can't unclip

[ColinJ]

thanks for all those replies, my technique is turning my knee and toes out away from bike, keeping my foot parallel with floor, I've tried turning toe in towards bike, but can't get out. The cleats on the shoes seem to be tight, they don't move.

As other posts have pointed out, twist your HEEL outwards. That will lever your cleat out of the pedal. Trying to twist out from the toe end is NOT going to work because the cleat stops the shoe twisting!

 

[Citius]

tried taking it out at top of stroke and that did seem easier.

Generally, it's easier to unclip at the bottom of the pedal stroke - as your range of leg movement/rotation is far better.

 

[mjr]

How are you defining 'efficiency' and 'effectiveness' ??

Roughly, efficiency is what % of your energy is delivered to the drivetrain; effectiveness is the maximum energy you can deliver. Clipless allows one to deliver a higher peak, but that costs some efficiency - for racers, that's probably worth it, but it's less clear for the rest of us IMO.

But they're more effective at keeping your feet on the pedals, in poor conditions?

Stopping is a poor condition?

 

[Crackle]

Have you got the cleats set right for you. We don't all have straight feet. I for instance am a bit pigeon toed so my cleats are angled on the shoe to account for this. They are also pushed forwards more towards the front of the shoe. I'm just thinking if you don't have them set at the angle your feet fall naturally then the twist might be taking you out of your natural range of ankle movement.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Clipless allows one to deliver a higher peak, but that costs some efficiency - for racers, that's probably worth it, but it's less clear for the rest of us IMO.

Yet the only test that I've seen done, was by an ex-racer. And the results shown that he produced LESS power with cleats, and MORE power with flats.

 

[andrew_s]

As ColinJ said, it's the heel that has to be moved, not the toes.
I find it easiest to move the heel outwards when the pedal is at the bottom of the stroke (the normal way), but easiest to move the heel inwards if the pedal is near the top (subject to the heel not being where it would hit the wheel or frame).

 

[mjr]

Yet the only test that I've seen done, was by an ex-racer. And the results shown that he produced LESS power with cleats, and MORE power with flats.

I'm thinking primarily of https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2008-1038374 - which test do you mention?

 

[User6179]

Yet the only test that I've seen done, was by an ex-racer. And the results shown that he produced LESS power with cleats, and MORE power with flats.

Yep, test i saw said more power on the flat without being clipped in and with the foot further forward on the pedal but clipped in produced more power in sprints and uphill .

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I'm thinking primarily of https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2008-1038374 - which test do you mention?

"There was no significant difference for pedalling effectiveness, net mechanical efficiency (NE) and muscular activity between PED and CLIP"

I'm not sure what their Pedal Force Feedback is, and I don't have access to the complete journal either to find their definition of that equipment.
" Consequently, shoe-pedal interface (PED vs. CLIP) did not significantly influence cycling technique during submaximal exercise."


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNedIJBZpgM

 

[Dan Ferris]

I spent a good thirty minutes in my kitchen clipping and unclipping when i first fitted my pedals

 

[ColinJ]

I spent a good thirty minutes in my kitchen clipping and unclipping when i first fitted my pedals

You must have had them WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too tight - it should only take about one second!

 

[eva13]

thanks for all your advice, I have switched to SH56 cleats and get my foot out so easily now whichever way I twist, no more twisting my knee. Perhaps I don't have straight feet and the force was to great with my old cleats. Either way all sorted.

thanks

 

[vickster]

If you have switched to SH56, you must have SPD pedals or switched to those too?

Enjoy pedalling

 

[Dogtrousers]

thanks for all your advice, I have switched to SH56 cleats and get my foot out so easily now whichever way I twist, no more twisting my knee. Perhaps I don't have straight feet and the force was to great with my old cleats. Either way all sorted.

thanks

I'm glad you posted this, because each time I see this thread title I imagine someone trapped on their bike, desperately seeking help on ways to escape.

 

[DRM]

spray some GT85 on the mechanism where the tension is adjusted, it can make it easier to unclip.