Shimano 7701 Dura-Ace

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
any with little/no traffic

Bike Setup:
all d/a

Summary:
Good pedal with low weight, fairly good float, though not as natural feeling as the Time, never disengaged accidentally in 12 months of use. Unfortunately don't last, and Shimano Australia do not back their product as they should.

Strengths:
light weight, very close to axle, I could drop my seat about 5mm after changing from Time Equipe pro Mag. (the lowest Time pedal). Solid connection,nice to be able to walk in and out of coffee shops without bruises all over your backside.

Weaknesses:
Durability and warranty are far below par. Within 3 months the pedals showed significant signs of wear, so much so, that there was a large degree of free play in the pedals, causing knee problems. Replacingthe black plsatic bit iin the middle did not fix the problem. Shimano did not want to know about the problem. (I have had this problem before with A D/A BB that wore out within 3 months. They then told me that d/a was like a formula 1 car part. It needed replacing and servicing frequently. No warranty. I laughed and asked the service person what planet he was from. I think he mumbled he was a cling on.
I have ridden th eold style Time pedals the last 10 years and they have never worn out,except the sealed bearings need replacing 3-4 yeary. I suspect the weight saving is in the butter like metal alloy they have used in that particular pedal.

Similar Products Used:
Time eqqupe pro Mag (excellent, but very heaavy) Keywin (flimsy), Look (Hmmm)

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Total Cycling

Favorite Ride:
fast

Bike Setup:
Trek 5500 Project One with Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra, Mavic Ksyrium SSC-SL, Fizik Aliante, Record Seatpost

Summary:
I've only used them for about 3 weeks, but enough to post this review. I'm using the whole Shimano package (shoes R215 with Dura-Ace 7800's cleats and pedals). The cleats are easy to walk with and in my own opinion not as easy to release them from the pedals as some other riders say. They look really nice on my bike, haven't try them on sharp turns, so I'm not really confident to say they keep good ground clearance while turning. Eventhough they are easy to release I'm getting use to clip them and I'm sure they will get even better/easier for both operations. What I don't really like about them is the little float (being a 4 year Speedplay user). About the wider platform I cannot say it's a really cool feature, since never felt the "hot spot" on my previous Speedplay which are narrow platform.

Strengths:
Look nice, light weight, easy to engage.

Weaknesses:
Not double sided, little float, hard to release (even with the lesser tension in the adjuster spring).

Similar Products Used:
Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-R pedals

Price Paid:  $145.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Any without cars

Bike Setup:
Fondriest, DA, FSA crank, Kestrel pro bars, Thomson seat and stem.. Daves Dream speed wheels (great wheels)

Summary:
Once I'm in them they are fine, but I have to ride through traffic with stoplights to get away from town. That is the only problem. I have the yllow cleats with float. I was replacing the time equipe Ti.

Strengths:
They feel great on the feet, good in turns and you can walk in the cleats!

Weaknesses:
They are not as easy to clip into and I still seem to have a problem getting into them at stop lights. Not a big problem but one leg pedaling across intersections is a pain.

Similar Products Used:
Time equipe Ti

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
After purchasing these pedals I was very happy with them. I found them easier to engage and disengage than the time mag pro's I was riding and the ground clearance was fantastic through fast corners. About five months in I began to develop sorness in my hip and knee. I was riding the floating yellow cleats and what was happening was that the black plastic piece in the middle of the pedal had worn a groove out in the middle from clipping in and out,the shoe on a down stoke was slipping across the pedal and felt sloppy on an upstroke. I changed to a fixed cleat which stopped the side slipping however because of the groove there is still a lot of slop in your up stroke (regardless of how much you tighten the pedals up) where it gives the sensation of the shoes/cleat seperating from the pedal.

Strengths:
Very simple design, simple to engage

Weaknesses:
the centre plastic piece that has worn out and the sloppiness in the pedal cleat

Similar Products Used:
various look pedals, most recently time mag pro's.

Price Paid:  $240.00 at Adventure Cycle and

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Evans Highway

Bike Setup:
Trek 5500. Dura ace, TTT, Mavic Ksyriums, etc, etc

Summary:
I am talking about the new "Lance pedal" here. Shimano SPD-SL's. Stiff click in at first but they come around. Very reliable once you are in and the float feels very natural. Great cornering clearance and durable cleats that have built in walking pads.

Strengths:
Light, durable cleats, smooth entry and release, cornering clearance, base of shoe to spindle distance very small. Reliable hold

Weaknesses:
screws that come with cleats are too short. Just buy different ones. Finish gets beat up easy on the sides. Price, but it is your knees.

Similar Products Used:
Look pedals. Same design as Shimano but not as smooth or reliable