I want to share this email exchange I had with ICI/PRO member Julie Zweck-Bronner.
Hi John,
You have said you teach at a facility that has the Freemotion bikes. I was wondering if that facility uses the pedals that came with the bikes or different pedals. We will get 40 Freemotion bikes in May and are wondering how to accommodate our riders that have LOOK cleats. Should we spend the money to switch out to all Schwinn Triple Link pedals like on our Star Trac bikes we currently have? There was some talk about using the Triple Link Pedals off the old bikes to save money, but I worry they are too worn to put on brand new bikes. Do you also find that many riders wearing bike shoes do not like the basket/cage staying on the underside of the pedal as they ride?? Thanks for your insight.
You're going to have so much fun Julie.
If you are getting the S11.9 I think they come with a good two sided pedal with SPD/shoe basket. Where I'm teaching they switch out everything for triple links as that's just what they do.
If it was my studio I would work toward getting everyone to switch to SPD. Look doesn't make the traditional "LOOK pedal" anymore. Now they have the KEO which looks like it should work - but it doesn't.
I would swap the best 10 triplelinks onto the new bikes and leave the rest.Unless of course you normally have 30 cyclists with LOOK cleats every class, then you already know what to do 🙂
Sportsmith has the best pricing on Schwinn Triple Link Pedals I've found and I want to say that Jeff Wimmer at StudioCycles.com has refurbished Triple Links.
Can I have your permission to create a post about your question?
Thanks John, yes you can post and thanks for your insight. Do you think avid bikers who wear bike shoes prefer the triple link because the can remove the cage/basket on the flip side of the pedal unlike the pedal that comes with the FreeMotion bike? That has the spd on one side and the fixed/permanent cage on the flip side. Sounds kind of anal but want to address all concerns. Thanks again, Julie ZB
Julie LOOK pedals were the most popular for years (but are no longer) and cyclists wanted to use their shoes - I don't think they care if the basket is there or not.
SPD is rarely used by road cyclists (they were first used by mountain bikers) but are best for indoor because they work on a recessed shoe = easy to walk in and safer - road shoes were never meant to walk in and are very slippery on any polished surface.
Rather than speculate, I suggest you ask your students and act accordingly.
Thanks John we will take a poll!
I haven't heard the results of Julie's poll, but I have conducted one myself at the two clubs where I teach that use the Triple Link pedal with some interesting (yet very unscientific) results:
- About half of the riders using LOOKs had purchased their shoes/cleats specifically for indoor use.
- Another 25% originally had LOOK cleats on their road bike = their shoes just happened to fit the pedals we used indoors.
- Almost no one was using the original LOOKs on their road bikes anymore.
- Almost everyone had multiple pairs of shoes.
I feel it's very important to be as accommodating to cyclists, but times are changing. If you're looking at an equipment upgrade a simple email poll using Survey Monkey will tell you a lot + identify those few participants you will need to accommodate if/when you make a change.
Originally posted 2012-03-14 08:36:34.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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Thing is, there isn’t much of a change you can make WRT the triple links and LOOK etc. LOOK as a company won’t supply their product upgrades to fitness clubs because they cater to cyclists and want to stand behind THAT product (manager at my last gig tried really hard with this aspect) and the triple link LOOK-like pedals don’t fit every LOOK cleat.
FWIW based on personal experience (and allowing that personal experience is, by definition, limited experience) the only real issues I’ve had over the years with members and their LOOK cleats have been indoor-only cyclists who, for whatever reason, had purchased bike shoes with LOOKs when they ride at a gym with SPDs as the only option (the majority of clubs, I fancy) and a couple of folk who’ve been directed to a “Spinning” class by their Team-in-Training “coach” for an extra workout or two to prepare them for whatever century ride they’ve signed up for……when they don’t even have a bike yet!! Now THAT’S a hard one to keep a straight face for!!!
My take is that, given the $$$bucks cyclists are prepared to spend on actual cycling and bike pimping etc, it’s not likely to break the bank for anyone to part with <$100 for a pair of "Spin" shoes with SPDs if they want to ride indoors.
My other take is…..why be prejudiced against SpeedPlay etc???
Vivienne