The most important requirements for a system pedal are: easy to click in, easy to release and otherwise securely hold the foot in place. Depending on the individual riding style, weight and strength, the pedal should hold the shoe differently or only release when the pedal is turned to the side to prevent unintentional disengagement - for example in a sprint. Ideally, the release torque can be adjusted and thus adapted to the rider's strength and body weight. In addition to the secure connection, there are also important ergonomic differences: Should the foot be fixed absolutely firmly or offer lateral freedom of movement? This initially seems to be a matter of taste. However, a pedal on which the foot can turn to the side is more likely to reveal whether everything is set correctly. Because only then will the foot be steady and stable on a pedal that is easy to turn. If the forces do not flow vertically through the knee and hip joint, the foot constantly wobbles back and forth, which would be less noticeable with a rigid pedal, but would put strain on the knee. A pedal that is easy to turn is therefore preferable for finding the right setting. A low overall height and a large adjustment range for the cleat on the sole are also desirable.
Three or four holes?
In the current test, we compare the four most popular systems and analyse how relevant the differences are between the inexpensive and expensive models from the respective manufacturers:
- Look Kéo
- Shimano SPD SL
- Speedplay
- Time
You can find the entire article as a PDF download below.
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