Kevin Airey
Active Member
Probably just a case of getting used to the right "flicking the foot out" technique, doen't take long and then you'll be a master.....
Clipless Pedals FAQ
- Thread starter Kestevan
- Start date
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Louch
105% knowledge on 105
- Location
- Kingdom of Kinnard
Was more than thAt, was over compensating the movement and they would come apart.worked better after washing pedal and cleat, maybe had a stone stuck.
themosquitoking
Guru
- Location
- Spain
The toes in my right foot we're getting a bit numb and i noticed that the left foot cleat felt further back under my foot than the right did, even though they were both set up neutrally by my lbs after purchase. I slid the whole thing back by a couple of mm and it felt a bit better but still got some numbness just in slightly different parts. I thought maybe putting it slightly further back again may help but when my right foot is at the three o'clock position it rubs on the tyre already when the wheel is turned enough and i'm worried my foot being further forward will make this worse. Obviously under most turning situations under any sort of speed i won't actually be turning the wheel that much but under slower speed conditions or during evasive action i can imagine it being a problem. Anyone with any thoughts?
Kevin Airey
Active Member
It depends what set up neutrally means? If the cleat is set up neutral to the markings on your shoes (if you have them) that's not necessarily neutral on your actual foot.
The pedal axle should run between the ball of your big toe and the ball of your 5th (little) toe, see image... Some people have a preference to be more on the toes or a little further back but this is the neutral position to start with. Any adjustments made you shouldn't really change until you have a good few hundred miles under your belt, unless you have severe problems. Any adjustments no matter how minor take time to readjust your body/muscles/tendons.
Numbness can also be caused by many other factors, shoes too small/big, incorrect fore/aft position, saddle too low, etc so it may not be just down to the cleats....
I don't think your foot should be touching the front wheel, I have caught mine occasionally but only when riding without cleats on, makes me think the set up is putting you too far forward.
The pedal axle should run between the ball of your big toe and the ball of your 5th (little) toe, see image... Some people have a preference to be more on the toes or a little further back but this is the neutral position to start with. Any adjustments made you shouldn't really change until you have a good few hundred miles under your belt, unless you have severe problems. Any adjustments no matter how minor take time to readjust your body/muscles/tendons.
Numbness can also be caused by many other factors, shoes too small/big, incorrect fore/aft position, saddle too low, etc so it may not be just down to the cleats....
I don't think your foot should be touching the front wheel, I have caught mine occasionally but only when riding without cleats on, makes me think the set up is putting you too far forward.
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themosquitoking
Guru
- Location
- Spain
Yeah sorry, i meant cleats were set up neutrally/centrally to the shoe rather than my foot.
Kevin Airey
Active Member
That's a start then get it set up to your actual foot....
SpokesT
Senior Member
- Location
- South Coast
I haven't been through the entire 28 pages of posts on this thread so it may have already been said, but the best description of what I've read on here as a 'clip less moment' is a 'cliptastrophe'.
I have a set of Shimano SPD-SL cleats for my road bike and my right foot felt a bit different today (foot I primarily unclip with and lean on). When I got home, I inspected the cleats and noticed that of the three rubber pieces of the cleat, the rear, outer rubber piece on my right cleat had completely fallen off. The cleats are about 9 months old, and I have approximately 200 miles on them. Does this seem odd?
I try to avoid walking in them and only walk from my living room to the garage in them. One thought is that with how hot the asphalt gets in Arizona, is that maybe the heat contributed to it. Any thoughts?
I try to avoid walking in them and only walk from my living room to the garage in them. One thought is that with how hot the asphalt gets in Arizona, is that maybe the heat contributed to it. Any thoughts?
Phoenix Lincs
Über Member
- Location
- Sleaford, Lincs
My last couple of rides haven't been very successful (a 'moment' on each and a few near misses), trying to release my right foot. I thought it might be because I was panicking a bit so at one 'almost' I leaned against a stationary van parked at the side of the road and tried in a calm manner, but still couldn't get it out. My friend had to come over and manually twist my heel to get it released.
Thats when I noticed some guys were actually sitting in the van, so I apologised for leaning on it, but explained why and they were fine. I did joke about not leaning on it with greasy chip fingers later!
When I got home I had the same trouble (after having an actual moment at a junction earlier) and ended up taking my foot out of the shoe to release it. Apart from looking like I was a triathlete in the transition area, it took quite a tug to release it.
I have checked the pedal was set at its loosest possible setting(it was) and I've squirted some 3-in-1 type oil in there as it did seem a bit 'gritty' so I hope today's ride will be more successful, but does anybody else have any other suggestions please?
Thats when I noticed some guys were actually sitting in the van, so I apologised for leaning on it, but explained why and they were fine. I did joke about not leaning on it with greasy chip fingers later!
When I got home I had the same trouble (after having an actual moment at a junction earlier) and ended up taking my foot out of the shoe to release it. Apart from looking like I was a triathlete in the transition area, it took quite a tug to release it.
I have checked the pedal was set at its loosest possible setting(it was) and I've squirted some 3-in-1 type oil in there as it did seem a bit 'gritty' so I hope today's ride will be more successful, but does anybody else have any other suggestions please?
Kevin Airey
Active Member
Something is wrong, if they are set at the slackest/weakest position its a simple twist and release....
You have tried and tried so I am guessing its not a technique issue?
Get them back to the shop before you have a more serious incident, clips make life easy not hard....
You have tried and tried so I am guessing its not a technique issue?
Get them back to the shop before you have a more serious incident, clips make life easy not hard....
Phoenix Lincs
Über Member
- Location
- Sleaford, Lincs
I bought them off the web, so I think a trip to my LBS is worth a go tomorrow to see what he says, I need him to check my derailer (is that right?) anyway as when I did fall off, my chain got the wrong side of it and it took us a while to get everything back in place.
Thanks for the advice
Kevin Airey
Active Member
Hope they can spot the problem for you, the only time I had a problem disengaging was when the cleat on the shoe came loose. As you can imagine I was trying to twist my foot out but the cleat was moving and hence not coming out of the pedal....
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
Are you using SPD or SPD SL pedals / cleats Phoenix?
These have been recommended a few times but having had some high speed incidents and still being able to unclip without even thinking about it, I cannot recommended these enough IF your using SPD pedals (wont work with SPD-SL) - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10969
As for your current setup, something is seriously wrong and I wouldn't use your pedal / cleat combination until your LBS has sorted it, releasing tension from pedal / checking for stones etc / oiling the pedal is all you can really do yourself to check.
These have been recommended a few times but having had some high speed incidents and still being able to unclip without even thinking about it, I cannot recommended these enough IF your using SPD pedals (wont work with SPD-SL) - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10969
As for your current setup, something is seriously wrong and I wouldn't use your pedal / cleat combination until your LBS has sorted it, releasing tension from pedal / checking for stones etc / oiling the pedal is all you can really do yourself to check.
