Cleats, shoes and fear

[SouthernBelle]

I've been riding clipless for about a month, pedals are SPD m505. I picked up a couple of extra pairs of shoes on ebay, a pair of specialized and a pair of lakes. Both pair came with cleats. This evening I put on the lakes to ride, clipped in and took off. They actually clipped in easier than the cleats that came with my pedals. I'm riding along, it's pretty out, I hit the first traffic light just right and get about a mile and a half from home. I'm rolling toward a 4 way stop which is VERY busy this time of day, approaching on a down hill. I start to brake and realize I can't clip out. I try waggling both feet around every which way and nothing works. Traffic is heavy and I'm desperate.

I look ahead and there is a large grassy area ahead I can ride down a hill to, off the side of the road, provided I can get through the intersection. I manage all of that, coast down the hill and flop over into the soft grass. Whew! I have to take my shoes off and rip them off the pedals. Then I put them back on and rode home with the pedals in my arches so I wouldn't accidentally clip in.

The cleat that was hung looks like this:
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/5371/im000268mr8.th.jpg (http://img372.imageshack.us/my.php?image=im000268mr8.jpg)

Regular cleat:
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1640/im000267dz5.th.jpg (http://img372.imageshack.us/my.php?image=im000267dz5.jpg)

There are some small differences. What kind of cleat is the first one? How many different kinds are there? I think both are Shimano.

TIA,

[HillSlugger]

What kind of cleat is the first one? How many different kinds are there? I think both are Shimano.

I'm glad you were able to get off the bike without getting hurt!

I know of two types of SPD cleats, single release and multidirectional release. The first will only release with a heel twist to the outside the second also with an inward twist or by pulling up on the heel.

I did a web image search on "spd cleat" and don't find anything that looks like your problem cleats.

Hopefully someone else is a bit more knowledable about this.

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks for looking!

[sandy45]

Southern,

my husband who has been doing this since middle school and knows more about this than i do said that you should go to LBS and get a set of cleats (the metal part that connects the shoe to the pedal) that are made for your pedals. he said they could be different cleats...but couldnt tell from the pic alone. but the cleats can be changed on the shoe easily. he said if you dont have the right ones it can damage your pedal and cause you harm...aka crashing or falling cause you cant get out.

but like i said my husband read it and told me what to answer...hope it helps...

Sandy

[SadieKate]

To the novice, Shimano, Ritchey, Wellgo and Eggbeater cleats could all look the same. Yes, be sure your cleats are made for your pedals. Also, worn cleats will be easier to use - just a fact of life. This also means they come unclipped a little easier and sometimes when you least expect it.

[Kalidurga]

I have Shimano spd pedals and Lake shoes. My cleats look like the ones in your "regular cleats" photo. In your "hung up cleats" photo, it appears there's a notch of some kind at the bottom of the cleat. Or is that just a shadow or discoloration? If it is a notch, then I'd wonder if you got a funky cleat via ebay. Since cleats are sold with the pedals, I'd assume that Shimano could provide replacements so you can put them on your Lakes and ditch the funky ones.

[SouthernBelle]

Yes, there is a small notch on the bottom part of the cleat. & the top 'pointy' part of the cleat is ever so slightly different.

I guess I thought that when I clipped in so easily, that I would clip out just as easily. Boy was I wrong!

There is apparently more than one kind of Shimano cleat. Not fair.

I will go to the LBS to get cleats for the ebay shoes. It's just not that close, so I was hoping to avoid the drive. When one buys shoes for a dollar, one shouldn't complain. :D

ETA: the cleats that came with the pedals are in the other pic.

[violette]

What was wrong was that my peddals were set too tight. You can set your peddals so the shoes can be easier to unclipp.

[SouthernBelle]

I have considered loosening my pedals as on occasion I have a little trouble with my other shoes. But I think the difference here was significant.

[SouthernBelle]

I took lunch to drive to Nashville and pick up some more cleats. My winter shoes shall be ready when winter comes! ;)

[mimitabby]

southernbelle
what is nice about this story is that you were quick witted and didn't get hurt!

[SouthernBelle]

blushing ---> :o

[CyclChyk]

If you got the shoes on ebay, how can you be sure the cleats are the ones that originally came with the shoes? Perhaps they aren't the original or even Shimano......

[Fredwina]

To the novice, Shimano, Ritchey, Wellgo and Eggbeater cleats could all look the same. Yes, be sure your cleats are made for your pedals. Also, worn cleats will be easier to use - just a fact of life. This also means they come unclipped a little easier and sometimes when you least expect it.
I've had a similar exeperience to SouthernBelle with "clone(i.e. Wellgo,Nashbar,etc.)" cleats in Shimano pedals and vice versa. Have also heard about the same thing happening with Look -type pedals and cleats. If I remember right, the genuine articles have "SHIMANO" Stamped on the cleat.

[SouthernBelle]

If you got the shoes on ebay, how can you be sure the cleats are the ones that originally came with the shoes? Perhaps they aren't the original or even Shimano......

None of my shoes are Shimano. My original shoes are Pearl Izumi. The cleats come separately and are put on the shoes.

But now all of my shoes have official shimano cleats in the right type!

Fredwina, I do wonder if this one pair are clones as their is no name on them. But they are gone now!

[postiechic]

I took lunch to drive to Nashville and pick up some more cleats
Nashville, what a cool place....I should visit there again sometime.
oh...and with the cleat/shoe/pedal matching issue.....cleats should come with pedals; or with the bike if the bike already came with clipless pedals.

[SouthernBelle]

Nashville, what a cool place....I should visit there again sometime.
oh...and with the cleat/shoe/pedal matching issue.....cleats should come with pedals; or with the bike if the bike already came with clipless pedals.

They did.

If you look at the original post I have 3 pair of shoes.