TangentMan

I have a set of 1980s Look Red and White pedals, and as it has been a very long time since I bought them (new).
I don't remember how much my foot should be allowed to pivot side to side when clipped in.

I have taken up cycling again after many years off my bike, and it seems like I can pivot my heel left and right more than I remember in my teens.
This is not causing me any problems, I just want to know if I may be looking at getting a fresh set of delta cleats for my pedals...

Does anyone here know is there is an expected angle that I shouldn't be able to exceed?
G

mpetry912 

If I correctly understand your question, your feet are "rotating" to the extent of the pedal's float capability, is that correct ?

what you might look at is the LATERAL placement of the cleats on the shoes.

Ideally the cleats should lie on the imaginary thrust axis of your foot. If that is the case then the cleats will not move very much.

At least in theory. I run SPD cleats with a few degrees of float. But I think paying attention.to the lateral, as well as the axial orientation of the cleat will partially address your question.

/markp

LesterOfPuppets

IIRC Look cleats came in a couple or 3 colors that indicated different amounts of float.

...googling...

Look Delta cleats
Red 9° float, Black 0° float.

well biked

Sounds like you are using Delta cleats that allow 9 degrees of float. That's quite a bit of float, as a comparison the later Look Keo cleats (not compatible with your older Look pedals) are available in three float options, 0 degrees, 4.5 degrees, and 9 degrees. For the sake of one more comparison, the most popular clipless "standard" these days is Shimano SPD (uses small steel cleats, originally designed with mountain bikes in mind), those provide 4.5 degrees of float.

Wildwood 

6° float on red cleats
0° float on black cleats

wear the plastic cleats and/or loosen the tensioner and you may get more than 6° before clipping-out.

clubman 

The difference you're feeling between past and present could just be aging. Many legs start to bow in 50's and that's enough to tweak your pedal alignment.

gkamieneski

There have also been some changes to the rear ends of Look Delta cleats over the years and this can affect how float works with their pedals. Their later Delta pedals had float control knobs on the back of the lever and this worked differently depending on which delta cleat version you were using, Earlier delta cleats had straight across rear edges while later delta cleats had a moderate semicircle cut out of the rear edge. This part of the cleat is right where the float system comes into play.

plonz 

Delta specs from the LOOK website. Keo added a gray cleat with 4.5 degrees of float

GENERAL Use Road & Indoor bike
Material Polyacetal & PTFE
Angular freedom 0° & 9° (Black & Red)
Lateral adjustment 4 mm
Longitudinal adjustment 12 mm

My personal experience is with Keos. The reds allowed too much movement for my liking. The grays are perfect when they’re brand new but they get a little floaty as they wear down. I always planned to try black but my riding has mellowed out to a point I don’t think it really matters for me. All the YMMV disclaimers apply.

TangentMan

Thanks all!
I have paid a bit more attention to the angle and it is not as large as I had supposed (9 degrees seems about right).

To be fair, I have only been on about 15 rides since I dusted off the bike again....
G