Test Look Keo Blade Ceramic Vision pedals

The Look Keo Vision pedals take a long-established feature – reflectors on the flat pedals of mainstream bicycles – and enhance their effectiveness and therefore their safety. Based on the observation that, according to their designers, these pedals are 5,5 times more visible than a seatpost-mounted light, they seem like the ideal equipment for reduced visibility, such as in winter. Here's a review after 2500 km ridden in various lighting conditions.

Text: Olivier Dulaurent – ​​Photos: www.3bikes.fr, look

The Look Vision range pedals had already been briefly presented in the shopping section. Look thus sought to reinvent cyclist visibility and therefore safety with the launch of the Vision family of products. pedals incorporating a lighting system without affecting the operation and therefore the performance of the pedal itself.

Increased visibility: 5,5x more effective and range up to 1 km

According to Look, the integrated lighting offers a Visibility 5,5 times greater than that of a fixed light mounted on a seat postThis gain is linked to human visual perception, which is more sensitive to moving elements, in this case, the rotation of the pedals. With a light output of up to 60 lumens, the device should ensure a detection up to 1 km. The 180° diffusion guarantees omnidirectional visibility, essential in urban or rural environments.

Optimized lighting modes and battery life

The Keo Vision incorporates four programmable modes to adapt to lighting and environmental conditions: Fixed (ideal for night journeys or in foggy conditions), Pulsed (recommended for dimly lit urban environments) Day Flash (designed for quick outings in bright sunlight, maximizing contrast perception), Night Flash (adapted to route(rural areas with poor lighting). TheBattery life increases to up to 40 hours depending on the selected mode, while charging is done with a USB-C cable and a charging time limited to 2 hours and controlled by an integrated battery indicator.

Integration and ergonomics

The montage/demontagInstant setup is tool-free, thanks to a quick-release system, while the stability of the lighting system is guaranteed on any terrain, even in extreme conditions. The design was intentionally discreet, meaning it's integrated into the pedal to preserve performance, and therefore exactly the same level as the 4th generation Keo Blade pedals (released in 2024).

Strength and lightness

The Vision pedals have an IPX7 certification, meaning that the seal is completeallowing for use in heavy rain or even temporary immersion. The weight remains low at a verified 38g (2g less than advertised by Look), a particularly impressive figure considering the level of safety offered.

Available versions

Two versions are available. The "entry-level" option is the Keo 2 Max Vision, a 300g pair priced at €124,90, and the "higher-end" option is the... Keo Blade Ceramic Vision at 266g verified (again, slightly less than the advertised 270g) for €249,90 which are therefore the subject of the ongoing trial. It should also be noted that, in parallel, Look is offering a Keo Vision Upgrade Kit, that is to say the possibility of equipping existing Keo Blade 4 pedals with the Vision lighting module, for a cost of €60.

On route

Before the first outing, it was best to leave with 100% charged batteries. Nothing could be easier: These are very easy to remove from the pedals and charging is done using a supplied USB-C cableOnce discharged, the batteries still require 2 hours of charging, so it is preferable to charge them the night before.

The different modes are selected using the small black button located at the back of the pedals. With minimal skill and without using overly thick long gloves, it's even possible to activate the lights while riding or even change modes.This can be useful when conditions are changing, for example at dusk or when entering a well-lit urban area – where the intensity of the lighting becomes less crucial compared to navigating in the countryside. Of course, to be sure you've selected the "right" mode, a riding companion should confirm the selection.

In terms of visibility, given that the legs and feet attached to it are las the part of the body that moves the most during the outing, it is very appropriate to use them for safety reasons. Until now, cyclist visibility in motion was often achieved through a reflective detail on the calves or perhaps a reflective strip attached to the ankle. But by adopting the principle of reflectors, Look has gone much further with the Keo Vision. Alongside this lighting, nothing prevents the addition of a seatpost light, a system that has already proven its effectiveness, whether used with a "traditional" light or with radar devices such as the Garmin Varia.

In any case, it's undeniable that Look Vision pedals are visible from afar. testTests carried out with a follower car, on one side in broad daylight with good visibility and on the other at nightfall and then actually present, showed that the cyclist is spotted a few hundred meters before being caught up with. Under these conditions, it is obvious that it is the rotational movement of the red light that attracts the eye. One can even imagine that this movement could save a cyclist's life, in the unfortunately frequent case of a driver distracted by their phone. The presence of these two moving points of light should then draw their attention back to the route.

Furthermore, rides using pedals took place in the presence of other cyclists. Here, unlike with lights mounted on seatposts, which can sometimes dazzle those immediately following in a group, Vision devices do not cause this problem due to their position further from the field of vision.

The question remains: which lighting method is most suitable? A recent regulation (November 2024) addressed the issue of lights installed on bicycles, through the decree n ° 2024-1074Including At night or during the day when visibility is insufficient, all motorized personal mobility devices or bicycles must be equipped with a rear position light. This light must not be flashing and must be clearly visible from behind. This therefore suggests that both flashing modes are permitted during the day. Conversely, at night, fixed lighting is mandatory! The definition of "insufficient visibility" remains unclear, left to the cyclist's or the police's discretion. However, it's worth noting that the likelihood of receiving a ticket at night is low. Nevertheless, we are not encouraging the use of a lighting method prohibited by law, and no study has demonstrated the greater effectiveness of flashing lights compared to fixed ones. Indeed, a flashing light naturally attracts attention.tagIt attracts the attention of other road users and can give the positive impression of a cyclist to be reckoned with. However, it can also risk causing increased distraction and even make it more difficult for some motorists to judge distances to those behind them.

In any case, and perhaps more than a long speech to explain the visible aspect of Keo Vision, The video provided by Look offers an excellent representation of what other users actually see on the route :

Finally, in terms of how the pedals actually work, The Vision model of the Keo Blade Ceramic obviously incorporates the well-known features of the Keo Blade model. (in its fourth version). These pedals are distinguished by a large support surface, easy entry and exit with the possibility of choosing their tension (between 12, 16 and 20) and very good energy transfer.

Equipment designed for all seasons

With a basic idea that seems almost simple but is ultimately perfectly executed, the Look Keo Blade Vision lights appear as a relevant addition to winter gear, a time when visibility is often reduced. While they can obviously be used year-round (even by removing the lights to participate, for example, in a performance-oriented cycling event), they will prove very useful in summer, in areas with high temperatures.tagareas where unlit tunnels are common. Thus, by directly integrating safety into an essential element of the bicycle, Look encourages a more systematic adoption of lighting because without real constraints.

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