Protection for - or harder wearing - LOOK Keo cleats.

Wheelie Bin
Wheelie Bin Posts: 162
edited September 2010 in Road buying advice
I'm new to Keo's. I like the pedals, but my first set of cleats - Keo Grips - have worn very quickly... both the the grippy rubber bits and the leading edge have gone in about six weeks. It's not like I ever walk very far in them.

Are the non-grip ones harder wearing (can't tell from photos if they have different plastics on the contact points) and are cleat covers any good?

Thanks.
I'm at that difficult age... somewhere between birth and death.

Comments

  • I went back to Shimano. They last ages.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • Wheelie Bin
    I have covers, and use them for all cake stops and walks more than 15-20 m

    true the cleats with the soft bits are better, but they wear or come off v quickly, and cleat failure when cycling is a disaster!
  • I went back to Shimano. They last ages.

    I was thinking it might come to that... do you know if Shimano cleats can be fitted to Mavic Avenir shoes? Mavic don't even let on that LOOK cleats fit their shoes... so please don't anyone chip in with 'The Power of Google' on that one ;-)
    I'm at that difficult age... somewhere between birth and death.
  • I went back to Shimano. They last ages.

    I was thinking it might come to that... do you know if Shimano cleats can be fitted to Mavic Avenir shoes? Mavic don't even let on that LOOK cleats fit their shoes... so please don't anyone chip in with 'The Power of Google' on that one ;-)

    Three bolt attachment fine for look and shimano. As long as they're road shoes the only issue you need to google is will speedplay ones fit.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    Cleat covers are essential for Keo cleats IMO, I think they are made from chocolate.
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    I went back to Shimano. They last ages.

    I was thinking it might come to that... do you know if Shimano cleats can be fitted to Mavic Avenir shoes? Mavic don't even let on that LOOK cleats fit their shoes... so please don't anyone chip in with 'The Power of Google' on that one ;-)

    All road shoes can fit cleats from any road pedal system. That's why they don't list them all - there's no need.
  • danowat wrote:
    Cleat covers are essential for Keo cleats IMO, I think they are made from chocolate.

    Ha! True.

    Think I'll stick with them and get the covers, rather than go to Shimano - I want to keep my bike a 'fishing tackle-free' zone after all. Will check out Speedplay though... thanks.
    I'm at that difficult age... somewhere between birth and death.
  • danowat wrote:
    Cleat covers are essential for Keo cleats IMO, I think they are made from chocolate.

    Ha! True.

    Think I'll stick with them and get the covers, rather than go to Shimano - I want to keep my bike a 'fishing tackle-free' zone after all. Will check out Speedplay though... thanks.

    I used to think that way. But wouldn't go back to different pedals OR give up my RS80 wheels. And I run SRAM. Period. ;)
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Look Keo are $HIT!!!!

    Cleats disintegrated in a matter of weeks, find the pedals REALLY hard to engage with. Going back to Shimano like a shot.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    I use Exustar Look Keo Grip Cleats. Had them for months and I walk a lot in them and they are still good. Use them for commuting so foot down is a lot.

    Far far better than the Look grips which lasted about 2 weeks.

    http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=A1593
  • One thing I find better in my Shims is that the weight means that I always find the pedal in engage position.

    The Looks tended to spin as I "got there", meaning some awkward engage moments.

    I have ESP with the Shims.

    I have these from CRC incidentally, Ultegra level at 105 price.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=47601

    Well, at least they WERE, they have been £45 most of this year!
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Gazzaputt wrote:
    I use Exustar Look Keo Grip Cleats. Had them for months and I walk a lot in them and they are still good.

    Thanks - I'll try those. I don't have a problem 'engaging' with KEO's... it's just the cleat wear that bothers me.
    I'm at that difficult age... somewhere between birth and death.
  • I'm surprised at some of the horror stories about Keo cleats on here. I use the cleat covers for cafe stops and I got 2500 miles out of my last set.
    Alex
  • I'm surprised at some of the horror stories about Keo cleats on here. I use the cleat covers for cafe stops and I got 2500 miles out of my last set.

    That's a lot of walking? :D
  • clx1
    clx1 Posts: 200
    Look Keo are $HIT!!!!

    Cleats disintegrated in a matter of weeks, find the pedals REALLY hard to engage with. Going back to Shimano like a shot.


    They are not shite, you obviously aren't using them properly. I have them on three bikes and a pair of cleats lasts at least six months(I ride a thousand miles a month). I have never found them to be any harder to engage than any other pedals I have used.
  • Chrissz
    Chrissz Posts: 727
    I rode Shimano pedals and cleats for donkeys years - never had a problem and the cleats seemed bomb-proof. I've since changed to Keo Maz 2 Carbons and am already on my 3rd set of cleats :( I have also found that clipping in with the Keo's is not as "instinctive" as with the Shimanos. As soon as the new DA blacks come out I'll be back to Shimano!
  • Chrissz wrote:
    I rode Shimano pedals and cleats for donkeys years - never had a problem and the cleats seemed bomb-proof. I've since changed to Keo Maz 2 Carbons and am already on my 3rd set of cleats :( I have also found that clipping in with the Keo's is not as "instinctive" as with the Shimanos. As soon as the new DA blacks come out I'll be back to Shimano!

    I'd wager they'll be little better than the black PD670's.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • nmcgann
    nmcgann Posts: 1,780
    2alexcoo wrote:
    I'm surprised at some of the horror stories about Keo cleats on here. I use the cleat covers for cafe stops and I got 2500 miles out of my last set.

    Me too - I get about a year out of a pair of keo cleats by using covers. I have found I can get away with a bit more walking on the grip cleats, but they aren't as easy to clip in with as the rubbery bit tends to catch on the pedal.
    --
    "Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain."
  • MikeWW
    MikeWW Posts: 723
    CLX1 wrote:
    Look Keo are $HIT!!!!

    Cleats disintegrated in a matter of weeks, find the pedals REALLY hard to engage with. Going back to Shimano like a shot.


    They are not shite, you obviously aren't using them properly. I have them on three bikes and a pair of cleats lasts at least six months(I ride a thousand miles a month). I have never found them to be any harder to engage than any other pedals I have used.

    Agree with IronHorse. You should try the Shims far better,
  • Er no. You lot need to ride more and walk less ;-)
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    I still don't understand why there aren't Shimano SPD-SL cleat covers (none that I can find anyhow), I've switched to Speedplay now and prefer them in general, the covers being a bonus (although you need to remember to take them off before getting back on the bike :p ).
  • Shimanos are indestructible in my experience.
    Pokerface wrote:
    All road shoes can fit cleats from any road pedal system. That's why they don't list them all - there's no need.
    Is that so?! So I could get any shoe for my Shimano SPDs? Why do some list which 'cleat hole system' they support?
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    nferrar wrote:
    I still don't understand why there aren't Shimano SPD-SL cleat covers (none that I can find anyhow), I've switched to Speedplay now and prefer them in general, the covers being a bonus (although you need to remember to take them off before getting back on the bike :p ).

    Because the yellow (or red) bits on the cleat do the same job as cleat covers.
  • clx1
    clx1 Posts: 200
    MikeWW wrote:
    CLX1 wrote:
    Look Keo are $HIT!!!!

    Cleats disintegrated in a matter of weeks, find the pedals REALLY hard to engage with. Going back to Shimano like a shot.


    They are not shite, you obviously aren't using them properly. I have them on three bikes and a pair of cleats lasts at least six months(I ride a thousand miles a month). I have never found them to be any harder to engage than any other pedals I have used.

    Agree with IronHorse. You should try the Shims far better,

    I have tried them and don't agree!