look pedals the double sided entry feature of the Speedplays doesn't make it much easier. The one big downside to the Speedplays is the fact that if you get the smallest amount of debris in the cleat they become almost unuseable until you have removed the crap, for this reasonthey are hopeless in the Winter.
I'd stick with Look if I were you.

Litespeedlouie

I used Shimano-Looks (D-A and Ultegra) from the 1980s up until a couple of years ago when I got a deal on some Speedplay Zeros. I don't think it's any huge practical difference, just some things are, well, different.

Besides what's been said, I find the Zeros are a little harder to actually engage, but you don't have to do the little pedal flips like on Looks. Instead, I do a little firm mash-down. Walking on the cleats, you hear grit on anodized aluminum instead of plastic, unless you use the little Cafe Covers. You need to be more careful about cleaning and lubing the cleats. The cleats are more expensive. Some shoes need special adapters. The different models (Zero, Light Action) don't seem to be compatible; the cleats are different.

orcanova

ScoJo, looking at the specs on Speedplay's website, the stainless steel look like they are only 4 grams heavier than the stainless, but they seem to be about 50 bucks cheaper online. I don't know if there is any difference in durability, but the cromoly's look like a better buy.

djohannsen

Thanks everyone. I do have some concerns about the Speedplay cleats, but probably these are unfounded as I am pretty anal about not walking in my cycling shoes (I even wear sandals to the driveway and don't put on my shoes until I'm ready to throw my leg over the top tube). However, I guess that at times like changing a flat and the milling about before group rides, I might be a bit uncomfortable about wearing the more delicate Speedplay cleats. So, it might come down to the additional clearance of the Speedplays, and then the intangible of whether I finally want to try something new or stick with a known (and loved) quantity. Again, thanks everyone.


Dave

Carbon Unit

I don't think the Speedplay cleat is delicate at all. I use both Look and Speedplay and Speedplay cleats will last longer. Also, I put Shoe Goo on my Speedplay cleats thanks to the recommendation from the people at Speedplay. They now grip much better on wet roads and walking in them is much much easier.

Forza

+1


I find the opposite to be true. The grip of the look cleats always came off for me and I would chew up the look cleats when dragging to a stop at a light. The Speedplays will shoot sparks before wearing out.

+1 to this too.

ScoJo

Anyone have any comments about durability differences between the stainless and chromoly pedals?

Forza

I have the Zero Titaniums, but have heard that stainless is the way to go on the steel versions.

Trucker Dan

I just got a pair yesterday to try out. Going from look keos they seem really hard to clip into. Do they take a while to break in? I have to push hard and twist to get in. I thought they would be easy like my spd mountain bike pedals.

bassjones

May just be break in, or you may have overtightened the screws on the cleats. Be sure to use the torque values in the instructions.

Silvercivic27

I think the keo blades have a narrower profile and greater clearance re: pedal strikes. I just got a set and like them. I haven't had any squeak issues with my looks (delta or keo) but I'm sure a little squirt of spray silicone would take care of that. It won't attract dust like oil or the Vaseline trick on the old delta cleats. I've never tried speedplays, but I'm happy so far with the blades.

Nachoman

I've got a pair of stainless steel, chromoly and ti. Honestly, I can't tell the difference.

Trucker Dan

People claim the chromoly will rust if you live in salty enviroments, like by the ocean or in the northeast during the winter. Most avid riders seem to wear out the bearings before they rust around here.

engstrom

+1

On my zeros the left side clipped in with ease from day 1 but the right was a bear. I followed the instructions to a tee with regard to tightening the screws that hold the cleat on but it still took me about 5 rides before it started clipping in easily.

Nerull

I've heard they can take a few rides to break in. I've also heard recommendations to put the bike in a trainer and just clip in and out for a while to speed up the process and practice clipping in and out.