Look vs Time cleats

[Demonclimber]

Any advice gratefully received on difference (if any) of Look vs Time cleats for walking around on. Leading a couple of road bike tours this Summer and probably on and off the bike a few times - even considering violating Rule #34 and getting (sshhhhh) a pair of Mtn bike shoes and pedals to make the whole walking experience easier - surely that must be better than ungracefully skating ones way, arms flailing, into a delightful French Alpine roadside Cafe on road cleats?? Although would the French throw you out of a cafe for wearing you know what shoes on a road bike? Or just shake their heads gently, shrug the shoulders and mutter 'pfffttt, les anglais' Let the debate begin.....

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Look pedals with a set of cleat covers stuffed in the jersey pocket.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/look-keo-cleat-cover/

Any french bloke sense would just shake their heads gently, shrug the shoulders and mutter 'pfffttt, les anglais' if you were wearing time cleats

 

[Globalti]

In the Alps I'd be interested in shaving every possible gramme off my bike so I would stick with Keos, which with the shoes are about half the weight of an SPD setup.

And no, no French cafe owner would mind you walking in with cleats. People walk in with filthy walking boots and ski boots.

That said, I was once in Paris and earwigging a conversation between two old ladies in a cafe. It had snowed for a couple of days and there was snow lying on the pavements. I heard one of them saying to the other in shocked tones: "...and do you know, people are even walking around the streets in SPORTS CLOTHING!"

 

[Paul.G.]

I've used Look Keo's for years on my road bike and SPD Mountain bike style shoes and cleat combo on my cross/winter bike. Over the years the advantages of the SPD set-up over the Keo's such as easy walking, not slipping around like a fool fixing punctures etc made me throw caution to the wind and laugh in the face of the fashion police, SPD two sided pedals now fitted to the Colnago with nice new shoes. I can ride the bike in trainers on quick hops to the shop, quick easy pull-away at busy junctions and no more silly Monty python style walks. Not saying it would work for everyone but we "roadies" usually overlook the advantages of SPD and if you thing weight is an issue, you could always loose half a pound.

 

[youngoldbloke]

If you use Keos get Keo 'Grip' cleats. They solve the 'ice skating' problem. I've found the 'funny walk' effect lessens with time - you just get used to it, but always carry an allen key to remove the cleats in case a long hike became unavoidable.

 

[eck]

You can also get rubber covers to slip over your cleats to prevent wear and slippage when off the bike.
But you DO need to remember to take then off again before you get back on the bike. DAHIKT.

 

[youngoldbloke]

You can also get rubber covers to slip over your cleats to prevent wear and slippage when off the bike.
But you DO need to remember to take then off again before you get back on the bike. DAHIKT.

Have those but never use them - take up a lot of space and find them a hassle to get on and off. Lot of our club riders use Look and I can't think of any of them using them.