For Sale: SPD pedals and shoes. Used once.

[wanzar]

So I decided it was time to ride clipless! What was I thinking!?! The pedals came with the bike, Crank Brothers Smarty. And I got some middle of the road Shimano shoes. Unless someone wants to give me a good price I need help!

First, I cannot for the life of me clip in on the road. I can at home; mind you this is leaning against a wall brakes on, with all my weight on the pedal!

Then, on the road only God knows how I accidentally clipped in! What happened when I attempted to clip out, well you all know this answer!

So I fell! Thats right I fell! One foot clipped out, one in, and I fell one my ***! Thats not even the worse part! Someone saw me!!!

As I fell what was worried about:

1- Expensive bike clothes. Lycra totally intact, skin not so much! Don't worry just a scratch on my knee and elbow!

2- Bike mirror! I have been labelled at the bike shop as, "the girl that breaks all the mirrors!!" Check! Mirror okay!

3- If anyone saw me! Not so lucky on that one. But he seemed more embarrassed that I was.

What do I do? I read a ton of stuff on this forum. If I could clip in I would learn. According to my manual for the pedals I cannot adjust them to make them easier to clip in to.

I got the pedals on her now. I cannot ride her like this. I have frighten myself.

So if you could offer any help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Wanzar

[Serotta Jim]

When my wife was learning to ride clipless I got pedals that I could loosen up all the way. It was a lot easier for her to get the hang of it.

Maybe you can ask the LBS if you can trade the pedals you have now for another pedal that can be adjusted. If they are of good shop they should try to work with you to get you into something you can ride.

[dinabean]

Do you have a trainer? Or since they are SPD pedals, access to a spin bike? I practiced a lot clipping in and out in spin classes before I had the nerve to put the pedals on my bike. Then I practiced on the sidewalk, going slowly, in and out, so that I could fall on grass if need be. After a few short rides, it became second nature. It does get easier, really!

[Zen]

First of all, if you want to sell the pedals and shoes, list them in the for sale thread.
This thread is going to take a hard drift.
Let's start at square one.
What kind of riding do you currently do? Why did you think being clipped in would help?

[Eden]

Crank Bro's Smartys are not SPD's (that is a specific type of pedal made by Shimano, with some clones out there made by other mfg's).

Crank Bro's pedals do not have an adjustment for the amount of force it takes to clip in and out like many other types, *but* in general all Crank Bro's pedals are very easy to clip in and out of - as long as your cleats are installed correctly.

1. Make sure your cleats are well clear of the soles of your shoes. Many shoes made for recessed cleats have a cleat well that is either a bit too small or a bit too deep. You may need to use some of the little spacers that came with your cleats to raise them a bit and/or take an x-acto or box knife and trim away a bit of the rubber from around the cleat to allow it better contact with the pedal. It should not take a huge amount of force to clip into a Crank Bros pedal.

2. Check to see on which side you've installed your cleats. One has a little round dot on it. Which shoe you put that one on will make a difference in the release angle (I don't remember which - but you can go online and get the manual) You will probably want to make sure that the release angle is the least amount of foot turn, and turning out to make it easiest to unclip.

[pumpkinpony]

2. Check to see on which side you've installed your cleats. One has a little round dot on it. Which shoe you put that one on will make a difference in the release angle (I don't remember which - but you can go online and get the manual) You will probably want to make sure that the release angle is the least amount of foot turn, and turning out to make it easiest to unclip.

Put the cleat with the dots on the right shoe to make it easier... I learned something on the Trek group ride this morning. :D

[Zen]

I could never get clipped in to crank bros.

[wanzar]

I do have the right cleat installed on the right shoe. I had the little manual out as I was doing it.

I've already looked into the spacers when I first couldn't clip in. I tried the shoes up against the pedals and that doesn't seem it should be a problem. I could be wrong. I read that I should not use spacers unless absolutely necessary.

I find that when I do clip out there is force behind it. My foot will leave the pedal. Not sure if thats normal.

I know the manuel read that there was a break in period through wear the spring tension would loosen. How am I suppose to get to that point?!

I only ride for fun. I usually go for 30 or so mile trips. There are a lot of hills here. I have road bike I bought last year. I wanted to go clipless because I found my feet were slipping off the pedals.

Thank you for all your replies.

[Zelda_K]

I had tried a pair of Smarty pedals that had come with a Specialized mountainbike. They were awful, it took me a real effort and a lot of patience to clip in, and then I almost couldn't clip out. So I decided they weren't good for me and went back to my SPDs. SPDs are easy to use and they make me feel safe. Never had a problem with them. They worked well for me right from the start (= my very first day with clipless pedals).

[tzvia]

I had tried a pair of Smarty pedals that had come with a Specialized mountainbike. They were awful, it took me a real effort and a lot of patience to clip in, and then I almost couldn't clip out. So I decided they weren't good for me and went back to my SPDs. SPDs are easy to use and they make me feel safe. Never had a problem with them. They worked well for me right from the start (= my very first day with clipless pedals).

I could not agree more. A friend gave me his Candy SL pedals (came with his bike, but he has XTRs) so I am trying them out on my commuter. UGG. Vague clip-in. I mean, hey, am I clicked in now? No, maybe move the foot forward a little, no no, back a bit. Oh, I'm in. What's with that. I want to put my foot down and SNAP I am in. These are not like SPDs at all. Clipping out is not bad and it did get easier as I used them, but again, they just twist out with a feeling like I am twisting my foot out of a large glob of really sticky resistant chewing gum. I much prefer the click in and and click out of SPDs and Time pedals. Ok they are nice and light, but my 10+ year old XTR pedals make these feel like crap. I take that back, they do feel like crap and don't need the comparison to anything else. Maybe some people will put up with CB pedals (assuming they all feel similar as they use the same retention mech) because they are light weight, but function before weight with me. Where did I put those XTRs...

Wanzar,
Yes there is a learning curve. I used a trainer way back in the '80s on the original LOOK pedals. You could try standing in a hallway over your bike (you can hold onto walls), with your seat lowered so you can also touch floor quickly. Your shoes should be snug so your shoe rotates on release, as opposed to your foot sliding in the shoe. (My brother is quad A and has this problem as most cycling shoes are too wide for him in the healcup.) I would also suggest using an easier pedal, like SPDs, as others have mentioned already. The release tension can be adjusted, and snap-in and out is so much easier than what I am experiencing on the Candy pedals I am using. It is best to have that feedback from the pedal, a positive click in and out. SPD is the way to go for a first clipless pedal for these reasons. Also, the CB pedals are known for needing frequent rebuilds and bearing replacements while the Shimano pedals are bomb proof. My 10+ year old SPDs work as well as they did on day one.

[wanzar]

Thank you for all the replies.

I'll give them another try inside if I still can't figure this out I'll probably look at getting new pedals.

Question since I'm a novice, two bolt patten type cleats clearly aren't called SPD. So what is an SPD? A Shimano two bolt cleat pedal? What should I be looking for in a new pedal?

Thank you,
Wanzar

[Zen]

I use these (http://www.amazon.com/HALF-TOE-CLIPS-XL-BLACK/dp/B000JDZQ0W) on one of my bikes.

You'll find prettier ones in these search results (http://www.google.com/search?q=toe+cages+strapless&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGGL_enUS344US344)

[tiva]

When I first went to clipless pedals about a month ago, I started at the LBS where I bought my bike (same day!). Some random customer advised that I get the crank bros smarties, but the bike shop strongly advised the spd. I went with the spd. The bike shop spent about an hour with me, putting the cleats in the shoes, mounting the pedals, getting them as loose as possible, then putting me and my new bike on the trainer and letting me practice for a good 30 minutes. The first few times I thought it was impossible, because I just couldn't seem to get the durn cleat into the pedal. Then suddenly it became easier, and that afternoon, I was using them just fine.

So my advice is: get yourself to your LBS, and ask for their help selecting the pedal, putting it on the bike, getting it adjusted to it's super easy, then letting your practice a bunch on their trainer, w/your own bike.

Good luck!