Look Keo vs Speedplay

Speedplay are a lot easier to clip into and you can corner better/more aggressively (especially helpful during crits) although I use look style pedals because I like the larger platform for my foot during TTs

It's worth noting that Speedplay has not undergone a substantial redesign for many, many years.

As the technology stream of pedals has flowed, I'll suggest it has flowed past Speedplay in some ways. In others, Speedplay is still a valid system.

One thing to remember with Speedplay is that it is maintenance intensive. The cleats need to be kept clean. They can dirt foul easily, the "X" series cleats foul a little easier than the Zeros, which have an ever-so-slightly different "C" clip spring design.

Another anomoly with Speedplay is that, if regular PMCS (Preventative Maintenance, Checks and Services) isn't performed the pedal/cleat interface wears quickly. That causes the pedal to move in the "roll" axis on the pedal to an alarming degree. I've had clients come in with knee pain, clipped their shoes into their pedals and then showed them how much I can easily "rock" or roll their shoe from side to side when clipped into their Speedplay that their jaw drops. It's pretty easy to imagine this could be a contributing factor to knee pain.

Also, cleats for Speedplay are easy to set up and install, but do need to be done by someone who has, at the very least, read the instructions thoroughly. A common issue is over-tightening some of the top plate mounting bolts, and this constricts the "C" clip spring from working properly. Read the directions thoroughly. Service and clean the pedals weekly.

Look, on the other hand, is a little easier to work with: less hardware, less need for specific torque setting for fasteners. That said, the polymer (read: plastic) cleats wear very fast, especially on the foot you put down when you stop. Inspect and change your cleats regularly. Almost no one does.

Well only one data point here, I guess I've had dumb luck with my Speedplays. Almost 2 years and ~4500 miles, I haven't done any maintenance. Didn't know maintenance was required. No knee issues.

They've been my only pedals so I'm not comparing them to anything else when I say they're very easy to clip in and out of. I'm still waiting to fall over in them, so far so good.

"Well only one data point here, I guess I've had dumb luck with my Speedplays. Almost 2 years and ~4500 miles, I haven't done any maintenance. Didn't know maintenance was required. No knee issues."

It might be worth looking at your pedal/cleat interface and at least checking it for wear.

Here is a link to Speedplay's webpage with the .pdf file describing the suggested maintenance:

http://speedplay.com/pubs/instructions/X_Cleat_Set_Instructions_2011_06_29Web.pdf

And an excerpt from that page:

"NOTE: Damage due to the lack of lubrication is not covered by Speedplay's warranty policy. Speedplay recommends that the X Pedal bearings be greased with a pump-type grease gun at least every 2000 miles or every three months. Pedals should always be lubricated immediately after riding in wet, rainy, or unusually dusty conditions."

Thanks Tom! 

It's a bummer not having a LBS.

I was disappointed in how fragile the KeO cleats are, I saw they were obviously not going to last forever as they were getting scratched, but they worked fine up until last week when I saw a big crack down the middle of my right cleat. 

A friend of mine has Looks on his 2nd bike and Speedplay on his primary, he prefers Speedplay.  If nothing else, caughing up $25-$30 on cleats that last less than 1,500 miles in my case is annoying.

I started using Speedplay a few months ago and I have really liked them.  They are easy to clip in and out of and I feel that I have more control over my bike in turns and down hills.  That being said, if I don't clean out the "C" clips on my shoes I can have some issues clipping in.  I have just made it part of my normal weekly bike clean up and lube. 

I may be a little more OCD then the rest of you but I like to clean my bike.

"Neither. Get Time pedals.

Ask Tom. He'll tell you."

It's true. Time is best.

Not sure why you are only getting 1500mi out of Keo cleats unless you are walking a lot on pavement or gravel without cleat covers (~US $10-15).  Keo's are my fav road cleat.  I get multiple years' use from Keo std grey cleats, but I do not walk much on 'em without covers. HOWEVER Keo "Grip" cleat is a PITA for me.  That "walkable" tread material on bottom cleat surface gets messed up & starts to interfere with cleat clip-in/clip-out, and the lack of white (teflon?) layer on clipping surface seems to make for less smooth clip-in.

Tom's point re- Speedplay care is a good one.  In last 3 yrs I've seen 3 incidents of SP cleat malfunction on long group rides (2 broken cleats & one bad jam).  None of these riders ever did any regular cleat cleaning/maintenance, and in 1 case the cleat was <3mo old (warranty claim?).  OTOH- Those who clean/lube regularly seem quite satisfied with SP system.

I used Look Keo for 3 years, no issues other than clipping in at stop signs/lights when tired and not focused was sometimes a pain.

Now have Speedplay Zero's, have had no issues with performance, have only put a few hundred miles in them though and was told to make sure the maintenance was performed.

That said, my regular riding buddy found his speedplay's were un-clipping frequently, was told by the LBS it was worn cleats, he had a couple of seasons in them.  He called Speedplay directly, was told the cleats should not be worn out at all, sent then through to speedplay (cleaned and returned them, along with a new set, free!!)

not bad customer service considering they could have told him to replace after two seasons.

I think Tom is correct, look after the cleats, at least, I was advised the same.

ease of use (riding and setup), adjustable setup, foot position etc.  the Speedplay are just great.

To and from the back of my truck from the drivers side door, sometimes along a parking lot getting ready for a group ride, and a short transition area in one tri because I don't have tri shoes so I can't leave them on the bike. 

Look at any site with reviews, I'm hardly the only one mentioning the short lifespan.

The Looks were my first set.  5000+ miles in the last 18 mos., and I just replaced my first cleat 2 weeks ago because I chipped the front of it off in transition.  I love them!

I use Speedplay Zeros and I am very happy with them.  I have never used "Look" style pedals so I have no valid reference point for comparison.  The things that attracted me to the Speedplays in the first place were double sided entry (coming from mountain biking I learned to appreciate the double sided SPD mountain pedals and now it's a psychological thing where I'm just used to that), and the fact that you can dial in some degree of float if you so desire.  

I have to qualify this by admitting when I first bought these pedals, triathlon was not even a glimmer in my eye at that time, so my decision criteria was based simply on road cycling.  Now that I'm doing triathlons I just bought a tri-specific bike, and I am currently switching my single pair of Speedplays between both bikes until I decide what to do long term.  I do have concerns about grassy transition areas and getting debris stuck in the cleats, potentially leading to clip-in mishaps.  If I ever get around to perfecting the flying mount, then this won't be an issue.  But for now I am still running through transition with my shoes on.  I honestly don't know if I will use Speedplays or go with a "Look" style for the tri bike long term.   

I have Look Keo.  I don't even think about clipping in any more -- it just happens, hill, traffic, whatever.  This was not true for the first few months, and for that time, I was definitely careful to avoid difficult clipping-in situations.  Now:  I love them.  BTW, because the platform is pretty big, you can just put your foot down and pedal almost as if it were a platform pedal.  That's what I did for probably a year in difficult clipping situations.  Now my foot just finds the clip without really thinking about it.