What Pedals!

blorg · 15-01-2010 12:54PM

Ryaner wrote: »

That article is by the far the most pro Time biased one I've ever read.

I'd take anything on pedals with a pinch of salt, this is his opinion. I don't think he has any particular vested interest. He has another very good article comparing Ultegra and Dura-Ace- TL;DR Ultegra works basically just as well with minimal weight penalty and is half the price.

He does mention that Time don't have the best cornering clearance (I think Speedplay are better) and while he reckons it is enough, and it probably is, I HAVE clipped my pedal on a hairpin during a race (didn't come off but it was jarring.)

Everything I have read suggests that the Time cleat is indeed more walkable than other systems, whether this matters to you or not is another issue. It mattered to me... along with Time's much lower price compared to Speedplay.

Lumen · 15-01-2010 01:03PM

lukester wrote: »

In fairness, he has a very pro Speedplay one too. But the Time review is more recent.

I have no opinion on the merits or otherwise of Speedplays, but FFS.

"The Speedplay Zero cleat and pedal combination is the most cost effective performance upgrade you can purchase. The weight savings alone is worth the price....The only other place you can get that kind of performance upgrade is with a $1000+ set of race wheels. For someone looking for performance, these pedals are a cheap way to go a lot faster."

What a load of rubbish.

Also...

"The effect of carrying extra weight uphill can be easily measured in units called foot-pounds. A foot-pound of energy is the work required to lift one pound one vertical foot."

Foot pounds of energy? Gaaaah. No you idiot, work done is measured in Joules. 1W is 1J per second. 1J is about 100g lifted by 1m. Easy. I really despair at USAnians attachment to ridiculously antiquated units of measurement.

lukester · 15-01-2010 01:07PM

Ouch, he's an ounce short of full bakedness alright.

Lumen wrote: »

I really despair at USAnians attachment to ridiculously antiquated units of measurement.

I do too, as I do at the UK's stubborn adherence to them.

Was almost going to moan at them sticking with sterling too, doh.

gman2k · 15-01-2010 02:50PM

Lumen wrote: »

I really despair at USAnians attachment to ridiculously antiquated units of measurement.

Not just the Yanks, it's here as well.
I'm going around looking for timber flooring at the moment, and 90% of places only advertise in square yards, and it's the law that pricing should be metric!

vision267 · 16-01-2010 03:04PM

Don't want to hijack this thread but i need a new set of pedals.After reading this thread it's a clear choice between the time rxs and the look keo max.

I am using and have only used shimano spd sl pedals and I find them great but i would like a lighter pedal.Time have a lot of float and are light,keo max are light and are more like the shimano.Is this right, if shimano had carbon pedals they would be perfect but they don't.

I am answering my own question it's the look,but I am concerned about the cleat's and I have heard they squeak a lot and need a lot of maintainance is this true?

ednwireland · 16-01-2010 03:46PM

my keo max 2's squeak like a bag full of mice although candle wax on the contact points (front and rear seems to sort it out pretty much), never had this problem on the old keo's so dont know if its the new gripper cleats or what

i use the red 9 degree cleats so that costs extra when you buy the pedals the keo max 2's have a better platform but i'm always tempted to go back to my old reds still the best pedals i have.

dave2pvd · 16-01-2010 05:24PM

Lots of good pedals mentioned here.

I ride on Keo Sprints. I've tried Speedplays too. Used (heavy!) Time Ti pedals a long time ago. All are great.

Just a bit of (IMO) perspective: cornering clearance is not much of an issue in road races. It is in criteriums. None of the pedals mentioned have poor clearance. Speedplays have the best. If you don't race, clearance matters not an ounce gram.

My reason for buying Keo Sprints: they do everything right performance-wise. They are reasonably rugged. The cleats aren't a rip-off. The total weight (cleat, pedal, fasteners) beats just about any same-priced pedal available.

harringtonp · 26-01-2010 12:39PM

I own a entry level pair of Shimano R540

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5369

pedals which I switch between my old and new bikes

I'm looking to get a new set of pedals to avoid the switching. My new bike
(new is 8 months) is a Planet X SL FSA Pro with a groupset mix of Ultegra/Dura Axe.

I find the R540 fine and am asking myself why I shouldn't just get another pair (retailing at 27 stg)... They do a bit feel heavy though for their size compared to other components on the bike. And I dont know any better as I have never owned more upmarket pedals.

Why should I spend more ? What would a more expensive pedal give me ?
2000+ miles have been done on this pedal and it feels as good as new.

I have Shimano SPD SL shoes and dont want to change these so would be looking for a compatible pedal.

I dont race but do Triathlons. What might be a sensible upgrade without going mad on price ?

Thanks Paul.

blorg · 26-01-2010 12:46PM

Most of the other systems are lighter even at the entry level. Whether that matters much is another matter. Entry level Time pedals for example are lighter than Dura Ace- and with Time anyway I don't think they vary much at all as you pay more, they just get (a little) lighter. Time RXS and Look Keo in particular are affordable, Speedplay are more expensive.

If you moved to another system the cleats will come with the pedal and you can use your existing shoes, you just have to change the cleat.

Lumen · 26-01-2010 12:56PM

Too much thought going on here.

Speedplays: expensive, make you walk like a chicken.
Time: clumsy people break the cleats.
Shimano: made by Shimano
Look: ...?

So basically, there's nothing wrong either Shimano or Look, but Look pedals are more French.

I see Speedplay have raised the bar with respect to "money for value". For that price I'd expect them to be made from unobtanium extracted from the fingernails of a Na'vi virgin.

harringtonp · 26-01-2010 05:00PM

Thanks Blorg. Didnt want to get same pedal again so went for Time RXS entry level. Chainreaction are out of them, got it here on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Time-RXS-First-Clipless-Road-Bike-Pedals-Cleats-NEW_W0QQitemZ360224738136QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR?hash=item53df114b58

Paul.

blorg wrote: »

Most of the other systems are lighter even at the entry level. Whether that matters much is another matter. Entry level Time pedals for example are lighter than Dura Ace- and with Time anyway I don't think they vary much at all as you pay more, they just get (a little) lighter. Time RXS and Look Keo in particular are affordable, Speedplay are more expensive.

If you moved to another system the cleats will come with the pedal and you can use your existing shoes, you just have to change the cleat.

horizon26 · 26-01-2010 09:00PM

I have shimano ultegra time rxs and today I got a pair of look keo max2.This is my opinion ultegra are ok to get into harder to get out of,but once you get use to them there ok.Vice like grip fab if you like sprinting I would think.Cleats last a long long time,but this is just my opinion they are heavy.Very strong and durable last for years with no real maintenance.

The time pedals are completely opposite,light very light lots of float.For me to much float can be hard to get into easy to get out of.Easy on your knee's but performance is very good cleat's last a long time as well.

The look keo and I have only used them on the turbo seems to me to be a mixture of both.Light like the time and solid like the shimano.Now that is only a first impression, and I like the look the most but the cleat's have a little mark on them already!So I think I might be selling some pedal's shotly,but I am a fickle so and so.:D:D:D

horizon26 · 26-01-2010 09:16PM

Forgot to mention the look pedal's don't have the vice like grip of the shimano a little gentlier.Easier to get out of as well,performance seems good buy I don't think they would last as long as the shimano's.I would think the shimano's would last much much longer but it is only a first impression.

All the pedal's have there good and bad point's,and if you are a big guy (over 100 kgs the keo max are not recommended.)

My top 3 are the look keo max,the shimano ultegra and then the time rxs.

dave2pvd · 26-01-2010 09:40PM

The Keos last well enough. Same goes for their cleats. No better/worse than others. Although I can't comment on Shimano (who the hell uses Shimano pedals?

)

The weak point on Keos is the rear piece that pivots to let you in/out of the pedal. A couple of years ago, right before a race, one of the 2 rivets that form the pivot decided to go walkabout. No way was it going to hold the cleat.

That was the day I got to try Speedplays. And my teammate's 2-sizes-too-small shoes.

Of course, Look replaced the Keos, no questions asked.

murph226 · 18-04-2010 07:29PM

Sorry for the thread hijack, but didnt see the point in starting a new one!

I am a complete noob, I have a Giant Defy 2 on the way and I'm looking for advice on what pedals to get?

I will be using the bike for commuting to work, around an 18 roundtrip and the odd jaunt at the weekend.

I was looking at the keo carbon 2's but I dont like the reports about knee pain, function and durability is what I'm after.

I have around €200 to spend on pedals and shoes, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers Murph

Lumen · 18-04-2010 07:31PM

murph226 wrote: »

Sorry for the thread hijack, but didnt see the point in starting a new one!

What did you conclude after reading the thread?

murph226 · 18-04-2010 07:35PM

Lumen wrote: »

What did you conclude after reading the thread?

Still lost I'm afraid Lumen, as I said I'm a total noob!

Do the cleats come with the pedals and do they fit any shoes?

blorg · 18-04-2010 08:02PM

murph226 wrote: »

Still lost I'm afraid Lumen, as I said I'm a total noob!

Do the cleats come with the pedals and do they fit any shoes?

Cleats come with the pedals. There are basically two types of systems, MTB and road, and shoes are designed to fit one or the other. There are multiple MTB and Road systems but you can fit any MTB system to a MTB shoe and any road system to a road shoe- more or less. MTB is walkable in while road is not. Unless you are road racing get a MTB system which is far easier, cheaper and more convenient.

ednwireland · 18-04-2010 08:24PM

sent my keo max 2 back last week with squeaky bearings (apparently its something to do with the bearing seals)
see if i get some new ones

What Pedals!

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