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Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD??
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 2004-09-08 3:39 PM |
Expert  852    Evergreen, Colorado Bronze member |  Subject: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? Can anyone with experience give me an opinion on which type of clipless pedals are easiest for a beginner?? I just bought a bike (woohoo!!!!) that came with Performance store brand (Forte?) Look style pedals. For my tri coming up in a couple weeks, I wanted to buy the adapters that allow you to use clipless pedals with regular shoes (essentially just convert them to toe clips), but all they had were converters for SPD pedals. So the guy at the shop gave me an extra pair of Shimano SPD pedals that he had in the back to use with the converters. So my dilemma is this - I have a bike that has cheap Look type pedals, as well as an extra set of SPDs. After my tri I plan to buy shoes and go clipless (I just don’t want to do this 2 weeks before the event and psyche myself out), but I don’t know which pedals I should use. So, does anyone who has used both kinds have an opinion? Thanks!! Stacey |
| 2004-09-08 3:52 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? I've used both and prefer the Look because of the larger platform and the ease of entry and release. However... The decision is very much one of personal preference and enters into the realm of Shimano vs. Campy, steel vs. aluminum, clinchers vs. tubulars, Pepsi vs. Coke, taste great vs. less filling. You are in the unique position of being able to try them both out and decide for yourself. If I understand you correctly, you have both styles of pedals and just need shoes? Well, buy shoes that will accomodate both styles of cleats and you'll be able to performance test them yourself. |
| 2004-09-08 4:29 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Expert 852 Evergreen, Colorado Bronze member | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? Well that just goes to show how much I know about bike stuff - I didn't know you could BUY shoes that would be compatible with both types of pedals!!! Guess that makes my life easier. I looked up online reviews of the pedals that come on the bike (Forte Classic - Look style manufactured by Wellgo) and there were a ton of reviews saying they're impossible to clip out of, so I might go with the SPDs to start with... We'll see I guess! Edited by Stacers 2004-09-08 4:30 PM |
| 2004-09-08 4:42 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Extreme Veteran 414 Reston, VA | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? I just bought Speedplays and couldn't be happier. Easy to get in and out of, and the float doesn't make me feel locked to the bike. I had had some crappy Fortes that Performance sold me, whicgh I swapped out for two-sided campus pedals for Super Sprints, when I bike in running shose. |
| 2004-09-08 5:23 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Expert 774 England | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? I'd recommend the Speedplays as well - they have huge amount of float, with NO risk of the disengaging, so are great on the knees and the bonus is they are tiny and lightweight (and they look much more cool Absolutely nothing to learn or worry about to get used to them either..... Hey, I just became an Extreme Veteran - wow! Edited by Bigpikle 2004-09-08 5:24 PM |
| 2004-09-08 5:26 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Extreme Veteran 414 Reston, VA | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? Only problem with Speedplay is that you need to be very careful not to walk in dirt or mud. Crud in the cleat impedes proper linkage. They sell special cleat covers to prevent this, but gimme a break. You can put your shoes on right before you hop on the bike, or use a piece of duct tape to cover the cleat, removing it as you get ready to link up. That duct tape - it fixes everything. :D |
| 2004-09-08 5:27 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? The woman has two sets of pedals and is asking which is better. You guys give her the most logical alternative, which is to buy a third set of pedals. |
| 2004-09-08 5:31 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Veteran 172 Memphis, TN | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? SPEEDPLAY |
| 2004-09-08 5:34 PM in reply to: #59306 |
Extreme Veteran 414 Reston, VA | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? Of course. Isn't this the sport of "more toys make me go fast and look good"?  I'll restate my response: Forte is crap. Dunno about LOOK, but anything else is better than Forte. 'Mkay? |
| 2004-09-08 5:38 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Expert 852 Evergreen, Colorado Bronze member | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? Hehe... My choice after researching was Speedplay, but I figured I'd try the two sets I'd have before buying any. Sounds like the Forte pedals are definitely cr*p though - good to hear that from someone here who has used them. I suspected as much. Thanks for the opinions guys  |
| 2004-09-08 5:45 PM in reply to: #59219 |
| Veteran 289 Colorado Springs | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? another fan of speedplay here, I have SPD on my MTB and they are good to control the bike in the air, but I like the float that the speedplays have for the road. For anyone, including beginners, I would say Speedplay |
| 2004-09-08 6:03 PM in reply to: #59219 |
Veteran 156 WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? what about Wellgo R1's just out of curiosity... mine were delivered today... should be able to try them out tomorrow and just wondering what I should be expecting? |
 2004-09-08 7:37 PM in reply to: #59219 |
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| 2004-09-08 8:18 PM in reply to: #59219 |
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| 2004-09-09 7:04 AM in reply to: #59367 |
Pro 3903  Andover | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? Love my SpeedPlays and they are so easy on the knees! :D Have fun trying them all out. Rob |
| 2004-09-09 7:45 AM in reply to: #59219 |
| Resident Matriarch N 43° 32.927 W 071° 24.431 | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? love my Looks..... |
| 2004-09-09 10:36 AM in reply to: #59219 |
| New user 10 | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? I have ridden looks, spd's, times, and speedplays. I have big feet and find that the looks are the most comfortable because they offer a larger platform. What does a larger platform do for you? Well, it keeps your foot from developing a "hot-spot", especially on longer rides. Just a comfort thing really, after all they all hold the foot on the pedal. |
| 2004-09-09 12:33 PM in reply to: #59219 |
| Veteran 321 Findlay OH | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? Anyone have any problem with getting dirt in your Speedplay cleats during transitions? I have been seriuosly considering getting a pair, but I really don't think I'll be able to get the hang of the whole putting your shoes on while you ride so I put the shoes on and then jog (ok waddle in cleats) to the mount line and go. If that is a problem I might go with Looks. |
| 2004-09-09 12:35 PM in reply to: #59219 |
| Extreme Veteran 326 Paso Robles, California | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? I have been using speedplays the entire time I have had my bike. They are the best, no knee issues EVER. As for dirt at transition, I think it would be an issue if you had transition is the mud, but I have never had a problem. They are easy on/off, a little hard to get used to right off the bat because you have move movement that other systems, but they are light and fast, and they look better than anything else out there. |
| 2004-09-09 12:58 PM in reply to: #59219 |
| molto veloce mama 9311 | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? thanks for this thread. i've always had spd ('cept for a pair of kore and a pair of onza, yikes!). the bike i MIGHT get has look or time, and i was thinking of swapping out for spds, but now i'm seriously considering the speed plays. i would be getting a new pair of road shoes anyway. |
| 2004-09-09 5:06 PM in reply to: #59219 |
| Expert 774 England | Subject: RE: Clipless Pedals – Look or SPD?? On my last tri I was horrified to discover that the exit from the bike transition was a 100yd dash along a gravel path with bushes and trees on each side, before you were allowed to mount the bike! I had my Speedplays on the bike and was paranoid about the grit issue....I saw somebody keep their shoes on the bike and do it barefoot (nutter) but in the end I just ran it in my shoes and despite loads of grit, gravel and crud I had no problem. I'm not saying it WONT happen but I cant imagine a worse place to walk on the cleats so was reassured i wasn't instantly struck down. I understand the grit issue can be a problem though - now I will carry some duct tape in my kit box for any future repeats of this type of transition! |
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