Adjusting Cleats

Tony said:

Hello, I am a newbi to Clippless Pedals.

I have Look Pedals, and Shimano SPD Shoes.

Ok, can I adjust the pedal so that I can clip out much easier untill I get
more comfortable with them ?

I'd have them as loose as possible without poping out.

Quoted message said:

Next question, is, how do I make them weaker, is it the small screw
underneath with the plus and minus ?

That's it.

Quoted message said:

And ifso, is it a special key, or just an Allen key,
And also is it just micro adjustments ?

Mine are slotted to about quarter turns. It's not overly critical though, so
don't be concerned about that. Just remember to try to adjust them the same on
each side (one turn one side, one turn the other side).

Quoted message said:

Also, one last thing, if you make them too loose, is there any danger of
them unclipping whilst hard pedalling ?

With the SPD's, yes. You'd be suprised as to how much damage a flying leg
can do if popped out while under full force when you're not expecting it. At
best you might bash your ankle, at worst, it'll throw your balance off at a
critical moment.

If you're _expecting_ it to throw you, it's not so bad, so during testing,
you can force the issue and see if you pop out safely. Don't test it during a
ride. You've got more important things to think about rather than worrying
about your pedals poping out.

Start by loosening the screws till they're loose, and use that as the staring
reference. Clip in and see if you'll stay in them (likely won't). Tighted one
turn each side till you push and pull with full force and still don't pop out.
I had a bad habit of twisting my ankles under heavy force, would sometimes
inadvertantly pop out because of it. Don't remember what I did to solve it, I
suppose just lots of practice.

Quoted message said:

Thankyou kindly, I love the Clippless Pedal system, but I am very nervous at
present .

Take care you don't overtighten them. It won't hurt you as such, but it will
be a little more difficult to unclip. Not a problem unless you're learning,
and haven't refined the ankle skills to twist the right way to unclip at the
right time. (thus falling over).

I had a mate who insisted on tightening his right up, till he found himself
falling over every so often. I kicked his butt enough one day to encourage him
to loosen them up a bit. All ok after that.
--
Linux Registered User # 302622 <http://counter.li.org>

Hi Tony, mate I was the same, and I think you will find 100% of us were the
same as well.

The 2 golden rules about Clippless Pedals, are :
(1) Never stop pedalling .

(2) Always predetermine before you stop when to unclip.

And if all else fails, then just fall over, like I am sure most of us have
done some time or another (^_^)
"Tony" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello, I am a newbi to Clippless Pedals.

I have Look Pedals, and Shimano SPD Shoes.

Ok, can I adjust the pedal so that I can clip out much easier untill I get
more comfortable with them ?

Next question, is, how do I make them weaker, is it the small screw
underneath with the plus and minus ?

And ifso, is it a special key, or just an Allen key,
And also is it just micro adjustments ?

Also, one last thing, if you make them too loose, is there any danger of
them unclipping whilst hard pedalling ?

Thankyou kindly, I love the Clippless Pedal system, but I am very nervous

at

Quoted message said:

present .

Tony

"John Tserkezis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tony said:

Hello, I am a newbi to Clippless Pedals.

I have Look Pedals, and Shimano SPD Shoes.

Ok, can I adjust the pedal so that I can clip out much easier untill I

get

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

more comfortable with them ?

I'd have them as loose as possible without poping out.

Quoted message said:

Next question, is, how do I make them weaker, is it the small screw
underneath with the plus and minus ?

That's it.

Quoted message said:

And ifso, is it a special key, or just an Allen key,
And also is it just micro adjustments ?

Mine are slotted to about quarter turns. It's not overly critical

though, so

Quoted message said:

don't be concerned about that. Just remember to try to adjust them the

same on

Quoted message said:

each side (one turn one side, one turn the other side).

Quoted message said:

Also, one last thing, if you make them too loose, is there any danger of
them unclipping whilst hard pedalling ?

With the SPD's, yes. You'd be suprised as to how much damage a flying

leg

Quoted message said:

can do if popped out while under full force when you're not expecting it.

At

Quoted message said:

best you might bash your ankle, at worst, it'll throw your balance off at

a

Quoted message said:

critical moment.

If you're _expecting_ it to throw you, it's not so bad, so during

testing,

Quoted message said:

you can force the issue and see if you pop out safely. Don't test it

during a

Quoted message said:

ride. You've got more important things to think about rather than

worrying

Quoted message said:

about your pedals poping out.

Start by loosening the screws till they're loose, and use that as the

staring

Quoted message said:

reference. Clip in and see if you'll stay in them (likely won't).

Tighted one

Quoted message said:

turn each side till you push and pull with full force and still don't pop

out.

Quoted message said:

I had a bad habit of twisting my ankles under heavy force, would

sometimes

Quoted message said:

inadvertantly pop out because of it. Don't remember what I did to solve

it, I

Quoted message said:

suppose just lots of practice.

Quoted message said:

Thankyou kindly, I love the Clippless Pedal system, but I am very

nervous at

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

present .

Take care you don't overtighten them. It won't hurt you as such, but it

will

Quoted message said:

be a little more difficult to unclip. Not a problem unless you're

learning,

Quoted message said:

and haven't refined the ankle skills to twist the right way to unclip at

the

Quoted message said:

right time. (thus falling over).

I had a mate who insisted on tightening his right up, till he found

himself

Quoted message said:

falling over every so often. I kicked his butt enough one day to

encourage him

Quoted message said:

to loosen them up a bit. All ok after that.
--
Linux Registered User # 302622

<http://counter.li.org>

For mountain biking you might want to have them a bit looser as you're more
likely to be cliping in and and out often.

Marty

Marty Wallace said:

For mountain biking you might want to have them a bit looser as you're more
likely to be cliping in and and out often.

That's what I said. Have them as loose as possible without them poping out.

If you pop out while mountain biking, you might find it hard to get back in
again. That and, you don't have the luxury of just stepping on the pedals and
expecting your foot to stay there like a normal pedel, it's pretty slippery if
you're not clipped in.

--
Linux Registered User # 302622 <http://counter.li.org>