A quick question on working clipless pedals. I finally got shoes/cleat for my SPD pedals and tried around parking lot a couple of times. I set the tension to the lowest, but I'm still having a hard time releasing it. Only reliable way to get off it is to lift my heel and then twist out. If I have my foot flat or pressed down, it takes a struggle to get it off. I'm thinking the problem could be either that the binding has too much float, or my ankle does not have enough lateral flexiblity to overcome the float when the foot is flat. Does anybody have suggestion that I could try to remedy the problem?
"TK Sung" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
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A quick question on working clipless pedals. I finally got shoes/cleat for my SPD pedals and tried around parking lot a couple of times. I set the tension to the lowest, but I'm still having a hard time releasing it.
Are you using the cleats that came with the pedals? Did you install them with the correct orientation? Are the pedals Shimano or a clone?
Not sure if I am reading this wrong, but it sounds to me, everything is working as it should. The only way to get out of clips is to twist you heal out to release.
Maybe I am reading this wrong. Curt
"TK Sung" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
All,
A quick question on working clipless pedals. I finally got shoes/cleat
for
Quoted message said:
my SPD pedals and tried around parking lot a couple of times. I set the tension to the lowest, but I'm still having a hard time releasing it.
Only
Quoted message said:
reliable way to get off it is to lift my heel and then twist out. If I
have
Quoted message said:
my foot flat or pressed down, it takes a struggle to get it off. I'm thinking the problem could be either that the binding has too much float,
or
Quoted message said:
my ankle does not have enough lateral flexiblity to overcome the float
when
Quoted message said:
the foot is flat. Does anybody have suggestion that I could try to remedy the problem?
I agree with the previous posts, and would add that the more tense and nervous you become, the harder it is to release. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to think about what you're doing as you try to release!
As someone else said, check that you have the right cleats for your pedals. Also, it's not unknown for shoe soles to foul the pedal body. Usually you'd notice this on engaging the cleat with the pedal - it will be hard to lock in. You can check whether this is a problem by locking the shoe to the pedal without having your foot in the shoe (if you see what I mean!). It may be possible to trim the sole with a sharp knife if this proves to be an issue.
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After using spd cleats for 4 years, I still cannot move my left heel outward to release my left shoe. I always move my heel inward on the left side to release. Have you tried doing that?
"Ken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"TK Sung" <[email hidden]> wrote in
Are you using the cleats that came with the pedals? Did you install them with the correct orientation? Are the pedals Shimano or a clone?
No, no cleat came with the pedals. I bought them with the shoes. I installed it so that my toe will point as far inward as possible so that I could twist out the farthest. The pedals are Shimano 5xx, I think, that came with Giant OCR 2.
"curt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Not sure if I am reading this wrong, but it sounds to me, everything is working as it should. The only way to get out of clips is to twist you
heal
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out to release.
But would that cause problem when climbing or in emergency situation? I'd think I'll be pressing my foot down in either situation, and the bindings won't release easy if I do that. I have to reduce the pressure by lifting the heel to release.
"curt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Not sure if I am reading this wrong, but it sounds to me, everything is working as it should. The only way to get out of clips is to twist you heal out to release.
But would that cause problem when climbing or in emergency situation? I'd think I'll be pressing my foot down in either situation, and the bindings won't release easy if I do that. I have to reduce the pressure by lifting the heel to release.
Are you wearing road shoes or mtb? Sounds like the shoes' soles are "rubbing" against the pedal body and making unclipping difficult; hence lifting the heel makes it a bit easier.
You might try shaving some rubber off around the cleats if that's the case.
Also, try lubing the cleats before each ride for a while...and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! They might just need to "wear in" somewhat to become easier to release.
Finally, if all else fails, read the directions that came with the pedals. You might have the cleats installed funkily (today's fun {non?} word), or even wrong.
Bill "find a grassy field and fall over a few times" S.
A quick question on working clipless pedals. I finally got shoes/cleat for my SPD pedals and tried around parking lot a couple of times. I set the tension to the lowest, but I'm still having a hard time releasing it. Only reliable way to get off it is to lift my heel and then twist out. If I have my foot flat or pressed down, it takes a struggle to get it off. I'm thinking the problem could be either that the binding has too much float, or my ankle does not have enough lateral flexiblity to overcome the float when the foot is flat. Does anybody have suggestion that I could try to remedy the problem?
Thanks in advance. tk
In addition to what everybody else has said, I found sometimes that the cleats break in a bit (wear 😉) I've even rubbed some paraffin wax on "sticky" cleats before, though I don't know if I should recommend that.
"TK Sung" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
All,
A quick question on working clipless pedals. I finally got shoes/cleat for my SPD pedals and tried around parking lot a couple of times. I set the tension to the lowest, but I'm still having a hard time releasing it. Only reliable way to get off it is to lift my heel and then twist out. If I have my foot flat or pressed down, it takes a struggle to get it off. I'm thinking the problem could be either that the binding has too much float, or my ankle does not have enough lateral flexiblity to overcome the float when the foot is flat. Does anybody have suggestion that I could try to remedy the problem?
Shimano makes 2 styles of SPD cleats, "single-release" and "multi-release". If you have the former, you might prefer the latter. Multi-release cleats disengage with either a twist or a roll. I find them much easier to use since the rolling motion is more natural for me.
New pedals are sometimes difficult to en/disengage, I've good luck lubricating cleats. If your foot is loose in the shoe, disengaging can also be tough sometimes.
Are you wearing road shoes or mtb? Sounds like the shoes' soles are "rubbing" against the pedal body and making unclipping difficult; hence lifting the heel makes it a bit easier.
You might try shaving some rubber off around the cleats if that's the case.
I'll second this as a possible place to look. Made a huge difference on my first pair of clipless.
" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Are you wearing road shoes or mtb?
It's a mtb shoes. They told me it's just fine for road bike, so I took it since it was the most comfortable..
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You might try shaving some rubber off around the cleats if that's the
case.
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Thanks, I'll try that. I examined the shoes, and I indeed see scratch marks on the inner tread near the cleat. It appears that the cleat also got rotated slightly, probably beacause I used so much force when I was struggling, mking it even more difficult to twist out. I'll fix those two and report back on Monday after 25 mi ride!
"TK Sung" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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It appears that the cleat also got rotated slightly, probably beacause I used so much force when I was struggling, mking it even more difficult to twist out
Um, never mind that. I got disoriented and confused lateral and medial motion, probably because I was playing with the shoes without my foot in it. The cleat is just fine.
" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Bill "find a grassy field and fall over a few times" S.
Oh, and any suggestions how to do this with a road bike? I thought about it before, but road bikes don't go well on a grass. I suppose I still could do it since the objective is to fall..
But would that cause problem when climbing or in emergency situation?
I find it easier to climb when using clipless pedals. I've also not had problems unclipping in an emergency. I use Look pedals for what it's worth. A very quick twist of the ankle and hey presto - unclipped. It really does become second nature.
Cheers, helen s
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"TK Sung" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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"Ken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"TK Sung" <[email hidden]> wrote in
Are you using the cleats that came with the pedals? Did you install them with the correct orientation? Are the pedals Shimano or a clone?
No, no cleat came with the pedals. I bought them with the shoes. I installed it so that my toe will point as far inward as possible so that I could twist out the farthest. The pedals are Shimano 5xx, I think, that came with Giant OCR 2.
Isn't this your problem? If I understand what you're saying, your logic is backwards. By setting the cleats up so that your toes point inwards, you've already used up most of the available motion in your ankle to kick your heel further out. To release, you'd practically have to turn your foot sideways (toes pointing inwards across the frame). Or if you prefer: no you don't have enough ankle flexibility. Apart from professional ballerinas, no one else does either.
Try them "straight" and see if they work better. Then adjust in small increments to find the position that your knees and ankles are looking for. BTW, they may not be symmetrical.
