This is a flashback for me. Sometime around 1984, I was spinning along on my Raleigh Pro securely stapped in with my wooden sole Duegis when I was run off the road. The front wheel dropped into some soft sand and I ended up doing a full loop. One witness said that when he looked over he saw me upside down in the air perfectly positioned on the bike. As he put it, if he had a video camera, I could have replaced the skiier on Wide World of Sports. I landed hard on my side but was able to ride home on slightly out of true wheels. Next day getting out of bed was extremely painful, finally diagnosed as broken ribs. After mulling this over during my down time, I was convinced that I could have saved it if I could have uncliped. I ended up buying the Mavic Look pedals but they didn't live long. Next step was the Shimano Dura Ace Look pedals (PD 7401). These were wonderful, easy to use and durable. I liked them so much that when I built up a C Record / Cobalto Basso, I bought another pair. I still have them and they get ridden. It might seem sacreligious but these are what go on the Legnano when I take it to the track. Also perfect for my road fixed. I have failed modern Looks but the PD 7401's have been trouble free for almost 20 years. Even Lance didn't give his up until a couple of years ago. These may not be exactly the period you are looking for but they are close, look good and in spite of the Shimano label, they were made in France. Worth considering..
Norm Lafleur
Ashfield, Ma.
Still watching the snow melt.
> 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