CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Clipless pedals - Help!

(8 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Morningsider
  • Latest reply from kaputnik
  • This topic is not a support question

  1. Morningsider
    Member

    I've blown my Christmas cash on some Look Keo Easy pedals and road bike shoes. Have just been on a test run in the local park and my left shin (the left being the side I do not kick off with) is now covered in bruises caused by my foot slipping off the pedal as I tested getting in and out the binding at various speeds etc. Does anyone have any tips on how to use these pedals - I can see they will be good when I get the hang of it, but can't seem to find an easy way of ensuring the binding on the pedal faces upward when I kick off.

    Or is it just one of those things you have to get a knack for?

    Any advice greatly appreciated.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Baldcyclist
    Member

    I've used clipless, shimano and look, for about 10 years now, and I still can't get into them eloquently after that time! I'd appreciate some tips too.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. PS
    Member

    I'm not sure exactly how the Keo's work, but if they're anything like the Shimano SPD-SLs, I find it's a two motion thing: first it's toe down to engage the front, then heel down to click into the binding. This becomes one easy motion as you get used to it, with the toe-engaging bit involving a sweeping motion from behind to flip the pedal the right way up.

    There are occasions where the pedal is the wrong way up, so it's worthwhile practising pedalling one legged for a few revolutions to get forward momentum, then you can flip the pedal and clip in. With the Shimanos, you can (carefully) press down on a wrong-way-up pedal for a few revolutions as well.

    It does become second nature after a while and makes a big difference, so stick with it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Roibeard
    Member

    @Morningsider - I've got double sided pedals, SPD on one side, flat on the other, presumably as you have from your description. Mine seem to prefer hanging in one orientation, so I flick back for flat, and push forward for SPD, and pushing down is how I clip in. Perhaps getting in is just a matter of practice?

    Getting out, I rotate my heel out, think "reverse Dorothy"! This is the only direction my pedals accept, although I think some work with both Dorothy and reverse - you might wish to try the outwards direction.

    Finally, perhaps you can adjust the placement of the cleats? I've got mine right to the edge of the shoes, so that my ankles are as far from the cranks as possible - I'm not sure that's the most ergonomic, but it seemed to work when I first got the shoes and went clipless for the first time.

    Hope these help!

    Robert

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. remberbuck
    Member

    Congratulations - I've used Looks in all their incarnations and have always found them cooler, classier, and miles ahead of Shimano. They do take a bit of getting used to compared to SPDs, but it is well worth it - the difference when I tried them on the winter singlespeed rather then its usual dual SPD 530 stunned.

    Firstly, the weight distribution of the pedal means that its natural position is perpendicular to the road, with the binding face to the rear - where you want it.

    If you miss then it does spin round, and you have to wait for it to settle down, but it does.

    My usual reason for battering shins in the way you have is panic - and trying to engage too fast. Try touching the top of the pedal with the tip of your shoe. Press gently forward with the tip - parallel to the ground - until you feel the front edge of the cleat engage with the pedal. The gap between the cleat and the sole of your shoe will have caught on the raised bar at the front of the pedal. From there press gently down with your heel. You will have engaged. If that is taking too much effort, try loosening the tension to begin with.

    If you skid off, wait about 10 seconds and have another go. If it still doesn't work - and there are those days - then you can pedal unengaged to get some speed up, and the confidence to try again without fearing that the motorist behind you isn't going to run you over.

    It does become second nature after a couple of days.

    Hope that helps.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Morningsider
    Member

    Thanks for the advice everyone, especially remberbuck - very useful, I'll try this tomorrow.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. gembo
    Member

    Engaging is something I haven't found as difficult [after some practice and especially with the instructions remberbuck gives]. Disengaging is my problem.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I'm still using the same Look Deltas (Kéo's older, bigger and uglier brother) that I got on my first road bike c. 8 years ago. I'm lead to believe that the motion for entry and exit is very similar between the two, and Rememberbuck's description of it is perfect. Rumours amongst die-hard Delta users is that they are slightly easier to use and the bigger contact surface a benefit, hence a small industry in OEM manufacturing of them still going on.

    You should be able to loosen off the spring that sets the binding tension using an allen wrench, setting it a bit softer might help entry and exit at first.

    Main thing is, as said above, don't panic with it. Remember if you think you aren't going to "make it" at first attempt, your one clipped in foot will provide plenty of power to rotate the crank all the way around and get it back in position for another shot (unless you're on a steep hill). Still happens to me quite regularly, especially after I try using them on a "commute" type ride with constant in/out/in/out at lights and junctions.

    Toe first, push forward gently and when you feel the back contact, push again, "CLICK!", you're in. Pushing hard just leads to the nylon cleat skiting across the surface and the harde you push, the harder it knocks your shin (or if you're really unluck and push off uphill in a way-too-big gear, you fire your tender parts back into the nose of the saddle in a very uncomfortable manner...)

    Posted 12 years ago #

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