Forbidden combination: Are current carbon cranks from Campagnolo not allowed to be combined with pedals from Look and Speedplay? A warning in the assembly instructions for the Record, Chorus and Centaur groupset bottom brackets leads to this conclusion. It states that only pedals with an axle thread length of at least 11.7 millimetres may be screwed onto the cranks mentioned; in addition, the contact surface of the pedal axle on the crank must have a diameter of at least 17.9 millimetres.
If these dimensions are not met, critical stresses can occur on the cranks, which can cause the pedal eyes glued into the cranks to fail. As TOUR's measurements have shown, widespread system pedals such as the Kéo models from Look, all current Speedplay pedals and Shimano pedals from the "Ultegra SPD-SL" and "105 SPD-SL" series should not be fitted to Campa cranks. We asked Bastian Petri, responsible for technical service at Campagnolo Germany, about this.
TOUR:Mr Petri, do Campagnolo riders who screw Look or Speedplay pedals onto their carbon cranks live dangerously?
Bastian Petri: No. The warning dates back to the introduction of multidirectional carbon cranks. Back then, the pedals with the smallest dimensions available at the time were used as the basis for calculating the pedal eyes, which were initially still made of aluminium. Since mid-2004, however, reinforced steel inserts have been used in all carbon cranks. Since then, Campagnolo has been working with the dimensions 11.5 millimetres and 17.5 millimetres in internal tests.
TOUR: Does this mean that Look and Speedplay pedals can be screwed onto the Campagnolo carbon cranks without hesitation?
Petri: Yes. All carbon cranks with Ultra-Torque bottom bracket technology (recognisable by the shaft that splits in the middle; editor's note) can be fitted with Look and Speedplay pedals without risk. This also applies to the carbon cranks of the Campagnolo subsidiary brand Fulcrum. Should problems nevertheless occur, the warranty will of course apply. However, Shimano pedals from the "Ultegra SPD-SL" and "105 SPD-SL" series, whose pedal thread is only 10.7 millimetres long, are outside the specifications. These pedals should not be fitted.
TOUR:If most pedals now fit: Why isn't the irritating warning label changed?
Petri: As part of the constant updating of our assembly instructions, these are currently being revised accordingly. This cannot yet be seen in the current installation instructions and on the warning sticker, also because larger dimensions naturally do not have a negative impact on safety.
