Float?

Orion

I need to get new cleats and on CRC there are different options for Look cleats with different floats. Firstly I'm not exactly sure that this means - is it that there's some movement in the cleat while pedalling? A little google tells me that float is good for bad knees which I have - recurring issues in my right knee particularly with some cartilage damage. Would getting cleats with float really help that? I do find on some longer rides that my right knee gets quite sore and needs icing afterward.

So float or not? Need to get them by next weekend so I'll be ordering tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.

Thanks.

[edit]I'm not a pro cyclist as you have probably guessed so if anyone wants to recommend good Look pedal cleats fire away - budget is tight this week though.

rollingscone

As I understand it the float is a trade off on power vs. joint strain. The grey Look Cleats have zero float but are popular for racing. A friend of mine switched from grey to Yellow cleats and found his knee problems went away.

Orion

Yellow? I saw black (0 degrees), Grey (4.5) and Red (9)

furiousox

There are three different types of Look cleat

0° float (BLACK CLEAT)
4.5° float (GREY CLEAT)
9° float (RED CLEAT)

I use the greys and find them ok.

EDIT: Snap!

rollingscone

Orion wrote: »

Yellow? I saw black (0 degrees), Grey (4.5) and Red (9)

Red. Despite not being colour blind, I tend to cross associate Red and yellow for some reason.

Orion

I'd be happy to sacrifice power for less pain tbh. I'll give the red ones a try so and see how I get on. €13.49 for the Look Delta ones so it's not much of a gamble really. Thanks.

Orion

One more question - these Shimano ones look like Look ones but says they're SPD. Is that right?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-cleats-sh11/rp-prod28895

rollingscone

They'd be SPD-SL I don't think they're compatible across brands of pedal.

furiousox

They're SPD-SL.
Same system but not interchangeable.
Look cleats will only fit Look pedals and Shimano cleats will only fit Shimano pedals.

Orion

Fair enough. I'll order either the Delta or the Keo tomorrow so.

carthoris

Do you already have pedals and are looking for replacement cleats ? Is there anything written on the pedals ? LOOK KEO and LOOK Delta are not compatible either. You most likely have LOOK KEO if they are from the last 5 years.

Orion

I just found another site that told me that - I had assumed they were just different models of the same cleat. The pedals I have are Keo - I think so anyway - scraped some muck off and found "Ké" so I presume there's an "o" after it.

carthoris

They are Keo alright, the same deal with the float applies so you probably want grey or red.

Orion

I've gone for red - CRC are usually pretty quick to deliver so I'll test them out this week when they arrive. Thanks again.