SPD adjustment advice please...

[rafiki]

I have bought a pair of Shimano PD-M647 pedals in advance of my new bike being delivered and decided to fit them to my home exercise bike so that I can get used to them without falling and damaging something.

With the pedals fitted I find no problem connecting and I'm not finding any pain in the legs or knees so far so I guess the cleats are set about right. However, what worries me is the large sideways force I have to exert to disconnect. Will it get easier with use? It is so great there's no way at the moment I'm going to be able to disconnect in a hurry.

The printed instructions tell me how to make adjustments but not the circumstances.

What adjustment should I make to ease the force needed to disconnect?

 

[spence]

Start by backing the tension right off. As your confidence builds wind it up a notch at a time until you are not coming unclipped when you don't want to ie when pulling up on the pedals.

It'll become instinctive so don't worry.

 

[rafiki]

Thanks. I hope so. The 'connected' feeling these pedals give is better than that I get from my current set up on my Mean Street flats with clips and straps.

 

[02GF74]

as above. there are two adjuster screws that act on a spring. undo them - they should have an endstop so you shouldn't be able to unscrew them fully out; there is a cam mechanism that offers a resistance each full turn or so. this I suppose is that you can adjust each screw the same amount.

you can practise all you like on the trainer but I guarantee you will fall off when you tried to unclip the first few times. I would suggest that you practise cylcing in the garden or in a field (i.e. a soft surface).

 

[rafiki]

you can practise all you like on the trainer but I guarantee you will fall off when you tried to unclip the first few times. I would suggest that you practise cylcing in the garden or in a field (i.e. a soft surface).

I read that elsewhere too! I'll be prepared for that then. Perhaps put the pedals on the Mean Street first? At least that has a few scratches on and I am used to that bike already.

 

[rafiki]

I put the pedals on my Mean Street here in Spain this morning. Went out for a ride around the block and did famously......until I fell off I was just passing a friends house when I saw the door open. Stopped suddenly to say hello and remembered to unclip only after losing all momentum and no space ahead to pedal on.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I put the pedals on my Mean Street here in Spain this morning. Went out for a ride around the block and did famously......until I fell off I was just passing a friends house when I saw the door open. Stopped suddenly to say hello and remembered to unclip only after losing all momentum and no space ahead to pedal on.

You're not on your own there!!!

 

[killiekosmos]

Welcome to the falling off club. I changed from toe clips and straps to SPDs a month ago. I set them up at loosest setting, sat on bike leaning against garden wall and practiced getting in and out - all fine.

Went for a run, 10 miles out I come to a T junction in the countryside, uncip left foot, break, slow down and then try to put right foot on road to balance!

I've learned that when I stop I usually put right foot down, so that's foot to unclip!

 

[rafiki]

After my first disastrous attempt round the block I got kitted up and went for my usual daily 19km exercise ride out. Fortunately I got no leg or knee pains so the set up is OK. I think my average speed was a little higher. They felt good - connected, looked smarter too.

My ride is also a birdwatching trip so I had plenty of practice at stopping quickly and getting my feet down. No embarrassment this time fortunately. However, I guess there could still be room for that if I have to stop in an emergency in the near future before I get really accustomed to them.

These M647 pedals can also double as flats so I'm going to try them out with trainers when I pop to the supermarket this evening.

 

[bonj2]

Well done on the correct choice of pedals

Also make sure you've got the right motion - it's on outward twist of the heel - not moving the whole foot sideways - i.e. so the cleat rotates in the pedal rather than moves laterally in it.

 

[rafiki]

Good luck - I find them pretty bad with trainers. I wouldn't want to go more than about a kilometer or so with them.

Thanks, I'll report back. I would only really want to use them as flats for short, quick trips to post office and supermarket.

 

[rafiki]

Well, I used them as flats wearing my trainers and, as Uncle Mort predicted, I was very disappointed. The binding sits extremely proud of the cage and I found them quite uncomfortable to pedal.

 

[bonj2]

Well, I used them as flats wearing my trainers and, as Uncle Mort predicted, I was very disappointed. The binding sits extremely proud of the cage and I found them quite uncomfortable to pedal.

it's meant to be merely *possible*, if absolutely necessary - not a good idea/comfortable.
for me when mtbing the cage serves two purposes - to guide the foot in/help me position the cleat on the binding if setting off on a downhill or technical bit, or just to put some power down on the first pedal stroke if setting off on an uphill, so i can then clip in on the second stroke.