Only used Look Keos, not that enamoured with them.
Cleats dont last the crucial bit that holds the body on the axle is plastic and mine keeps undoing on one side and the thread is stripped.
SO what to get ?
Shimano
Speedplay

Or is there any other alternative ?

My kheo carbons have been great for 2 seasons 4k miles….maybe you got a duff set?

speedplay for a few years…great, look good, a little strange at first.

Speedplay

Shimano 105s.

Road pedals get bashed about, so buying expensive ones is not a great idea.

Shimano at whatever budget suits.

DT78 – Member

My kheo carbons have been great for 2 seasons 4k miles….maybe you got a duff set?
They are in their 3rd season cleats bought last July have just snapped. done about 15k glad the rest of the bike is lasting more betterer

Shimano 105s.

…the new carbon ones

Speedplay user here, Had them a few years and get on well with them.

15k for a couple of sets of cleats sounds okay to me? Though I’ve only used look and I’m still on the first set

“thread is stripped” you need new shoe insert?

KEO cleats are cheese, but my KEO Blades have been flawless. If I was starting again and didn’t have five bikes with KEOs, I’d go with Shimano next time. The cleats last longer and the pedals are easier to clip into.

I have the shimano a600 which work with normal cleats

Makes life easier with not needing road specific shoes, and they are actually lighter than a lot of the top end ones. I’m probably breaking a few rules but to me they look sufficiently “roadie” and they work well.

speedplay

frog

mtb shoes

(best for walking up the hills 🙁 )

So I’m going to start looking at Shimano, thanks all.
As for walking up hills, on some I may be faster 🙁

A600s and carbon mtb shoes here too. Never got on with roadie pedals or the shoes.

TIME.

Shimano are Look copies at the end of the day, so if you don’t like Looks, then Shimano won’t offer much different.

R540 SPD SL – currently about 20quid and that includes cleats, I can’t see why you’d bother with posh ones unless you want to lose 100g and are prepared to pay another hundred quid on dura-ace for the privilege (248g vs 330g)

Go for the Shimano PDR 550s – £30 on CRC at the moment and very good.

If I was starting again and didn’t have five bikes with KEOs, I’d go with Shimano next time. The cleats last longer and the pedals are easier to clip into.

This, albeit with fewer than 5 bikes. I used to use SPD-SLs, switched to Keos 10 years ago, but would get Shimanos if starting again. Bearings last longer, pedals last longer, cleats last longer, they’re easier to get into. They’re slightly heavier.

Dura Ace pedals would take it below the legal [6.8 kg] race limit, mind would match the group set.
Thinking the Ultegra though for pockets sake.

My R540 are my first ever clipless pedals (ride flats on the MTBs, only recently got a road bike) and I find them pretty difficult to clip into – I was looking for something easier to get into – I’m surprised to hear, relatively speaking, they are easy to clip into.

As for walking up hills, on some I may be faster

Shimano road cleats are much softer than mtb cleats and will wear really quickly if you walk in the them.
For the most durable (for walking option) look at speed play or stick with shimano mtg spds

I find them pretty difficult to clip into – I was looking for something easier to get into – I’m surprised to hear, relatively speaking, they are easy to clip into.

Road pedals really come from racing, so clipping in and out is not something you do regularly. Time’s latest pedal is supposed to address some of these issues, but not tired it so don’t know if it works in practise. Ultimately if you want easy of clipping in then get mtb style pedals, but they have the drawback of poor foot support.

Shimano.
I’ve had Time for the last couple of years. They’re great to ride on, but bearings seem to last about 500 miles & can’t be replaced! ( on the xpresso anyway)
Shimano last well, reliable, smooth, cleats last & are cheap.

Dura Ace pedals would take it below the legal [6.8 kg] race limit

Do you do many UCI races 😉

Ultimately if you want easy of clipping in then get mtb style pedals

This +1

I use SPDs on the mountain bike, commuter and road bike with no problems.

, but they have the drawback of poor foot support.

I’ve not found it to be an issue, though I’ve not tried SPD SLs to compare! I’ve certainly not had any hot spots or owt even after 5 hours on the road bike.

Cheers,
Jamie

Stick with MTB pedals – if they’re good enough for Emily Batty 🙂

njee20 – Member

Do you do many UCI races

No but you never know 😉

I’ve got several sets of nearly new Time Carbon Iclic pedals with cleats for sale. Email (in profile) if your intrested