>
>
>In critiquing Kris's post, Steven Maasland clarified a bunch of history (thanks to both). I'd just like to comment on one point on which I'd take a slightly different perspective: Steven wrote:
>
<snip>
>- Look pedals were merely an improvement of the Cinelli and other such
>pedals that came out previously. Like time trial bikes, Look pedals
>were successful because they arrived at a time when many people began
>to have specialized bikes for special uses and there was therefore a
>significant market outlet for them. People call the Cinelli pedals
>widow-makers, but they were never that bad. The biggest problem
>described by most was the difficulty keeping the shoe plates nailed on.
>Look initially worked this problem out with screws for installation
>inside the shoes and then later inserted into the soles.
>
I'd agree with Steven on the timing issue: the market was ready for
clipless pedals when the Looks came out in the early 1980s. I have 2
pair of the Cinelli M-71 WidowMaker, and occasionally ride with one pair
(the older model). Back then, most of either knew how to nail cleats,
or had a good shoemaker who did. My issue is that the Cinelli has an
inherently bad design for road use: To engage and disengage the cleat,
you have to reach down and move a lever. The lever is on the outside of
the pedal. Pulling out engages it, pushing in releases it. It seems
possible to fall and not release it. Not good. The Looks (which I
never owned) solved that by having a foot-operated "automatic" release.
Major difference. BTW, anyone remember the Sampson pedals (first
generation clipless?) Easy on, impossible-off...
harvey sachs mcLean va
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