Problems with speedplay x pedals I need help.

"Steve Knight" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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Well it is not the pedals I don't think but me. I had not really ridden a

bike

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for about 15 years. I did a trade for this great racing bike. At first I

was

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planning on just using it around town. So I wanted to use regular pedals.

But I

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found my feet slipping off the sides and I found myself riding 10 miles to

work.

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(now 20) well because of the way my feet were on the pedals I got into the

habit

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of my knees sagging out. I am overweight and they tend to do it anyway.

Well

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with the speedplay pedals my buddy gave me (and shoes) this caused my heel

to

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turn more in and I would pop out of the pedal. Well some reason the cleats did not hold after a
few rains and I could

rock my

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food sideways just a bit and they would let go. Even with lube. So I just replaced them and it
helps. But I noticed that it only takes a

little

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movement of my heel inward and I am out. My heels come close to touching

the

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crank arms naturally. I tried the shoes on the pedals without my feet in them and I could turn

the

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heels in and they did not come off. But they do when my feet are in them. I am trying to keep my
heels out but that is pretty hard.' I had wanted to change over to the frogs so I could wear
shoes I can

walk in

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so I don't have to carry sandals around with me. The fellow to traded the

bike

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and shoes and pedals prefers the frogs on his road bike over the regular speedplays. I want to try
them and I wonder if they will come off with the

same

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inward heel movement?

Unless the Frogs have had the little stop removed, they won't twist inwards much at all. Probably
not the best thing for your pedaling style...

Time ATAC, Eggbeaters, SPDs are probably a better bet.

Re: twisting inwards with your heels vs. your hands. Your legs are MUCH heavier than your hands,
takes less effort for them to twist out of the pedals.

Re: rocking sideways. Sounds like you may not have the cleat completely engaged or something is
seriously worn. Check to see if there's dirt, etc. in either the cleat or the pedal itself.
Speedplay road pedals are notoriously picky about how much crud they can take.

Anyone else?

Mike

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Steve Knight <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Well it is not the pedals I don't think but me. I had not really ridden a bike for about 15 years.
I did a trade for this great racing bike. At first I was planning on just using it around town. So
I wanted to use regular pedals. But I found my feet slipping off the sides and I found myself
riding 10 miles to work. (now 20) well because of the way my feet were on the pedals I got into
the habit of my knees sagging out. I am overweight and they tend to do it anyway. Well with the
speedplay pedals my buddy gave me (and shoes) this caused my heel to turn more in and I would pop
out of the pedal. Well some reason the cleats did not hold after a few rains and I could rock my
food sideways just a bit and they would let go. Even with lube. So I just replaced them and it
helps. But I noticed that it only takes a little movement of my heel inward and I am out. My heels
come close to touching the crank arms naturally. I tried the shoes on the pedals without my feet
in them and I could turn the heels in and they did not come off. But they do when my feet are in
them. I am trying to keep my heels out but that is pretty hard.' I had wanted to change over to
the frogs so I could wear shoes I can walk in so I don't have to carry sandals around with me. The
fellow to traded the bike and shoes and pedals prefers the frogs on his road bike over the regular
speedplays. I want to try them and I wonder if they will come off with the same inward heel
movement?

As far as I know, Speedplay road pedals are not designed to release with an inward turn of the heel.
That yours are doing so (but only when your feet are in the shoes, apparently)suggests the cleats
are not properly installed on your shoes. Proper cleat installation is crucial for the correct
functioning of Speedplays and there are a variety of special shims available from Speedplay to
facilitate installation on a variety of shoe types. If the cleats do not interface correctly with
the sole of the shoe, the cleats will bend or buckle under load (i.e., your weight) and this could
cause either failure to properly mate with the pedal or release upon an inward movement of the heel.

I have used Speedplay pedals from the first pre-production prototypes and have NEVER experienced
release from an inward heel movement, even when I have crashed.

I would suggest going to a bike shop that is experienced in mounting Speedplay cleats or talking to
Speedplay's customer service. I am sure this is a problem that can easily be remedied.

Nigel Grinter

Quoted message said:

Unless the Frogs have had the little stop removed, they won't twist inwards much at all. Probably
not the best thing for your pedaling style...

I twist in too much really. more like my legs are lazy. when overweight your legs tent to spread
apart. not a good thing on a road bike (G)

Quoted message said:

Re: rocking sideways. Sounds like you may not have the cleat completely engaged or something is
seriously worn. Check to see if there's dirt, etc. in either the cleat or the pedal itself.
Speedplay road pedals are notoriously picky about how much crud they can take.

they looked pretty clean. the new pair took care of that problem but I still had the twist problem.
but that was more me then the pedals. but I did try the frogs and was happy with them. my heels
almost touch the cranks but don't come out. and I can get shoes I can walk in so I don't have to
carry sandals around. I hate changing shoes.

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Quoted message said:

I have used Speedplay pedals from the first pre-production prototypes and have NEVER experienced
release from an inward heel movement, even when I have crashed.

I would suggest going to a bike shop that is experienced in mounting Speedplay cleats or talking to
Speedplay's customer service. I am sure this is a problem that can easily be remedied.

you may be on to it. when I replaced the cleats the shims were all cracked. I forgot the new ones
and was going to fix it today. but I tried my buddies frogs (we have the same shoe size) and they
took care of the problem. plus I can walk in the shoes. since I pretty much commute on my bike it
has been a pain when I go to a store to have to change into sandals and back again it gets real old.
it's even worse now in winter when I have booties over the shoes. but I will put the shims where
they belong and try it.

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"Steve Knight" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Unless the Frogs have had the little stop removed, they won't twist

inwards

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

much at all. Probably not the best thing for your pedaling style...

I twist in too much really. more like my legs are lazy. when overweight

your

Quoted message said:

legs tent to spread apart. not a good thing on a road bike (G)

Your legs are spreading apart to make room for the stomach. Lose weight and that stops.

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Re: rocking sideways. Sounds like you may not have the cleat completely engaged or something is
seriously worn. Check to see if there's dirt,

etc.

Quoted message said:

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in either the cleat or the pedal itself. Speedplay road pedals are notoriously picky about how
much crud they can take.

they looked pretty clean. the new pair took care of that problem but I

still had

Quoted message said:

the twist problem. but that was more me then the pedals. but I did try the frogs and was happy
with them. my heels almost touch the cranks but don't come out. and I can get shoes I can walk in
so I don't

have to

Quoted message said:

carry sandals around. I hate changing shoes.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See
knight-toolworks.comknight-toolworks.comOpen ↗ For prices and ordering instructions.

I used to have Speedplay lollipop road pedals pre-frog days. I had my most embarrasing moment when I
came to a stop, and could not get my feet disengaged and fell over sideways. I damaged a water
bottle cage and the edge of the saddle. I had to walk across a yard with my bike, and the mud had
clogged the pedal. By the next day, I put the pedals with toe clips back on.

Many years later, I decided to try the Speedplay frogs because I figured that they were made for
mountain biking, and mud shouldn't clog them. I purchased a used set and loved them. I later added
them to all my bikes. A couple of hints. (1) angle the cleat as much as you can to try to match the
natural angle of your foot. (this avoids un-necessarily stressing your knee by putting your foot at
a strange angle), (2) I recommend pedal extenders if you have any problems with your foot angle. My
right foot tends to point somewhat outward. By angling the cleat and using the pedal extender, I
acheived a comfortable position with the frogs, and can unclip at will.

Quoted message said:

Many years later, I decided to try the Speedplay frogs because I figured that they were made for
mountain biking, and mud shouldn't clog them. I purchased a used set and loved them. I later added
them to all my bikes. A couple of hints. (1) angle the cleat as much as you can to try to match the
natural angle of your foot. (this avoids un-necessarily stressing your knee by putting your foot at
a strange angle), (2) I recommend pedal extenders if you have any problems with your foot angle. My
right foot tends to point somewhat outward. By angling the cleat and using the pedal extender, I
acheived a comfortable position with the frogs, and can unclip at will.

I was planing on tweaking them today. I had my first ride last night. but what are pedal extenders?

Steve Knight said:

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I was planing on tweaking them today. I had my first ride last night. but what are pedal
extenders?

They are threaded connectors with a hole to accept your pedal threads, and a separate set of pedal
threads to attach to the crank, giving you effectively a couple centimeters wider pedal.

I had contemplated these, but for me, getting low-profile cranks (those with the "bent" arms) made
that unnecessary.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Arguing with an engineer is like mud wrestling with a pig... You _`\(,_ | soon find out the
pig likes it! (_)/ (_) |

ngrinter-<< As far as I know, Speedplay road pedals are not designed to release with an inward turn
of the heel. >><BR><BR>

Not true, they will release when turning the foot either way.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"