Bianca Pratorius wrote:
>
> Has anyone had any experience with the 1982-83 original Look pedals? At
> the time when Bicycling magazine was making such a big fuss over them I
> was totally convinced that my Duettos with the grooved cleat was the
> absolute best thing in the world. Around this time I was comming down
> Mount Sutro in S.F. and there is a tight turn to the left before you
> enter onto the street that is level. Everyday, I took the turn a little
> faster, but this day I new I was much too hot into the approach. I was
> afraid to do anything other than feather my Superbe Pro brakes but I
> was unable to scrub off enough speed before I went into my lean. I felt
> the Specialized tires start to give way, and in a moment I skittered
> off into a parked BMW and then promptly bounced back into the center of
> the road, with my left shoulder aimed right at the pavement. Of course,
> I couldn't get out of the pedals because the Christophe clips and
> straps had dug my cleat so far into the MKS pedal rail that release was
> impossible. At the last moment I held out my left hand to prevent my
> shoulder and face from making direct contact.
>
> The next day I was on pain killers for the awesome pain that I was
> experiencing in my left wrist, and I was unable to go to work or ride
> my bike (my only form of personal transport). The hospital gave me a
> clean bill of health, but the pain said otherwise. As I read over Bike
> Nashbar's newsprint catalogue and various cycling mags I got the
> feeling that maybe Look had something to offer that clips and straps
> with cleats didn't. The original Looks seemed more clunky then the
> current variety, but the press were going gonzo over them. Recently I
> have seen some of those original Looks on E-bay, and I am just
> wondering what they were like. I never regretted switching over to
> Looks, and unlike many people, mine don't squeak, pull out in sprints
> or self destruct. However it was a decade later before I made the
> switch, and long after the original model style had been removed from
> the store shelves. Now, the thought of using modern Looks on an 80's
> vintage bike seems a bit less than ideal. I do not want any loss of
> safety that modern Looks provide .. (ie unable to clip out, distracted
> while trying to clip in).... In other words I find the modern one's
> near perfect and would hope that the first one's were just as good. Any
> input?
>
> Garth Libre in Miami Shores
>
> _______________________________________________
Just as good.
Chuck Schmidt in South Pasadena
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