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Body: Another 15,000kms, another new pair of pedals. Either the bearings wear out (and are non-replaceable), or the carbon-fibre wears away and won't hold onto the cleats properly.
I've looked and looked and looked at the current batch of new pedals and can't quite make my mind up. Even though I don't really like the latest Keo 2 Max Carbon pedal, I think I'll get a pair anyway. They're cheap enough, they have no weight limit (which means they're strong), and they aren't for life anyway – just a year or so until they wear out.
I've concluded the choice just isn't that important. The rain and grit of winter will pass, racing season will begin, and a new pedals will be needed.
R.
Old Look Keo Carbon Ti:
Pedal | Weight (2 x pedal+cleats) | Cost | Pros | Cons | Look Keo Carbon Ti | 220g | Around £175 | Light, stable, rust-proof, uses popular Keo cleats | No longer manufactured, wear out after 15,000kms |
So, out with the odl pedals, and in with what exactly? Pedal developments have been arriving thick and fast over the past few months. Look made a big noise about not only the new Keo Max pedals, but also the Keo Blade.
Keo 2 Max Carbon:
I'm tempted by these, but somehow they seem to be downgrade over what I already have. When I buy new parts, I like to upgrade if I can afford it. The 'Max' Keo's have a metal plate on the main cleat contact area, which in theory will protect the underlying carbon platform, however I've never once worn out the carbon in this spot – the bit of the pedal I always wear out is the clamping bit at the back – the top lip just gets ground away after thousands of cleat insertions.
Pedal | Weight (2 x pedal+cleats) | Cost | Pros | Cons | Look Keo 2 Max Carbon | 264g | Around £110 | Light'ish, cheap, more stable Max platform, Max platform protects carbon base, uses popular Keo cleats | Cr-Mo axle, presumably still wear out after 15,000kms |
Keo Blade:
Next on the shopping list should be the new top-of-line Keo Blade – these have no steel spring, instead they use a newly designed carbon 'blade' to provide tension that holds the cleat in place. Here's a few pictures of them, I can't quite work out wether these look great or horrible.
 
Pedal | Weight (2 x pedal+cleats) | Cost | Pros | Cons | Look Keo Blade | 258g | Around £220 | Light'ish, expensive, clip-in evidently feels better | Not in stores yet, presumably still wear out after 15,000kms |
Exustar E-PR200CKTi:
Exustar cleat hardware is really nice, 4mm Ti allen screws (instead of Look's standard 3mm alloy screws), and they some crazy carbon-fibre Keo cleats for sale too – if they make screws this nice, what are their pedals like? They are fully-compatible with Look Keo cleats. Reasonably prices for full carbon-Ti pedals, and a different look.
 
Pedal | Weight (2 x pedal+cleats) | Cost | Pros | Cons | Exustar E-PR200CKTi | 220g | Around £150 | ? | Not yet in stores, presumably still wear out after 15,000kms |
Exustar E-PR100KKTi:
Pedal | Weight (2 x pedal+cleats) | Cost | Pros | Cons | Exustar E-PR100KKTi | 234g | Around £180 | Nice carbon weave | Comes with rider weight limits – maybe they are weak, presumably still wear out after 15,000kms |
Published: 16/01/2010 14:17
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