Which Pedals to Choose?

Thomas who lives in Norway and Spain is considering a new set of pedals. He has had a look at pedals from Mavic and Shimano, but wants to know which pedals we would recommend. These are our choices.

Question:
Can you please help me make a choice? I’m going to buy new pedals. I’ve been looking at Mavic Race SL Ti and Shimano’s Dura-ace. On the internet there are many comparisons/tests of all cycle components, but I haven’t found any about pedals. Please help me make a choice.

Thanks,
Thomas
Norway/Spain.

Hi Thomas.

If you are a Norwegian and live in Spain, you must live where most Norwegians live; in Alfaz del Pi? Or maybe not!

In the BCR office we have a mix of pedal use, Time, Look and Shimano.

Look
Look were the first clip-less pedals and they have the design that everyone copies and even Look themselves have returned to a very similar design to their original. Look use a fairly large plate which gives you comfort and a solid base. Look also have various amounts of “float” giving you movement to save injury. The new Look Keo Carbon / Ti pedals are great and are well worth a “LOOK” weighing in at 190 grams are probably the lightest.

Time
Time pedals first came on the market as a competitor to Look and many riders use them and are very happy. They have a slightly different shoe plate that is a little narrower but about the same length as the Look, so the support is the same, but Time plates are lower. The bearings are out-board with the body more cut away for weight saving. The Time RXS Carbon Titanium is very light at 195 grams.

Shimano
Shimano have changed their pedal designs over the years, but they have come back to a look style plate in fixed or with float. Their best are the Dura-Ace pedals; all metal and weighing in at 281 grams. As you would expect from Shimano they are well made with smooth bearings. Not the lightest, but top quality.

Mavic
The Mavic Race SL Ti pedals are fairly new on the market and are again very similar to the Look pedals, mostly alloy with a titanium axle, carbon friction plate and a low profile body. Not too light at 220 grams, but still nice.

If I was buying a new set of pedals it would be the Look Keo Carbo Ti pedals, for lightness, style and comfort. There are many other pedals around, but then these Look the best.

Which will you go for? Tell us.