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