The cows are mocking me

[Daisy]

So I got dumped, ate mince pies, got fat, normal boring story!!! To combat the situation and remove myself from the kitchen I bought a road bike. I live in the country so not toouch traffic and I have always admired those that I saw whizzing around the roads on the weekend. I have done five miles a day since 27th December (2010) and I think I like it however I have one problem...
I bought some shiny new pedals and some wicked shoes that make me look like a 'super hero ten pin bowler' all suggested by sisters other half, the only thing is I can't get my foot to release!! Once I am attached it's like a Vulcan death grip NO ESCAPE!!
I ride around the same route everyday and everyday I fall at exactly the same farm gate, infront of the same bloody cows! I am sure they have started to line up in order to get a good view of the silly tart in Lycra falling off her bike!!!

PLEASE HELP

Daisy

 

[mcshroom]

Hi Daisy and

Are the pedals 'clipless' (this means you clip into them

)?

If they are as I think you decribe them then there should be some tension screws on the pedal that control how tightly the pedals grip the shoes. If you can't get the shoes to unclip from the pedals by twisting your ancle outwards then turn the screw towards the minus sign (usually anti clockwise I think) and this should lower the amount of tension that the pedal grips with and make it easier.

 

[lanternerouge]

Hehehe that was a funny post Daisy, welcome to the forums! I have just got a road bike too and had the same problem (minus the cows...) - you ca adjust your pedals so they are easier to clip in and out of.

 

[ttcycle]

Hi Daisy welcome to the forum!!!!

Well done on the cycling - mcshroom has covered the adjustment and twisting your foot outwards so won't repeat too much!

Happy cycling and sounds like you're getting or have the cycling bug!!

 

[TheDoctor]

It's not much help, but your post made me giggle!!!
As well as slackening off the pedals, may I suggest taking something to intimidate the cows?
A griddle pan should do the trick. It'll take ages to cook a whole cow, but the rest of them should be scared off

 

[slowmotion]

Welcome Daisy,

I think I am about to venture clipless in the next few weeks, and it scares me a lot.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Globalti]

Good post. As well as loosening those tension screws, do check that the cleats are firmly attached to the soles of the shoes otherwise they will just rotate when you try to unclip. The screws holding them need to be done up pretty tight.

 

[ian turner]

Reduce the tension down to the minimum (probably or so I found on my Shimano R540s)
Practice in a car park, or similar wide area of tarmac, when it's quiet.
Do you have to fall off when you get home to unclip ?

 

[asterix]

Would the farmer move the cows for you?

 

[ACS]

 

[GrasB]

Another thing to check is that the cleat is aligned properly for your foot & shoe. If you've got to push your heal out too far then it's very difficult to detach properly no matter how strong your ankle is.

 

[rodgy-dodge]

Daisy this post made me laugh sorry just reminded me of Bridget Jones.....I gave up the spd's and went back to toe clips after coming off down Iron Kells umpteen times...enjoy your biking

 

[steve52]

daisy ur going to fit right in!!!

 

[aberal]

And assuming that you've done all the right things in adjusting the shoes/cleats/pedals then the action of removing your foot is to rotate it smoothly. Don't pull.

 

[ianrauk]

Bleedin' Cows.. what are they like huh?
Got nothing to do all day except looking gormless and eating grass.


Welcome to the forums Daisy