In a sport where weight and power are ever so important, Look continues to meet many elite cyclist demands with its new innovations like the Keo Blade Carbon TI.  The Keo Blade Carbon TI is a carbon based road bike pedal that is 31% wider in surface area than its predecessor the Keo Blade.  What does this exactly offer you while riding you might ask?  Well, in simple terms, it allows you to have a greater surface area to allow you to place more torque on the pedal.  For the cyclist that’s getting out for a few rides a week and not doing any racing, this is not going to be all that apparent.  For the cyclist that is trying to get the most out of every component on their bike, it might just be that extra edge that you need against your opponent.  Speaking of competition, the weight of a component is often a factor when making a purchase.  The weight of one pedal is 95 grams, totaling 190 grams for the set which is super light compared to other pedals on the market. When all hardware is added, these pedals come in at 298 grams.

One of the most important differences in the Look Keo Blade Carbon TI is that it uses a small plate of carbon fiber to create tension to keep your cleat in place versus the traditional steel spring.  This creates a stronger and more secure tension and reduces weight in a pedal.  One thing that I have read elsewhere is that this blade can break if you put a lot of force on it while the pedal is upside down. Personally, I have not run into this problem while testing out the pedal.  My suggestion would be to contact Look customer service if this were to happen.

To keep your cleats from wearing down too quickly, these pedals come with a snap on clip guard.  These clip guards also allow you better traction while not in the saddle.  The Look Keo Blade Carbon TI can be seen online for between $315 and $420 which narrows down the people would would buy this pedal, but if you are spending $5k on a bike or more, this might just be appealing to you.

Starting with the rim, Mavic puts a lot of technology into this set. 12k carbon is some of the highest quality available and keeps weight down. The braking surface features Maxtal, an aluminum alloy that is more durable and lighter than 6061 aluminum. I like that this wheel is a clincher since it makes it more available to the average rider. While I like the feel of a tubular tire, the convenience of a clincher is hard to beat. The spokes are unidirectional carbon and pass through the hub as they span from rim to rim in what Mavic calls R2R technology. The carbon keeps the spokes light, while the R2R set up helps to increase stiffness and aerodynamics. The hub uses adjustable, double sealed cartridge bearings that allow the rider to fine tune the feel of the wheels. With all of the technology put into these wheels, the price is quite reasonable.

On paper they are impressive, and on the road they deliver even more. I rode these wheels up passes to 11,000 plus feet, descended back down, sprinted in crit races, hammered time trials and raced along the road. In each scenario the Carbone SLR proved up to the task. The Carbone is a bit on the heavy side for climbing, but the smooth bearings and stiff spokes helped put the power down. On the descents that same stiffness provided me with predictable handling. During a crit race, where accelerating out of corners is key, the wheels were solid and spun up to speed quickly for a deep section wheel. During finish line sprints in crits and road races, there was no lateral movement or flex at all. I chalk this up to the R2R (Rim2Rim) construction. With fewer attachments points and more material through the hub this keeps the wheel laterally stiff. Of course the 52 mm rim did grab more wind than others, but it wasn’t to a degree that made me worry. I raced a short time trial and I can say they are as fast as any aero wheel I’ve ridden.

The hubs of the SLR are some of the smoothest I’ve felt. Give the wheel a turn and they will spin for longer than you care to watch. The adjustable bearings are easy to use and allow you to tailor the feel of the wheel to your liking. Rolling along these wheels are a so smooth and efficient that you just want to keep pedaling.

The Carbone SLR’s provide good road feel while keeping you from bearing the brunt of a bad road surface. I didn’t feel totally isolated from the road, which is good, but on cracked roads and chip and seal surfaces I wasn’t beaten up either. This is a great balance and one that is hard to achieve.

Breaking performance was solid and unnoticeable, which is a good thing. During one rainy crit race I found the SLR’s braking to be predictable and strong. On long descents where you may have to ride the brakes for longer, there was little fade as I put on the binders.

I won’t lie and tell you that the look of the Carbone’s didn’t put a grin on my face. I am a sucker for deep section wheels, and the black spokes, hubs and rim just look menacingly fast. When I put these on my black carbon Litespeed it transformed the look of the bike completely.

The Mavic Carbone SLR wheels are some of the best overall wheels I’ve ridden. Simply put, they are fast, smooth, handle well and can be ridden as a daily wheel set then put to the test on race day. At an M.S.R.P. of just under 2,000.00 they certainly aren’t cheap, but there is a lot of great technology in the wheel and I would consider it money well spent.

MSRP  $1,999.95