ArgoMan

Hey all. Any suggestions for a quality set of pedals for short, fast rides? I'm looking at Shimano 105s, but I see some LOOK products that are more reasonably priced. Anything else I should be looking at. Budget is up to $175.

Thanks!

datlas 

What are you using currently?

Do your shoes take 2-bolt clearts, 3-bolt cleats, 4 bolt cleats?

ArgoMan

What am I currently using? Don't laugh, but I'm using MKS Campagnolo reproductions with the toe cage (clips) on all my bikes. That's what I started on and I never felt the need to move away from them. But I think it's now time to grow up and get a set of quality clipless. Any suggestions that you have would be really appreciated.

MikeWMass

I like Time pedals.
They clip in/out easily, are tolerant of dirt, the cleats last a long time and don't scratch floors.

Eric F 

I've been a happy Speedplay user forever. The free float plays nice with my knees, and the 2-sided format makes getting clipped in a breeze.

roadcrankr

I recently purchased a new R8000 (Ultegra) pair off eBay from a Washington seller named Pro-cyclist or similar.
Very good price (around $120, I think) and quick delivery. Personally, I would only go Ultegra or Dura-Ace, for their high-end quality.
Further, I recommend going the red fixed-mode cleat. Both the cleat and pedal will last far longer.
Good luck!

PeteHski

I like Shimano clipless road pedals. I have current 105 and DuraAce pedals. Functionally they are the same. The bearings are just smoother on the latter. 105s are good value.

PeteHski

I value the longevity of my knees more than the cleats! I get at least a year out of a pair of cleats and the pedals themselves don't seem to wear at all.

roadcrankr

Hopefully, the OP's knees do not impact his decision. My guess is his are okay, since he currently uses toe clips.
If someone rides for any length of time on wet roads, a floating cleat will grind away at the pedal.
Anyway, that's what I've seen with a few setups used by others.
I generally reach around 14,000 miles with the fixed mode cleats, but mostly "wear out" due from walking! lol

datlas 

Lots of options and pretty much all of them are viable. If you have the chance to try some out at a LBS or from a friend, you may wish to do so.

FWIW I use Look Keo 2 and with the grey (slight float) cleats and am pleased, but honestly any of the suggestions could work for you.

Broctoon

I really like Speedplay (now Wahoo), but I also use Shimano SPD-SL on one bike. I have 105 pedals. I think 105s are a good value. Going up to Ultegra or Dura Ace doesn't give much benefit per dollar spent.

Speedplay sets come with shims and adaptors to mount their four bolt cleats on any three bolt road shoes. They are not very walkable if you just use the bare steel cleats, but you can slip a rubber cover over the cleat when off your bike, and it helps a lot. There's also a model with a rubber piece surrounding the cleat at all times that helps. It makes them about as walkable as SPD-SL. I find them easier to clip in and clip out than SPD-SL, but a little harder than a two-sided SPD (mountain or touring pedals/cleats with two bolts).

The Look Keo line and some Time models are also reportedly very good. It might come down to what you can find a good deal on.

Sy Reene

I'm amazed -- 10 responses so far and not one recommendation for 2-bolt cleats and walkable shoes. I know its the road forum, but actually even expected some usual suspects to chime in with the just ride flat pedals.. there's no scientific proof yadda yadda

Anyway, I'll pile on with another Speedplay recommendation, though admittedly haven't tried the Wahoo version of them, and the OP's price point means the Comp model with the easy tension cleats.

79pmooney

Let the knees decide. They know and will tell you. For some, float is G**'s gift. For others like me, float would have me getting doctor installed aftermarket knees. (I knew float was out of the question for me long before clipless pedals were invented. Took until 2000 before anyone told me no-float clipless systems existed. Before that it was salesman after salesman telling my float was G**'s gift to all.

A smart first clipless pedal might well be LOOK or Shimano's LOOK near copy(SPD-SL) where one can use any of several cleats with varying degrees of float. (Shimano made those pedals that could go either way because their showcase sponsored rider insisted on using no-float pedals. He won 7 Tour de Frances on Shimano equipment except LOOK pedals and cleat; always using the black no-float cleats.)

Edit: As Broctoon point out for Speedplay, there are rubber covers for both both LOOK and the SPD-SL pedals. (Kool Kovers. At many bike shops.) Spares floors and makes walking on the cleats far less treacherous. Saves the cleats too.

79pmooney

Question - does Speedplay have a pedal that can go float or no-float with just a pedal change. I don't know so I didn't list it inm y pedal choices above.

Eric F 

The old Speedplay Zero (which is different than the Wahoo Speedplay Zero) had an adjustable float range, including down to 0deg. I've always used the old X-series pedals, which do not have an adjustable range.

Sy Reene

The new Speedplay zeros do this too.

Eric F 

Good info. I'm not deeply familiar with the Wahoo versions other than they look a lot like the old X-series. It seems that they have included some of the old Zero-series features.

Voodoo76

I was on Looks going from the start of clipless. A few years on Shimano's. Spend 5 years or so on Speed play. Then went back to Shimano a couple years ago. The last change I was shopping to replace several worn out pedals & decided I wanted a power option. Went with DA first then a pair of Rally dual sided. Never tried Time. All reasonable solutions in my opinion, since it's a point of contact like seats or handlebars its individual & subject to your fit/setup. My rating would be:

Retention: All about the same in my experience. I set up with a light release, still have a 1200-1300 watt jump, and have not had any retention issues.
Ease of clipping in: Speed play > Shimano > Look. Close but for me the DA pedals in particular sit in a nice position to catch.
Ease of clipping out: All about the same
Quality of float: Speed play > Shimano > Look, I run the yellow cleats
Stability: Shimano = Look > Speed play
Durability: Shimano = Look > Speed play
Walking in cleats: All about the same & a non factor for me

mattcalifornia

Speedplays are a bit controversial. There is a British bike fitter on the Cade media YouTube channel who preaches against them. (Blanking on his name right now). I've been riding Look cleats since the 80s and never had any reason to switch. I use the gray cleats with float. I've heard good things about the Time road pedals. I have Time MTB pedals on my gravel bike and they are really nice. Easy to clip in and out, good float, solid engagement.

The truth is, any of the pedal systems should be fine once you get used to them, assuming you set up the cleats correctly.

Eric F 

Agreed. I'm using Time ATAC pedals on my gravel bike, MTB, and an old school pair on my 20+yo singlespeed MTB. They've been my choice in the dirt for a very long time.

georges1

Look pp276 or Look pp286 or Look pp247 or Look pp356 for the road bikes and the SPD-T- 780 or SPD-T-8000 for the MTBs

rsbob 

Bought a set of Look Carbon pedals and they were tough to clip into and squeaked when climbing out of the saddle. Squeaks are not acceptable. Bought a pair of Shimanos and liked them so well, I bought another pair for the backup bike.

Actually, I bought two pairs of Look Keos, one the mid=level and it squeaked too. Went to the internets and it is a very common complaint.

Garthr

Well I ride flat pedals and Altra trail running shoes even on my road bike these days. I too grew up with toe clips and straps, bought the very first LOOK clipless pedals, the Time pedals in 1990. I have large feet so the larger platform of the Time was nice. I have nothing against clipless pedals but I can't say I ever liked hard soled cycling shoes, mostly because of the foot shape and poor fit(squished toes). I see now Bont(not a company back then) has shoes that are more shaped like my feet, but frankly, I enjoy being able to get off my bike and walk normally. All my shoes are zero drop, for reference, and low profile save the Altra(25mm stack) and that's because my thinner stack height(Merrel Vapor Glove @6.5mm) shoes were bruising the bones of my feet !

I realize many cyclists are enamored with "performance", keeping track of how far, how fast, power etc., or should I say the industry that promotes that way of thinking would have one believe that it is all important. It's never been my thing though. I don't play games, and all of that is surely a numbers(commodities) game, rather like Monopoly. I like to hammer at times, but have no care about how fast I'm going in terms of a number(as a commodity) as that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual experience of the doing/being/living IT ! Seeing a number on a device doesn't add or subtract from that. Numbers, it appears, are all about numbers. I'm not a number, non-quantifiable, I'm M-E Me , as we all are.... no one can deny themselves.

So hey, I don't see how ArgoMan changing to clipless pedals from clipped will be anything but a lateral move. I've done things like that too, getting swept into believing something that's already working should be ditched in favor for something else, because it's "better". Better for who ? The one selling it, of course, hah hah ! I can't help but think of all those late night infomercials I used to see, when I had a TV that is! It was so easy to get swept up into believing I actually needed a product that I had never heard of, because the "demonstration" was so utterly convincing that I just HAD to have it and my life was less-than without it. I never bought anything from such, but the draw was undeniable, until I turned off the TV and realized I was perfectly fine without a fix for something that wasn't broken.

Iride01 

Well here goes...

What makes a "quality" pedal for short fast rides? Usually big bucks are more for marginal gains that involve longer rides so one can be fast at the end.

I'm happy with my pd-a520's. SPD cleat but on a pedal intended for road use. I've used them on all my bikes for the last 13 years. When new they don't flip to the proper angle to clip in. But after being used for a while they begin to act like they should.

They are reasonably light a 315 grams. If not weight weenie enough then there is the PD-A600 which is a similar SPD pedal at 286 grams. The top of the line DuraAce SPD-SL PD-R9100 is 228 grams for comparison.

My pd-a520's are easy to lube and if you have the Shimano pedal tool. Only one pedal ever needed the bearings adjusted out of the four that I have.

eduskator

What exactly is the problem with your current ones? IMO, I don't believe the investment is worth the marginal gains (if there are any?).