First clipless moment

[Onthedrops]

I use spds and set the pressure down to the minimium so they release fairly easily-works for me-I am coming back to cycling and one of the things I did was to go down a quite country lane (big grass verges in case i fell over)stopping every 200 yards stop and to take my feet in and out of the pedals did this for about 11/2 miles until I felt confident only problem I've had since is one of the spd's releases too easily when I'm riding so I've just tightened the pressure a bit.I might have looked a bit of a clown doing this but it payed off.!

I did wonder about this myself.
Mine are set around half way. I would think that too slack a setting may give rise to unintentional unclipping. Not very welcome if you're out of the saddle on inclines............Ouch!!!

 

[ColinJ]

I would think that too slack a setting may give rise to unintentional unclipping. Not very welcome if you're out of the saddle on inclines............Ouch!!!

I have my SPDs set to minimum release tension and do an awful lot of climbing on steep hills - it is not a problem for me.

When standing up on climbs I make sure that my feet are angled slightly down towards the front of the bike and that stops me twisting them about as I pedal. I think you would be more likely to accidentally unclip if you dropped your heels more. I can't prove that, but that is how it feels to me.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I've never had a clipless moment

 

[Onthedrops]

I've never had a clipless moment

Oh deary deary me.

You've gone and done it now matey.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Oh deary deary me.

You've gone and done it now matey.

Doubt it, I ride flats

 

[Onthedrops]

I have my SPDs set to minimum release tension and do an awful lot of climbing on steep hills - it is not a problem for me.

When standing up on climbs I make sure that my feet are angled slightly down towards the front of the bike and that stops me twisting them about as I pedal. I think you would be more likely to accidentally unclip if you dropped your heels more. I can't prove that, but that is how it feels to me.

Never thought of that. I am aware of your locale and know from experience how hilly it is round there. So would you advocate slackening the clips off a tad more? Would prevent future horizontal moments I would suggest.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I would think that too slack a setting may give rise to unintentional unclipping. Not very welcome if you're out of the saddle on inclines...

Shouldn't do. You really need that very positive torsional movement of the heel sideways, going up an incline your feet are pushing on forwards and down, not twisting 20 degrees or more to the side. I've never come out on a climb. In fact I've never some out unintentionally full stop.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Never thought of that. I am aware of your locale and know from experience how hilly it is round there. So would you advocate slackening the clips off a tad more? Would prevent future horizontal moments I would suggest.

I'd only slacken off the clips if you had trouble getting out of them, i.e. coming to a stop you had problems getting the sideways pressure needed to release. If it was like you suggest, an accidental lean to the wrong side followed by a moment of panic, I probably wouldn't bother. That may have happened with loose clips, or with tight clips. I'm tempted to say you just need practice... many riders can come to a virtually complete stop and then unclip when stationary, and most riders never adjust the tension. A pro sprinter might wind up the tension, but us mere mortals shouldn't need to touch that allen screw.

 

[Onthedrops]

I'd only slacken off the clips if you had trouble getting out of them, i.e. coming to a stop you had problems getting the sideways pressure needed to release. If it was like you suggest, an accidental lean to the wrong side followed by a moment of panic, I probably wouldn't bother. That may have happened with loose clips, or with tight clips. I'm tempted to say you just need practice... many riders can come to a virtually complete stop and then unclip when stationary, and most riders never adjust the tension. A pro sprinter might wind up the tension, but us mere mortals shouldn't need to touch that allen screw.

Agreed.
Like on my original post I had in fact come to a standstill as is normal for me. I just don't know what caused me to lean opposite to my normal left foot unclipping.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Agreed.
Like on my original post I had in fact come to a standstill as is normal for me. I just don't know what caused me to lean opposite to my normal left foot unclipping.

Yeah that happens mate, it's almost happened to me particularly at pedestrian crossings where people can come out quickly and you're at low speed. The really key thing is that when you wobble, the next natural movement is to turn your foot outwards, fast. Just takes practice to wire it into your subconcious.

 

[Goggs]

I've never accidentally unclipped. Some things I've learned though.

1. It's harder to unclip the further back on the sole the cleat is mounted.
2. It's easier (more positive) to unclip with a bit of tension dialled in. Say, position 4 of 10.
3. Regularly check the cleat is tightly fastened to the sole of the show. I mean rock solid.