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I thought I would never 'Look'ed this way aka Look KÉO Touring bundle

November 23 , 2016

The addition of two road bikes in my stable left me unfazed about using the Shimano SH-MT44B touring shoes with SPD cleats and the VP Components VX Trail Race pedals.

These two has logged over 1,200km and has not given me a single problem. But the VX is a trail pedal...

Nevertheless, I want to be SPD-SL ready so that if and when I go for a real road pedals I am ready. The shoe I set my eyes on outside of Shimano's offerings, are the pair of Giro Treble II which is SPD and SPD-SL compatible.

While I was Google'ing the web for the number of VeloCity, I was informed by Percy of Life Cycle that they still have a pair of Look Touring shoes with free KÉO pedals and it sounds interesting so I did a bit of due dilligence on this package.

Here's what I found:

  • the KÉO Touring as the name implies, is a touring shoe. I will get the benefit of a clipless shoe and being able to comfortably walk with it. According to Look's website "The cleats are protected on all sides by rubber treads on the shoe sole. This prevents their premature wearing and makes walking possible without the nuisance of the cleat on the ground. A rubber contact surface area is located between the two parts of the cleat to promote excellent pedaling stabililty." Just like my Shimano SH-M44B but better!
  • the package also comes with the KÉO Easy pedals which is Look's entry-level pedal. This model does not have adjustment for tension.
  • the cleats of the KÉO Touring is not the usual single-piece, rather it's a two-piece design which makes integration with the shoes better. This also means I won't be able to use any other cleats if I get this shoe. The KÉO Dual Cleat features the 3D Cleat Technology which "allows the cleat to release between 0° (a lateral and outwards/or inwards twist) and 45°, in order to facilitate your foot release under all circumstances. This limits any apprehension and reduces the clipless pedal learning curve. The Dual Cleat is designed with a 4.5° float to adapt to all types of pedals."

With the Shimano + VP Components combo, I mostly do plantar flexion though at times I am guilty of excessive plantar flexion, i.e., dropping of the heel. When we ride to places with lots of obstructions aka vehicles, I tend to disengage the cleats and do mid-foot pedalling as I still believe I'm not quick enough in clipping out in cases that need be.

Back to VeloCity, they don't have the Giro model I am looking for so Life Cycle now has a high chance of getting business from me again.

The package comes with the bundled KÉO Easy pedals, extra KÉO Dual Cleats, and manual.  Interestingly, the pedals are marked as Made in France, while the shoes are marked Made in Taiwan.

Let's say each pedal is 136g, it is heavier than my VP Components pedals.

Which is the same weight as the KÉO Classic with adjustable tension.

Look said the average weight for a size 43 is 378g so this size 42 seems to be on the range. The Dual Cleats comes pre-installed on the shoe.

It feels good and spot on for my size. I walked around Life Cycle on these shoes and they feel "ordinary" no rubbing of the cleats on the floor.

On the road

I mounted the KÉO Easy on my Propel Advanced bike and did a couple of laps around my usual route. Clipping in and out wasn't as terrible with the SH-MT44B and PD-M424 combination where I had to fiddle around with the tension adjustment.

My worries about not having the right tension was erased as it seems nicely dialed in for me. It seems easier clipping out by twising my heels inward, but then again I hit the seat tube. The release tension of the Dual Cleats should not be more than 15nm, as stated in the manual.

With the KÉO system, I will not be able to mid-pedal anymore unless I purposely invert the KÉO Easy because if I don't, it will easily clip in.

The KÉO pedals are always "looking up" as the metal spring to apply the tension makes the rear heavier than the front. This aids in clipping in although I had to look at it a couple of times as I missed clipping in and the pedal is now inverted. I think I should get this process right in due time.


After 27km I am relieved to find that the shoes offer a comfortable and snug fit. There's no choking feel on my feet which is great. Ventilation is surprisingly good despite the lack of information from Look's website.

Putting in the shoes takes more ritual than my SH-M44B as the closure is via three velcro each.

So far, I'm loving it and allowed me to use a proper pedal for my road bikes, err bike. Darn, the Eddy Merckx deserves a KÉO too!