not sure why people think there wont be a move or a transition to a new / better systems - large shift in all sorts of systems on the bike have happened - electronic shifting, disc brakes in road etc - there will always be those who dont want to shift, which is fine, but can see this gaining traction quite quickly
Your take makes sense. It's easy to "just" put a new pair of pedals on a bike, as opposed to buying an entirely new bike which is compatible with disc brakes or whatever.
And pedals have gone through drastic change somewhat recently with the change from toe-clips to clipless. Add to that we have multiple different styles of clipless pedals; Look, Time, SPD, Speed play, etc.
@@adamweb old cyclists have a tendency to be old in general. The opinion of those above the age of 30 is something to be discarded since they're already halfway in the grave.
Anything that brings more stability and comfort to a rider will undoubtedly improve performance regardless of aero-gains. Nice bit of kit. Might just be a bit of a sticking point having to buy new shoes to be able to use the pedal system. So time will tell if the adoption happens successfully. Great to see some long standing tech being improved though.
Nothing says comfort like building a shoe/cleat system that barely let's you adjust the cleats to someone's individual preferences. The lower stack height and contact area are the only gains here
Also is the Guy really hesitating as much? The subtitles are riddled with "um" and things like that it's hard to follow and really make it feel like there's just no significant advantage to this new mechanism
This EKoi PW8 pedal system looks impressive and I can immediately comprehend the pedal system benefits. I already use Ekoi cycling shoes so this pedal system seems to be adaptable right away. I look forward to the advancements, and wouldn't mind being an official PW8 pedal tester, hint hint. Video footnote: I see the bike is badged as an Ekoi on the frame, however I also spy a small DeRosa name badging on the top tube, which is the machine I also ride. Def interested in the development of this pedal platform!
The standard Look&SPD-R pedals just suck for walking and the cleat wear is mind boggling. For that reason I moved to SPD also for my road bike couple of years ago. Those pedals look much more useable and durable. And with the big platform they give better support. I would give them a try.
@@fen2453 Imagine if you will, a semi elastic, compressible, grippy material that could be bonded or fastened to the bottom of the shoe to prevent wear on the carbon sole. This could be a step too far, but I think it may yet be possible.
@@RyonBeachnergod its a shame we dont have the technology to make a synthetic compound that could do this since leather would lock some people out of using them
@@MisterCOM What if we tried making such a product by perhaps drying and shaping different forms of tree sap? Or maybe a synthetic petrochemical compound derived of various byproducts of the refining process we employ to power our vehicles… Nah I don’t think that would ever catch on.
@@RyonBeachner If you think that's possible, there's a wonderful spice plantation in the West Indies I'd love to sell you. My wooden cleats have held up for more than a quarter-dozen seasons of racing on the brutal Austro-Hungarian circuit, and I don't really care for any of this alchemical hogwash you seem to be pushing. Tree sap is for drinkin' and wood is for buildin', and that's that!
Possible advantages I see (for me): bigger platform= fewer hot spots; easier cleat adjusting; easier cleat replacement; longer lasting cleats. (Silca will make a Ti version?) Ekoi would be wise to make at least two length axel versions.
Who doesn't want everything to be better? This isn't that though. These have very little room for adjustment. I'm guessing a lot of the riders hated the transition
@global_nomad. the next generation road assiomas will likely get rid of that pod and use the spindle in their mountain pedals. That doesn't mean that spindle can be adapted to this though. Ekoi would need to be designed around Favero vs the other way around. This will stay a very niche pedal system and there's no good reason to Favero to bother with helping them unless they're getting paid a ton of money to adapt to it. Not enough people will be buying this to warrant the R&D
@einundsiebenziger5488 ha, I think they're referring to their spindle being used for this pedal. Similar to how you can retrofit Shimano pedals with Assioma spindles(although you get a laughably wide q-factor that way). Mid-foot cycling's aero pedal body can also be used with an Assioma spindle but without the crazy q-factor.
Looks like a long overdue improvement, it is good to see people pioneering and keep innovating. Hope the industry can quickly adopt this and replace the current road cleat system.
Exactly. I dont see how this is a benefit over SPD because the foot still has to be centered in the same spot whichever pedal one uses, that doesnt change. As far as the 'footprint' or contact patch, its also the same because either way the shoe stiffness is also sharing the load. They are really betting on ALL vendors to re-design shoes and become proprietary only to them? It's like convincing everyone that Betamax video is better now.
I observed some people actually like that even though they wouldn't admit it. They feel they belong to certain elite group of people, those who walk like duck and ride fast road bike.
Reminds me of the Diadora Power Drive system. They worked very good, kinda heavy and kinda expensive but I can say from experience that you couldn't pull out by accident.
@@christopheroliver148 The Indurain era Record groupset isn't as pretty as the LeMond winning groupset in 86 or as "classic" as the Super Record in 85. By far, IMHO, the nicest looking was the C-Record cobalto. The last of the clunker groupsets. Looked aero but wasn't. Weighed more than yo momma and was made from aluminum so soft that it scuffed when you looked at it. After that the delta brake and syncro shift happened and it all went bad. I so wanted to forget to put the f in shift because it would be so fitting - it was that bad. Campag lost the arms race in 84 and has never been the same since. Even their famed Ghibli disk wheel was a rip-off of the Accel kevlar disk wheel.
As I've gotten older, I would like to reduce the height difference between my saddle and handlebars. The lower stack height on these pedal/shoes would be one way to achieve that. The better stability and walkability are added bonuses.
It looks like it could be used for light weight casual shoes too. the walkability factor and the larger pedal would reduce the power loss of softer shoe soles while still allowing push pull pedaling.
This will be a game changer for BMX racing. The only reason everyone uses MTB pedals is walking up a dew flights of stairs to get to the ramp. This will absolutely be lighter and far less bulky than BMX pedals.
The only drawback I see is the shoe wearing out instead of cleat when coming to a stop while riding / while walking. It might be fine for pros who only unclip once a race, but for someone who occasionally stops at a red light and needs to unclip I dread to imagine my expensive carbon shoe is wearing away instead of a cheap plastic cleat. Maybe shoe manufacturers can make the part that contacts the ground replaceable?
Looks like it should be an improvement provided that a suitable shoe is available for a given consumers particular morphology. The “cleats” look to be similarly adjustable to the incumbents, the stack height reduction is a benefit to bike fit and aerodynamics, and walking looks easier, and the cleats would seem to be substantially more durable. What will be interesting is how the cleat placement compares to existing shoes on the market, and if that’s something that would vary substantially from brand to brand as it does currently. For example, Fizik places cleat holes substantially forward of Lake, etc. Also, it would take a fairly large number of manufacturers getting on board to achieve a decent marketshare as many may be hesitant to change shoes, especially those of us on Shimano who probably won’t follow along with this. 😂
I currently use both speedplay for road and Magped for gravel and both have their advantages. The Magped allows my shoes to be walkable because the metal plate is recessed. The pedal is large and and you can choose to use the non magnetic or magnetic side depending on which is best for the conditions.
There goes a part of my kidneys to sell for a pair of those pedals and shoes. Maybe $1500? Or maybe close to $2000? That's the professional version! Definitely lighter. Great for The weight weenies. Price rough idea in Canadian dollars.
The front hook (that is under tension) is fastened with _one_ bolt. The way to unclip on the right foot undoes it. It will spin out the bolt over time.
Have you tried it? Don’t you think the company thought about stuff like that? I mean, they put quite some brain power into that and it’s not like a crappy Asian Company that just puts badly copied garbage on the market
Würde mir das System sofort kaufen . Gerade als Langbeiner hat man ein zu hohen Schwerpunkt auf dem Rad. Die Sattelstütze ist sehr weit ausgezogen und der Spacerturm hoch. Jeder Millimeter den man mit Sattel und Lenker tiefer kommt wirkt sich positiv auf die Kurvenlage und die Stabilität des Rades aus. 5mm in der Höhe kann den Unterschied ausmachen ob ein Rahmen in der Abfahrt zu flattern beginnt oder nicht.
I stopped racing just as clip lesspedals came in yes i am an old man. I have had the opportunity to try clipless pedals a number of times they always feel like there is a block of wood between my shoe and the pedal compared to clips and straps. This is the first time i have seen a design that addresses the height issue, good job.
Looks interesting but wouldn't work with PowerMeter pedals like Assiomas until they figure out how to integrate them. Might just have to be a new spindle?
The point about lifting less weight 30000 times is not valid, since obviously the 2 sides are in balance with one another regardless of what pedal/cleat system you use.
Looks decent, but tough road ahead. Speedplay could barely convince anyone to make a 4-hole shoe. Probably useful for pros, but I don't think the general market will latch on when 3-hole does everything almost everyone needs, and SPD handles nearly everything else. I still cherish my Speedplays and Sidi 4-hole shoes for the float range.
awesome video thanks for the information. I'm curious to see how the system continues to perform. The tourelly pedals are another completely new system. The new ones definitely put pressure on the big guys😜
I have some super ventilated mesh top Ekoi shoes that I love, use them for especially hot days when my SIdi shoes are too hot, but I challenge the idea that all pedals are an update of the original Look pedals, which I owned in the late 80s. I switched to Speedplay in the early 90s and never went back to the Look/Shimano standards for reasons I won't get into (trolls). I love the build quality of Ekoi shoes, but still not seeing a big driver to switch from my current wahoo pedals that populate all my road bikes.
As there’s three main contact points on the bike, saddle, bars and pedals, improvements on any one of these feels pretty big and I have always thought that the pedal needs to be wider or just contact more of the shoe so I can safely say this is a “step” in the right direction!
Metal cleats that don't chew up the floor. That's a win in my book. I was an early adopter of Look in 86 and quickly switched to Time in 87 because of the float. I've been using Speedplay for the last decade or so but even with the agricultural stripped out Roubaix inspired model, they really don't take well to dirt. I like the look of the PW8 system. One thing that wasn't mentioned, that low profile pedal probably gives a few extra degrees of cornering clearance.
With that wide base--they seem awesome! And that more-pedal-less-shoe--I can dig it. Been riding the shimanos for a long time, tried the speed play lollipop and enjoyed. But my next dream bike, I'd like a pair of these. Very cool!
I have been using Time ATAC's on all my bikes for a long time, road, gravel, mountain as I got tired of a 2 shoe\cleat situation. I also hated walking around in the road cleats. If more shoe companies adopt something like this, I would be interested in checking them out as I think the larger platform would be a benefit. I would hate to be limited to a single shoe option.
Wide platform is a must in MTB cos you have more authority on the bike stability to your feet. Way more input force over the bike to turn and of curse pedal
Pretty sure the weight savings would show more of a difference when accelerating than during steady pedaling, since the weight of your pedals is pushing down on the down stroke simultaneously as you are pulling up on the up stroke. Hard to argue with the benefits of getting closer to your axle. I think the big selling advantage will be that it makes walking around the cafe much easier without having to use a MTN bike pedal system. If the price is competitive, I see this doing quite well. Hopefully they are pushing on partnering with some affordable shoe manufacturers.
The big thing for me is to be able to walk with it! For the moment, I'm using SPD shoes just because I hate having to walk with look and I need to walk because regularly... That could be a reason to change my pedal system.
If the metal cleat is recessed with an outsole lug protecting it, I would move to this system just so I wouldn't have to replace my SPD-SL cleats every year.
For recreational users, more stiffness (length) in the pedal would allow for more flexibility in the shoe. This could be great for touring or commuter use. I like the idea of less stack height. It does seem the longer design might be limited in allowing for meaningful and efficient float.
These pedals seem to have all of the features of the Look/Shimano road pedals (wide platform, stability, float, etc.) while also providing a much better shoe experience, more robust cleats, and potentially lighter weight pedals. Win win win! If they were priced competitively with Look/Shimano, then I would definitely consider them.
Two things that weren't addressed in the video, which will have a big bearing on how widely the system is adapted by the public. 1. Will the shoes come in different width fittings? If not that's a large portion of the market made smaller. 2. Since they come with Titanium axles there will be a weight limit. Currently, Speedplays and Crank Bros/Time pedals with Ti axles have a 84 and 90 kg rider limit respectively. That excludes a lot of the recreational riders too. With gravel riders using hydration packs that makes the riders weight limit around 70kg or so!
Just from a brief look, the much larger platform does seem it will give more stability and power transfer. It could be marginal but the low stack height will reduce air drag also. The change on the outsole of the shoe is definitely a plus for all levels and purposes as you can walk without messing up the cleats. Looking at it from more of the market side, I think the advantage has to be very distinct and obvious. As the market share has shifted quite polarized in the last decade or so in favor of Shimano, the reasons to choose otherwise should really stand out and obvious. Otherwise, LOOK would not have given up that much MS and the same for TIME though they both are very decent pedals as well. As a Speedplay user(for mainly the stack height), they seem very intriguing to my preferences. One other thing is, sometimes you gotta pedal with regular shoes on and I wonder if those outer frames will withstand the rider's weight and pounding as they are curved up from the axle.
As far as I can tell these pedals and shoes are still in the pre-production phase so it is not possible to buy them on the open market right now. The articles I have read mention a fall release date which means real consumers probably won't see actual units until 2025
So, my new pedals and shoes....I put the cleats all the way to the front of the shoe, the shoe!! W/o knowing why, I started to ride and have this massive cramps and pain in my upper leg, front, and for two years I figure, maybe because I'm old and my muscles are just going bad............Then I noticed and decided to change the cleat position, all the way to the back, and then!!! Pain goes away! and I'm able to ride longer distance w/o having cramps or massive pain, I get the usual fatigue but not what I experienced before, so, THIS! I'd definitely like to try...........this looks like pain wouldn't be an issue due to cleat positioning.
I am very interested in this I won't lie! It looks very easy to changes those plates and the fact that you can walk normally is really good! This in essence does feel like a road revolution of the Shimano SPD mtb cleats and pedals. With a lower stack and more suited for road use. For the broader public to use them, the price needs to be right. I feel like these will be quite expensive. Especially at first because its a proprietary system that for now only Ekoi will adopt. So they can price it how high they want to. Especially the shoes.. So if prices are going to be comparable to SPD-SL or LOOK ready shoes then people might go for it, especially the riders that are looking for a more performance oriented system.
We don’t see why shoe designs can’t continue to use replaceable rubber sole sections like on Sidi and many mtb shoes, for granted these don’t but they are the first to adopt this system
If a reliable independent party tests this and confirms its improvement claims, then the pros might start using it. If it does not get banned by the UCI. As for the common folk, it depends on how much people need to spend to get to use this. The price of new pedals and the price of new shoes might be too steep for the causal cyclist, but that remains to be seen.
If you can easily walk around in them, they are easy to use and are a bit more stable then this is what most regular riders will find appealing. The aero gains will be an added bonus (not that I am ever that fast!!! 😂)
Pedals + shoes seems to be much more rigid, more support point but it also means it could leave less flexibility for joints and whole ankle while working; it is question mark how it will influence in long term the ankle (joints) conditions since everybody knows that while moving joints need certain play
as far as I can see there is no for/after adjustebility, or is it? That would be a huge throw back!!! And what is with rotational freedom? Remember how many pro riders had knee injuries when the fixed cleats (or before the fixed pedals with straps) where used...
Any details of the bearing system used? Durability and maintainability compared to Shimano would be a key factor for non-racing riders. Speedplay had adaptors for 3 to 4 bolt fixings compromising stack height to widen adoption. Very few 4 bolt pattern shoes were available when i was using them. Ekoi do not seem to have as great a USP so could likely remain a niche brand specific product.
Does the axle move rearward? Does this have an advantage over mid-foot cleats (espoused by Joe Friel)? Is there a concern with toe-front wheel interactions?
Sounds like positive innovation and a solid step forward on something that hasn't moved forward much at all since the invention of the look PP76 clipless pedal back in the early 80s. I just cannot see any real advantage other than other than hiding the cleat so you don't walk like a clown, also brings your foot closer to the pedal spindle with the added larger surface area which will aid stability when out of the saddle. Think I'll stick with my Time Xpresso 15s though!
not sure why people think there wont be a move or a transition to a new / better systems - large shift in all sorts of systems on the bike have happened - electronic shifting, disc brakes in road etc - there will always be those who dont want to shift, which is fine, but can see this gaining traction quite quickly
Your take makes sense. It's easy to "just" put a new pair of pedals on a bike, as opposed to buying an entirely new bike which is compatible with disc brakes or whatever.
And pedals have gone through drastic change somewhat recently with the change from toe-clips to clipless. Add to that we have multiple different styles of clipless pedals; Look, Time, SPD, Speed play, etc.
A lot of old school cyclists hate change and bike tech has never advanced as rapidly as it has in the last 20 years!
@@adamweb old cyclists have a tendency to be old in general. The opinion of those above the age of 30 is something to be discarded since they're already halfway in the grave.
@@gladand PS i'm 56 - dont tell me old people dont do new stuff....
Anything that brings more stability and comfort to a rider will undoubtedly improve performance regardless of aero-gains. Nice bit of kit. Might just be a bit of a sticking point having to buy new shoes to be able to use the pedal system. So time will tell if the adoption happens successfully. Great to see some long standing tech being improved though.
Nothing says comfort like building a shoe/cleat system that barely let's you adjust the cleats to someone's individual preferences. The lower stack height and contact area are the only gains here
@@veganpottertheveganYeah, a fitter dream's product!😂
Im glad to see Philipe Gilbert is still around, hes one of my favorite of the old-school era...
old school? he raced less than 10 years ago. Faber, Magne, Coppi.. this is old school
The auto cc translating cleat into c**t got me dead 😂😂😂
Also is the Guy really hesitating as much? The subtitles are riddled with "um" and things like that it's hard to follow and really make it feel like there's just no significant advantage to this new mechanism
lol
just like the "lot of whats" 😂
@@RémyCLOUARDseriously lol. This person clearly doesn’t speak English as his first language ofcourse he’s going to hesitate
Turned in CC just to see!
This EKoi PW8 pedal system looks impressive and I can immediately comprehend the pedal system benefits. I already use Ekoi cycling shoes so this pedal system seems to be adaptable right away. I look forward to the advancements, and wouldn't mind being an official PW8 pedal tester, hint hint. Video footnote: I see the bike is badged as an Ekoi on the frame, however I also spy a small DeRosa name badging on the top tube, which is the machine I also ride. Def interested in the development of this pedal platform!
The standard Look&SPD-R pedals just suck for walking and the cleat wear is mind boggling. For that reason I moved to SPD also for my road bike couple of years ago. Those pedals look much more useable and durable. And with the big platform they give better support. I would give them a try.
except you wear the carbon off your proprietary shoe instead of a replaceable spdr cleat
@@fen2453 Imagine if you will, a semi elastic, compressible, grippy material that could be bonded or fastened to the bottom of the shoe to prevent wear on the carbon sole. This could be a step too far, but I think it may yet be possible.
@@RyonBeachnergod its a shame we dont have the technology to make a synthetic compound that could do this since leather would lock some people out of using them
@@MisterCOM What if we tried making such a product by perhaps drying and shaping different forms of tree sap? Or maybe a synthetic petrochemical compound derived of various byproducts of the refining process we employ to power our vehicles… Nah I don’t think that would ever catch on.
@@RyonBeachner If you think that's possible, there's a wonderful spice plantation in the West Indies I'd love to sell you. My wooden cleats have held up for more than a quarter-dozen seasons of racing on the brutal Austro-Hungarian circuit, and I don't really care for any of this alchemical hogwash you seem to be pushing. Tree sap is for drinkin' and wood is for buildin', and that's that!
Possible advantages I see (for me): bigger platform= fewer hot spots; easier cleat adjusting; easier cleat replacement; longer lasting cleats. (Silca will make a Ti version?) Ekoi would be wise to make at least two length axel versions.
Definitely. I know for myself, I have to have the longer axel on my pedals
@@krazy1z I assume you mean longer spindles. I use longer spindles for my Speedplay. It is an absolute must.
Isn't that the whole point of carbon shoes? Almost zero flex as it is. Granted ii'm 55kg. But surely it's marginal?
Hot spots are irrelevant when the shoe's sole are made of carbon...
@@Gyikhuszar88 tf...what are you talking about.
I like the idea of a better cleat system for road bikes, just hope assioma do a power meter version.
Who doesn't want everything to be better? This isn't that though. These have very little room for adjustment. I'm guessing a lot of the riders hated the transition
wonder if the lower stack height will make this harder - my Assioma's could do with a smaller lump on the side, though its not in the way. .
@global_nomad. the next generation road assiomas will likely get rid of that pod and use the spindle in their mountain pedals. That doesn't mean that spindle can be adapted to this though. Ekoi would need to be designed around Favero vs the other way around. This will stay a very niche pedal system and there's no good reason to Favero to bother with helping them unless they're getting paid a ton of money to adapt to it. Not enough people will be buying this to warrant the R&D
... Assioma (one company) does* ...
@einundsiebenziger5488 ha, I think they're referring to their spindle being used for this pedal. Similar to how you can retrofit Shimano pedals with Assioma spindles(although you get a laughably wide q-factor that way). Mid-foot cycling's aero pedal body can also be used with an Assioma spindle but without the crazy q-factor.
Looks like a long overdue improvement, it is good to see people pioneering and keep innovating. Hope the industry can quickly adopt this and replace the current road cleat system.
It's a split SPD cleat. Brillant.
reminds me more of the original Time pedal/cleat
@@prowrench7989Those were great! Great cleat fitting system!
basically yeah 😂
@@prowrench7989 TBT for the win! Keeping it 80's style.
Exactly.
I dont see how this is a benefit over SPD because the foot still has to be centered in the same spot whichever pedal one uses, that doesnt change. As far as the 'footprint' or contact patch, its also the same because either way the shoe stiffness is also sharing the load. They are really betting on ALL vendors to re-design shoes and become proprietary only to them? It's like convincing everyone that Betamax video is better now.
Seems interesting, but what about 1) fore/aft adjustment 2) left/right adjustment 3) tension adjustment?
And you can’t shim for leg length or foot angle imbalances either! It does not feel as though they’ve fully thought this design through!
He showed it in the video...
yeah. About time we had a road shoe that didn't make you look like a fool in the cafe!
That will never change. 😅
I observed some people actually like that even though they wouldn't admit it. They feel they belong to certain elite group of people, those who walk like duck and ride fast road bike.
We already have that mountain bike and touring pedals and shoes.
Honestly, this is a huge selling point
@@jojoanggono3229 I am not one of those people
think its a great idea. Keen to try them as soon as the cleat/sole is available for major shoe brands !
11:45 "Hard to determine the advantages - other than the walking and the stability [...] gain." :D Well .. I think that's enough in itself isn't it?
All the design elements totally make sense. Surprised it has taken almost 40 years for a significant rethinking in this direction.
That’s good marketing: “Easier to climb up the podium”
And easier to walk into a pub at the end of a ride😂
@@user-zm9gc1kt8bthats why gravel shoes are superiour 😂
Beyond the performance aspects, I can see these working better when you just want to wear regular shoes and hop on the bicycle for a short ride.
This!!!!!
That's why I liked the SPD SL pedals because they were just big enough to use with a normal shoe and not be totally awful
absolutely. and also, we will have inserts that transforms these to flat pedals in no time at all
I simply use SPD shoes and can walk just fine. Don't see the point in the ones you can't walk in outside of racing.
These are performance claims. Learn the difference.
Reminds me of the Diadora Power Drive system. They worked very good, kinda heavy and kinda expensive but I can say from experience that you couldn't pull out by accident.
Except that diaspora shoes were horrible noodles last I tried. 30-40% less stiff than an S Works.
Glad to see a Campy equipped bike!
That bike is thoroughly gorgeous! Classic lines, fast-looking deep-blue paintjob, Campagnolo Chorus groupset, what's not to like?!
I agree. Campagnolo makes superb groupsets and wheels.
Catch them while you can.
Still isn't as pretty as the Indurain era Record group with the hidden arm alloy crank.
@@christopheroliver148 The Indurain era Record groupset isn't as pretty as the LeMond winning groupset in 86 or as "classic" as the Super Record in 85.
By far, IMHO, the nicest looking was the C-Record cobalto. The last of the clunker groupsets. Looked aero but wasn't. Weighed more than yo momma and was made from aluminum so soft that it scuffed when you looked at it. After that the delta brake and syncro shift happened and it all went bad. I so wanted to forget to put the f in shift because it would be so fitting - it was that bad.
Campag lost the arms race in 84 and has never been the same since. Even their famed Ghibli disk wheel was a rip-off of the Accel kevlar disk wheel.
The split cleat reminds me of the old Time cleats/pedals.
I still got a pair of shoes and pedals. Over 30 years old now. Time to take it out again. 😊
@@gzbike Same here! Pedals are clipped on to the shoes in the closet - ready to go!
@@gzbikeI have some cleats!
I still use time equipe
Wonderful pedal/cleat system, better than Look Deltas (and the later Keos), too bad Look proved to be more popular.
As I've gotten older, I would like to reduce the height difference between my saddle and handlebars. The lower stack height on these pedal/shoes would be one way to achieve that. The better stability and walkability are added bonuses.
It looks like it could be used for light weight casual shoes too. the walkability factor and the larger pedal would reduce the power loss of softer shoe soles while still allowing push pull pedaling.
This will be a game changer for BMX racing. The only reason everyone uses MTB pedals is walking up a dew flights of stairs to get to the ramp. This will absolutely be lighter and far less bulky than BMX pedals.
The only drawback I see is the shoe wearing out instead of cleat when coming to a stop while riding / while walking. It might be fine for pros who only unclip once a race, but for someone who occasionally stops at a red light and needs to unclip I dread to imagine my expensive carbon shoe is wearing away instead of a cheap plastic cleat. Maybe shoe manufacturers can make the part that contacts the ground replaceable?
Looks like it should be an improvement provided that a suitable shoe is available for a given consumers particular morphology. The “cleats” look to be similarly adjustable to the incumbents, the stack height reduction is a benefit to bike fit and aerodynamics, and walking looks easier, and the cleats would seem to be substantially more durable.
What will be interesting is how the cleat placement compares to existing shoes on the market, and if that’s something that would vary substantially from brand to brand as it does currently. For example, Fizik places cleat holes substantially forward of Lake, etc. Also, it would take a fairly large number of manufacturers getting on board to achieve a decent marketshare as many may be hesitant to change shoes, especially those of us on Shimano who probably won’t follow along with this. 😂
I definitely can see having a larger contact could eliminate some hot spots that the current setup can have.
hot spots?
I currently use both speedplay for road and Magped for gravel and both have their advantages. The Magped allows my shoes to be walkable because the metal plate is recessed. The pedal is large and and you can choose to use the non magnetic or magnetic side depending on which is best for the conditions.
There was a shoe/pedal system like this from Diadora back in the '90s that never got popular.
There goes a part of my kidneys to sell for a pair of those pedals and shoes. Maybe $1500? Or maybe close to $2000? That's the professional version! Definitely lighter. Great for The weight weenies. Price rough idea in Canadian dollars.
Also similar to the old Diadora PowerDrive pedals with the curved shape.
The front hook (that is under tension) is fastened with _one_ bolt. The way to unclip on the right foot undoes it. It will spin out the bolt over time.
Have you tried it? Don’t you think the company thought about stuff like that? I mean, they put quite some brain power into that and it’s not like a crappy Asian Company that just puts badly copied garbage on the market
If it is designed to have a form closure with the shoe, the hook cannot twist and therefore the screw won't come loose either.
Würde mir das System sofort kaufen . Gerade als Langbeiner hat man ein zu hohen Schwerpunkt auf dem Rad. Die Sattelstütze ist sehr weit ausgezogen und der Spacerturm hoch. Jeder Millimeter den man mit Sattel und Lenker tiefer kommt wirkt sich positiv auf die Kurvenlage und die Stabilität des Rades aus. 5mm in der Höhe kann den Unterschied ausmachen ob ein Rahmen in der Abfahrt zu flattern beginnt oder nicht.
I stopped racing just as clip lesspedals came in yes i am an old man. I have had the opportunity to try clipless pedals a number of times they always feel like there is a block of wood between my shoe and the pedal compared to clips and straps. This is the first time i have seen a design that addresses the height issue, good job.
I will definitely buy this system if it is on sale.
This system would look great on my future new bike
Are you interested in go faster pedals? Let us know here!
Yesss
For sure, as long as the price is reasonable 🙂
I'll stick with my Speedplay X-series.
Looks interesting but wouldn't work with PowerMeter pedals like Assiomas until they figure out how to integrate them. Might just have to be a new spindle?
I’m interested in pedals and shoes that I can walk in. These look like they fit the bill!
the only real benefit I see is not ruining your cleats when walking! Probably stick with Shimano however.
First bit of new cycling tech I have seen that really moves the needle and isn't just a money grab by the brands.
Honestly, this is brilliant!
@@brunospasta why?
The point about lifting less weight 30000 times is not valid, since obviously the 2 sides are in balance with one another regardless of what pedal/cleat system you use.
lol, did they really make that argument?
Exactly. This has been proven so many times. Light shoes and pedals offer almost zero benefit except just overall system weight.
How do you put leg length difference shims
Instinctively this makes sense. Looking forward to getting the combo at Christmas if it is out!
I like the concept. Can see it catching on as just another pedal system people use like shimano or look.
Looks decent, but tough road ahead. Speedplay could barely convince anyone to make a 4-hole shoe. Probably useful for pros, but I don't think the general market will latch on when 3-hole does everything almost everyone needs, and SPD handles nearly everything else. I still cherish my Speedplays and Sidi 4-hole shoes for the float range.
Pedal makes sense. Life long Dx pedal rider, from when it was still 1/2" thread. Concave pedal hugs the ball of your foot.
awesome video thanks for the information. I'm curious to see how the system continues to perform. The tourelly pedals are another completely new system. The new ones definitely put pressure on the big guys😜
In the pro market I’m sure these are fantastic but I imagine are awful in the general consumer market due to stifling customization and fit.
It looks sleek, has some nice features. I like the longer and wider base which i think might make them more comfortable
I have some super ventilated mesh top Ekoi shoes that I love, use them for especially hot days when my SIdi shoes are too hot, but I challenge the idea that all pedals are an update of the original Look pedals, which I owned in the late 80s. I switched to Speedplay in the early 90s and never went back to the Look/Shimano standards for reasons I won't get into (trolls). I love the build quality of Ekoi shoes, but still not seeing a big driver to switch from my current wahoo pedals that populate all my road bikes.
As there’s three main contact points on the bike, saddle, bars and pedals, improvements on any one of these feels pretty big and I have always thought that the pedal needs to be wider or just contact more of the shoe so I can safely say this is a “step” in the right direction!
Metal cleats that don't chew up the floor. That's a win in my book.
I was an early adopter of Look in 86 and quickly switched to Time in 87 because of the float. I've been using Speedplay for the last decade or so but even with the agricultural stripped out Roubaix inspired model, they really don't take well to dirt. I like the look of the PW8 system. One thing that wasn't mentioned, that low profile pedal probably gives a few extra degrees of cornering clearance.
this long pedals seems great power transfer
With that wide base--they seem awesome! And that more-pedal-less-shoe--I can dig it. Been riding the shimanos for a long time, tried the speed play lollipop and enjoyed. But my next dream bike, I'd like a pair of these. Very cool!
I have been using Time ATAC's on all my bikes for a long time, road, gravel, mountain as I got tired of a 2 shoe\cleat situation. I also hated walking around in the road cleats. If more shoe companies adopt something like this, I would be interested in checking them out as I think the larger platform would be a benefit. I would hate to be limited to a single shoe option.
Wide platform is a must in MTB cos you have more authority on the bike stability to your feet. Way more input force over the bike to turn and of curse pedal
Pretty sure the weight savings would show more of a difference when accelerating than during steady pedaling, since the weight of your pedals is pushing down on the down stroke simultaneously as you are pulling up on the up stroke. Hard to argue with the benefits of getting closer to your axle. I think the big selling advantage will be that it makes walking around the cafe much easier without having to use a MTN bike pedal system. If the price is competitive, I see this doing quite well. Hopefully they are pushing on partnering with some affordable shoe manufacturers.
The big thing for me is to be able to walk with it! For the moment, I'm using SPD shoes just because I hate having to walk with look and I need to walk because regularly... That could be a reason to change my pedal system.
If the metal cleat is recessed with an outsole lug protecting it, I would move to this system just so I wouldn't have to replace my SPD-SL cleats every year.
That's exactly how SPD shoes and cleats already work. The cleats outlast the shoes.
8 watts saved walking out of the shop😅
For recreational users, more stiffness (length) in the pedal would allow for more flexibility in the shoe. This could be great for touring or commuter use. I like the idea of less stack height. It does seem the longer design might be limited in allowing for meaningful and efficient float.
These pedals seem to have all of the features of the Look/Shimano road pedals (wide platform, stability, float, etc.) while also providing a much better shoe experience, more robust cleats, and potentially lighter weight pedals. Win win win! If they were priced competitively with Look/Shimano, then I would definitely consider them.
I like those Ekoi pedals.
Two things that weren't addressed in the video, which will have a big bearing on how widely the system is adapted by the public. 1. Will the shoes come in different width fittings? If not that's a large portion of the market made smaller. 2. Since they come with Titanium axles there will be a weight limit. Currently, Speedplays and Crank Bros/Time pedals with Ti axles have a 84 and 90 kg rider limit respectively. That excludes a lot of the recreational riders too. With gravel riders using hydration packs that makes the riders weight limit around 70kg or so!
As this system requires a different shoe different from traditional 3 bolt shoes it will never be accepted by the general biking biking public...
Just from a brief look, the much larger platform does seem it will give more stability and power transfer. It could be marginal but the low stack height will reduce air drag also. The change on the outsole of the shoe is definitely a plus for all levels and purposes as you can walk without messing up the cleats. Looking at it from more of the market side, I think the advantage has to be very distinct and obvious. As the market share has shifted quite polarized in the last decade or so in favor of Shimano, the reasons to choose otherwise should really stand out and obvious. Otherwise, LOOK would not have given up that much MS and the same for TIME though they both are very decent pedals as well. As a Speedplay user(for mainly the stack height), they seem very intriguing to my preferences.
One other thing is, sometimes you gotta pedal with regular shoes on and I wonder if those outer frames will withstand the rider's weight and pounding as they are curved up from the axle.
Yes! May need to lower seatpost. Can we go back to rim brakes tho?
As far as I can tell these pedals and shoes are still in the pre-production phase so it is not possible to buy them on the open market right now. The articles I have read mention a fall release date which means real consumers probably won't see actual units until 2025
these are sweet! look at how low the stack height is as well!
Reminds me of the old diadora shoe pedal combo
Love my speedplays. Do these pedals have a side to side float ?????
first guy said there was 1.5, 3 or 6 degree float possible.
So, my new pedals and shoes....I put the cleats all the way to the front of the shoe, the shoe!! W/o knowing why, I started to ride and have this massive cramps and pain in my upper leg, front, and for two years I figure, maybe because I'm old and my muscles are just going bad............Then I noticed and decided to change the cleat position, all the way to the back, and then!!! Pain goes away! and I'm able to ride longer distance w/o having cramps or massive pain, I get the usual fatigue but not what I experienced before, so, THIS! I'd definitely like to try...........this looks like pain wouldn't be an issue due to cleat positioning.
Looks and sounds brilliant. I will definitely try the system - even though I´m a Shimano-fan.
So many benefits over the established systems.
I am very interested in this I won't lie! It looks very easy to changes those plates and the fact that you can walk normally is really good!
This in essence does feel like a road revolution of the Shimano SPD mtb cleats and pedals. With a lower stack and more suited for road use.
For the broader public to use them, the price needs to be right. I feel like these will be quite expensive. Especially at first because its a proprietary system that for now only Ekoi will adopt.
So they can price it how high they want to. Especially the shoes..
So if prices are going to be comparable to SPD-SL or LOOK ready shoes then people might go for it, especially the riders that are looking for a more performance oriented system.
so instead of walking on a replaceable cleat youre walking on the carbon sole of a proprietary shoe?
We don’t see why shoe designs can’t continue to use replaceable rubber sole sections like on Sidi and many mtb shoes, for granted these don’t but they are the first to adopt this system
They are almost exactly like every other pedal we’ve ever seen before except they are just a bit longer. lol. The hype is over the top
And im not junking my power meter pedals and shoes for this!
there's one obvious improvement: the split cleat reduces height
I didn’t catch if they have any rotation
If a reliable independent party tests this and confirms its improvement claims, then the pros might start using it. If it does not get banned by the UCI.
As for the common folk, it depends on how much people need to spend to get to use this. The price of new pedals and the price of new shoes might be too steep for the causal cyclist, but that remains to be seen.
If you can easily walk around in them, they are easy to use and are a bit more stable then this is what most regular riders will find appealing. The aero gains will be an added bonus (not that I am ever that fast!!! 😂)
Offer a full-aero version (with a closed surface at the bottom to smooth the airflow). Triathletes and TT riders will love it!
Pedals + shoes seems to be much more rigid, more support point but it also means it could leave less flexibility for joints and whole ankle while working; it is question mark how it will influence in long term the ankle (joints) conditions since everybody knows that while moving joints need certain play
I like the footprint of it. Super curious and excited to see where the new tech takes it in the coming years
One cleat/shoe for road and gravel...sounds good. Dobt see why this wont catch on...if only because it eliminates the road cleat walking hassle.
this system on an mtb doesn't sound like a great idea
That look's super interesting, hopefully Lake will hop on board
I do like the shape of the new pedal, hate that it does require a dedicated shoe.
I just hope it isn't super expensive. Like others said it look like split SPD which is relatively less expensive.
These look brilliant. If shoe manufacturers adopt these then I’d look to switch….
It seems to me that the direct contact of the soles with the pedals could cause problems.
as far as I can see there is no for/after adjustebility, or is it? That would be a huge throw back!!! And what is with rotational freedom? Remember how many pro riders had knee injuries when the fixed cleats (or before the fixed pedals with straps) where used...
Just in time when we all were thinking about a new $500 bike improvement we all need! I absolutely love that I have to buy new shoes!
Looks nice but that sole is very thick , so is it really any different ? they’ve just camouflaged the cleat in the sole
Any details of the bearing system used? Durability and maintainability compared to Shimano would be a key factor for non-racing riders.
Speedplay had adaptors for 3 to 4 bolt fixings compromising stack height to widen adoption. Very few 4 bolt pattern shoes were available when i was using them.
Ekoi do not seem to have as great a USP so could likely remain a niche brand specific product.
Also it was not mentioned But the platform looks big enough to pedal with normal shoes for short distances.
Surely its cheaper to replace damaged cleats from walking/crashing than your whole shoe
Hooray! Another new standard!
I hope they will come with choice of spindle length..!
Agreed!
Great but will it make clipping in any easier for me??
Does the axle move rearward? Does this have an advantage over mid-foot cleats (espoused by Joe Friel)? Is there a concern with toe-front wheel interactions?
Sounds like positive innovation and a solid step forward on something that hasn't moved forward much at all since the invention of the look PP76 clipless pedal back in the early 80s. I just cannot see any real advantage other than other than hiding the cleat so you don't walk like a clown, also brings your foot closer to the pedal spindle with the added larger surface area which will aid stability when out of the saddle. Think I'll stick with my Time Xpresso 15s though!
Pretty cool, what about a shimmed added stack hight for my short left leg .
My Speed plays are shimmed 1/4 inch .
I just hope that they put your front of the foot more over the axel . I like riding on my toes more , I get more power transfer and more comfort.
Interesting. Did they discuss power meter version of the pedals ?
Is it more easy to clip an unclip than the Look or Speedway system?