http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Clipless pedals - what have I been doing wrong? en Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:24:51 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138758 Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:07:29 +0000 Min 138758@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have face-planted in front of many CCE people (and non-CCE friends, and strangers and startled wildlife) and only one of them was a clipless moment. I don't need mere clipless pedals to fall off.</p> <p>You're just an amateur! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138757 Mon, 06 Jan 2014 14:59:33 +0000 kaputnik 138757@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The last clipless moment I had was infront of the EEN photographer and many forumites and their chiddlers, when we were doing some publicity shots for PoP #1.</p> <p>He had us cycling on the grass past the daffodils and I took the foot out on the wrong side of the slope, meaning when it went to go down on the ground there was nothing there but air. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138746 Mon, 06 Jan 2014 14:18:19 +0000 threefromleith 138746@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've been riding with SPDs since 2006 and haven't had a clipless moment either.</p> <p>Santa brought me some SPD-SL pedals for Christmas, so here's hoping the changeover doesn't spoil it.</p> <p>Might be next week before I find out though as I am thick with the cold this week so will probably stay off the bike. (I know, I know.... man up!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138741 Mon, 06 Jan 2014 13:52:49 +0000 Dave 138741@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have fallen off a few times through clipless moments. I imagine those old enough to remember straps must have a much easier time of it since the main problem isn't the actual action required to get out, but just remembering that your feet won't lift off of their own accord! :\ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138732 Mon, 06 Jan 2014 13:17:08 +0000 ARobComp 138732@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had a wonderful fall where my cleats failed to disengage at a traffic light. The horror of it was that this was as part of a 20 strong chaingang group in front of lots of cyclists I didn't know. I imagine they were quite panicked and thinking "who is this newbie and who does he think he is joining a chaingang when he can't even disengage his cleats" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138632 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 16:04:13 +0000 Charterhall 138632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Presumably stopping during a race could be achieved by leaning over and puling at the strap as mentioned by charterhall."</p> <p>It's easy to release the toe strap buckle, I used to ride fixed wheel with cleats and straps and so long as I knew in advance that I needed to stop I could usually do it in the split second as the pedal came round to 12 o'clock. The difficulties came when I had to stop suddenly or after an all out effort like an uphill finishing sprint or a hill climb. Hence the need for people to catch you at the finish of some races. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138631 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 13:59:33 +0000 Stickman 138631@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@EddieD - I've just spent an hour on the NEPN practising with clipless for the first time. Multi-release cleats with the lowest tension and it wasn't too bad. I made it there and back ok. Big test will be the trip to work on Monday morning! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980&page=2#post-138629 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 13:01:29 +0000 EddieD 138629@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>After I got spuds years ago, I spent an evening practising on the NEPN. after I got comfortable,I went home,and proudly cycled to work. On the way home, in the rain, the traffic lights outside Somerfields turned red and I stopped. And neither pedal released. TIIMMMMBBBBBEEEERRRRR… And even lying on Dalry Road, Icouldn't release, so I had to take my boots off and walk home in my socks, till I could get an Allen key and slacken the bolts. It was a good lesson in humility </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138617 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 11:25:06 +0000 gembo 138617@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In the olden days eddy Merckx would be caught at the end of the race by his support team to prevent him falling over as tied into his toe clips. Presumably stopping during a race could be achieved by leaning over and puling at the strap as mentioned by charterhall. I do not like the sound of that and roll with very loose straps on my toe clips.</p> <p>In the pictures he looks too big for the thin tubed bikes. Wiki cites him as 1.85m and 85kg</p> <p>Is that six foot two and thirteen stone? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138596 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:53:26 +0000 sallyhinch 138596@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got pedals a bit like that and they do more or less grab the tread of my boots when I'm cycling in those. Never could face the idea of clipping in as I know my life would be one long succession of clipless moments </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138589 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 16:39:49 +0000 gembo 138589@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice and jaggy </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138586 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 14:26:56 +0000 allebong 138586@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/gusset-prosecutor-trials-flat-pedals/rp-prod17780">Quite jaggy</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/gusset-prosecutor-magnesium-trials-flat-pedals/rp-prod17781">Jaggier</a></p> <p>If you have a pedal with replaceable pins there's always these <a href="http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/dmr-terror-pins/rp-prod27581">aptly named</a> spikes. </p> <p>As someone once asked on a mtb forum: 'Why don't they make the pedals soft rubber and put the spikes on the shoe'? (clever if impractical) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138581 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:34:34 +0000 gembo 138581@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot - quite jaggy </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138577 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:10:51 +0000 neddie 138577@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>allebong, if clipless pedals aren't enough for you, you need to go a bit retro and get toe-clips.</p> <p>The toe-clip leather straps need to be pulled really tight once you set off to maximise efficiency. This also means you won't be able to get your foot out until you reach down to the pedal buckle &amp; loosen the strap, which you neatly do as you roll up to a red light...</p> <p>Good luck ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138576 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:03:41 +0000 chdot 138576@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"They should bring back wingpig's jaggy pedals that stuck into your "</p> <p>This sort of thing?</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/Jyecwf" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/Jyecwf</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138575 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:59:56 +0000 PS 138575@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apart from the first one, my clipped-in incidents have been caused by distraction while either moving very slowly or coming to a halt. Like this:</p> <p>a) Pulling up to red traffic lights on the Gilmerton Road I hear one hell of a loud engine suddenly revving behind me. The time it took me to think "what the hell is that?" was enough for me to come to a stop and, as I'd only used cleats for a couple of rides before that, unclipping wasn't a unconscious action. Down I went. Looked up to see a blonde lady leaning out of the vintage car behind me asking if I was alright...</p> <p>b) Riding up Broughton Street with fully laden panniers, lights are red in front as I approach the entrance to Broughton Street Lane, but there's room beyond the box junction so I keep riding on at a walking pace. Van driver waiting to pull out of B St Lane has a good look at me and either decides I'm going even slower than I am or that I will cede priority to him and turns out across me to go down the hill. This forces me to halt and turn my wheel to the right, no momentum and extra weight on the bike -&gt; fall down in the middle of the road. If I hadn't been clipped in I'd have got my foot down to stop my fall, but I was and I didn't.</p> <p>c) Riding with a group through the Barnton Avenue cycle path. In the narrow bit between wall and hedge/fence it's a little two narrow for two cyclists to pass comfortably, especially if one or both have wide handlebars. As we're heading East another cyclist enters the narrow bit heading West. Chap on the front of the line brakes a little too keenly, there's a domino effect of us all braking a turning a little to avoid the wheel in front, but one of the guys behind has ropey brakes and he barrels into my side. I topple to the right but manage to grab a big handful of hawthorn to stay upright. I was glad of the leather palms on my gloves that day...</p> <p>Good on you if you avoid falling over, mind. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138573 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:51:17 +0000 Baldcyclist 138573@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Have had some 'moments' with clipless, usually when setting off rather than stopping. That, you think you're in when you're not and your foot slips off, followed by close handlebar inspection moments.</p> <p>Came off a couple of times on racing cleats and toe straps, worst one was going up Hollyrood Rd, and having to stop at the lights. I tried to get my foot out a few seconds before the light, and discovered I had done the staps up too tight. Knew I was going down and nothing I could do to stop it. Just fell over side ways. Even I was laughing when I got back up. What made it worse was a colleague following me about 50 meters back who witnessed it.</p> <p>Almost came off on 'normal' pedals recently, first time having to get out of the saddle to push up a hill on the Pashley, led to all sorts of not being able to balance properly because of hand position, and feet almost slipping off of the pedal nonsense. At leas there were no witnesses tio that calamity. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138572 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:48:19 +0000 dg145 138572@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm afraid I had a couple of embarrassing 'clipless moments' when I first started using them, but nothing recently as I've become more used to them.</p> <p>I fitted EBC's dual-sided pedals (clipless one side and flat on t'other) to both my bikes - although I have to say that, even in town, I tend not to bother with the flat side. Clipping in and out is pretty natural now.</p> <p>I'll probably just go for straight SPD pedals next time I buy any. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138571 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:22:48 +0000 gembo 138571@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I use clipless on longer cycles and if on unfamiliar route prefer them to full on road cleats, which I use on familiar routes.</p> <p>However, I do not use them on my commute. I see many smooth operators, some track standing or holding on to fences but I also see lots of clumsy re-entry into the cleats.</p> <p>My commute is approx twenty miles round trip. For me the efficiency of being cleated is not such a big deal compared with the inefficiency of getting in and out of cleats at every traffic light.</p> <p>They should bring back wingpig's jaggy pedals that stuck into your Adidas kicks or gola gutties.</p> <p>EBC does sell a fantastic old school pedal, weight about a kilo, costs a ton. Looks great. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138567 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:10:34 +0000 skotl 138567@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've been on SPDs for six months now (not quite 25 years!) and so far have had the same results as the OP - a few close calls but panicked swinging of the leg at the last minute got them disengaged.</p> <p>I am in no hurry to increase the tension! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138560 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:16:46 +0000 Stickman 138560@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I didn't cycle to work this morning as I've just fitted my first set of clipless pedals (bought with Xmas amazon vouchers) and haven't had a chance to practice with them yet. I thought that a trip through traffic on my first attempt may be a bit reckless! I did go for multi-release cleats though. Will have a test ride at the weekend. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138556 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:00:46 +0000 steveo 138556@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Multi release cleats have saved my blushes a few times, usually emergency stop situations. I'm now no longer confident I'd be able to go back to normal cleats. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138555 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:48:20 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 138555@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>Ideally, though, try to do your ACL, MCL or meniscus; or even better, do the terrible triad all at the same time.</em>"</p> <p>Ouch! I've only done my ACL (complete tear, got a bit of hamstring now doing the job, surgery 10 years ago) and fortunately that hasn't impacted on my use of clipless (if anything all of the physio work I did afterwards that leg tends to feel stronger).</p> <p>"<em>Clipless pedals are easy, I've never understood why people have difficulties with them</em>"</p> <p>I'm afraid not everyone is perfect, and we all have something we find ridiculously easy that other people find hard.</p> <p>I've had two moments. One a lovely graceful and gentle fall to the left as it appeared I had the pedal set too tight and the cleat just wouldn't disengage, and by the time I noticed the weight was already shifted too far left to save it; the other was unfortunately to the right, going up the Mound on the inside of some thankfully stationary traffic, a cone appearing out of nowhere in front of me in the cyle lane, sudden stop, and similar problem - I was new to the pedals and in my panic of realising my weight was going right just tried pulling up to get my foot off the pedal. Hand on the bonnet of the car next to me kept me upright - thereafter profuse apologies to the driver. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138550 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:20:41 +0000 Greenroofer 138550@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Talking of SPD pedals and servicing, I'm having a problem with mine. They are relatively new, but I find that the right (drive-side) pedal keeps tightening up so that it won't rotate freely.</p> <p>Here's the <a href="http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/PD/EV-PD-T780_3196A_v1_m56577569830820615.pdf">exploded view</a><br /> I've loosened the nut on the spindle on the outside of the outer ball race which lets the whole thing spin freely. I've had trouble tightening the lock nut on the end. It won't budge, and I suspect there may also be a reverse thread on it. Anyhow, it all works fine then I put it back on the bike and in a short while it's tightened itself back up again.</p> <p>Any ideas? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138545 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 01:00:53 +0000 Smudge 138545@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm must be using the wrong search terms, nothing too silly found :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138543 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:31:07 +0000 allebong 138543@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is there not a system of clipless designed for very easy entry and exit? Know I've heard of one but the name eludes me just now.</p> <p>Speaking of slippy pedals, back in summer the commuter was running this set of unbranded metal pedals that had seen year upon year of use between about 4 different bikes. The bearings were remarkably still okay but the original concave platform had worn at the sides and edges to basically convex. There was absolutely no trace of the original pins/spikes, indeed the pedal became steadily more like a shiny smooth slippery mirror each day. Strangely enough there remained a serviceable amount of grip so long as you stayed seated. One day I inevitably pushed my luck too far while standing up and slid off. I happened to have these very thin canvas shoes on with no sort of support or protection around the toe area - yes you can begin to sense where this is going. Whole body weight down on the toes onto rough tarmac while moving. Crunch. Lesson learned and new pedals with actual pins were duly fitted. </p> <p>I will also advise against running a google search for what happens if you ride barefoot or in flip flops and slide off. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138538 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:07:38 +0000 Kenny 138538@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"running might provide my long term knee-implosion plan though"</p> <p>Yeah, that should also help your knee from twisting successfully to get out of your pedals. Ideally, though, try to do your ACL, MCL or meniscus; or even better, do the terrible triad all at the same time. Once you've done that, good luck getting out of clipless pedals. Although I ride with SPD shoes using SPD pedals, I rarely clip in to them because getting out is really difficult, even when they are at their loosest setting! I end up having to twist my ankle inwards to unclip, as I can't get enough rotation outwards.</p> <p>I'm totally jealous of your inability to topple over, allebong. Long may your incapableness to hit tarmac continue. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138536 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 23:55:19 +0000 wingpig 138536@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I resisted cleats for ages on the grounds of not wanting to risk falling over sideways, but eventually relented a couple of years ago when zip-ties covering my pedals and Vibram-soled trainers still resulted in occasional slippy feet, mostly due to not being able to find a pair of pedals as spikey as they were when I was small. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138535 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 23:06:08 +0000 allebong 138535@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>7k? 10k? I have some catching up to do clearly...reckon I put in about 1.5k on the cleats so far between 2 bikes. Been focusing on running since early summer so less time on the bike these days (running might provide my long term knee-implosion plan though).</p> <p>I think Shimano recommend the bearings on the pedals be serviced annually so I'll have to get round to that at some point - I'm currently in a winter induced procrastination phase with respect to any sort of servicing more involved than turning an allen bolt. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11980#post-138522 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:34:52 +0000 wingpig 138522@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"When your SPDs have done about 10,000 miles..."</em></blockquote></p> <p>My cleats must be getting close by now but my first set of pedals died from rust after a year, so the current pair must be on about 7k. </p>