Look Cleats & Pedals

doggled
doggled Posts: 7
edited June 2007 in Workshop
Folks,

I'm just upgrading from spd and mtn bike shoes to proper road shoes. I've gone with Look pedals and cleats. The pedals I'm using require Delta cleats.

I've fitted them and it seems like the lateral play in them is incredibly stiff. I really have to twist them in my hands (I know I know, I should try them on my feet...) to get the heel to move from side-to-side. It seems like the little rubber doo-dad in the centre between the bolt-holes is forced onto the pedal and prevents it from moving.

A couple of questions then: does anyone know if I need the little rubber doo-dad? Should it be sticking out quite a few millimetres from the cleat's surface?

Many thanks,

Doug in Fife

Comments

  • romans
    romans Posts: 542
    That is a wear indicator. I never took mine out as I never had a problem with that. What I did not like was the cleat too easily slipping when walking and I had to buy cleat covers which I carried with me. Have since changed to Shimano whose cleats do not slip or wear out so quickly, and easier to engage (dis-engaging about the same).

    Romans

    I don't have a TV so I have to travel around on my bike to get the latest news.
    Romans

    I asked the telephone speaking clock lady for a date but she doesn\'t have the time.
  • pbiggs
    pbiggs Posts: 9,232
    The rubber doodad is not a wear indicator, and yes it's supposed to stick out a few mm. It's a buffer to prevent vertical play between cleat and pedal. You may get an annoying clicking sensation on the upstroke if it's completely removed. However, you can shave a bit off it if you like with a scapel. Also plop some grease on the pedals.

    You'll get more used to the way they feel in time, and friction does reduce a bit as the clears wear. Also try bi-material cleats if you currently just have the plain red ones. These have white teflon bits to reduce friction. They also have shallower rubber doodads.

    Try reducing the retension force as well - via the small allen socket on the top of the pedal.

    <i>~Pete</i>
    <i>~Pete</i>
  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by pbiggs</i>

    The rubber doodad is not a wear indicator, and yes it's supposed to stick out a few mm. <b>It's a buffer to prevent vertical play between cleat and pedal</b>. You may get an annoying clicking sensation on the upstroke if it's completely removed. However, you can shave a bit off it if you like with a scapel. Also plop some grease on the pedals.

    You'll get more used to the way they feel in time, and friction does reduce a bit as the clears wear. Also try bi-material cleats if you currently just have the plain red ones. These have white teflon bits to reduce friction. They also have shallower rubber doodads.

    Try reducing the retension force as well - via the small allen socket on the top of the pedal.

    <i>~Pete</i>
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
    I reckon it is also there to provide some friction. I just put Look pedals back on my road bike for an event at the weekend and went for a spin round the block. My right foot felt like it was on ice and eventually I accidentally unclipped. I've never had that problem before so I took a look at the cleat when I got home. I discovered that the <i>doodad</i> was missing.

    A Miss is as good as a mile, especially if she cycles...
  • pbiggs
    pbiggs Posts: 9,232
    LOOK themselves say it's a buffer to eliminate play.

    I don't like the friction myself - which is why I carry around a little tube of grease! ...Not exactly a great advert for the pedals - though really they are great value, generally.

    <i>~Pete</i>
    <i>~Pete</i>
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    No, try the movement with your feet in - your legs are far stronger than your arms and the resistance is next to zero. Try clipping in and unclipping your shoes by hand - very difficult, but then the shoes are 'on' your feet, then it's easy.
  • pbiggs
    pbiggs Posts: 9,232
    I've been talking about the amount of resistance to the <b>float</b>, not how much force is required to unclip. It doesn't take much friction to stop float working freely. The less friction there is, the more comfortable your knees and everything will be.

    The fact that you can overcome the friction easily with deliberate muscle power is irrelevant. Float should be free enough to work with the natural small gentle involantary rotational movements from pedalling -- to allow your feet to swivel instead of stressing your knee joints.

    <i>~Pete</i>
    <i>~Pete</i>
  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by pbiggs</i>

    LOOK themselves say it's a buffer to eliminate play.

    <b>I don't like the friction myself - which is why I carry around a little tube of grease</b>! ...Not exactly a great advert for the pedals - though really they are great value, generally.

    <i>~Pete</i>
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
    I've actually done this myself, and for the same reason!

    I'm just saying that with no <i>doodad</i> at all, my foot moved so easily that I unclipped without meaning to.

    I've been using Look pedals since about 1992 and this has only happened to me once before when properly <i>doodadded</i> and that was when using maximum effort on a 25% hill - I nearly castrated myself on the crossbar [xx(]!

    A Miss is as good as a mile, especially if she cycles...

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