How to unclip?

[thekarens]

To make a long story short the shoes I decided I liked the best would not work with MTB pedals so I got these Shimano R540 Spd SL Road Pedals Black. The shop guy made sure they were on their loosest setting, but I still seem to be having a heck of a time getting my left foot out and it seems to me that I have to give both sides a good hard yank to get out, but it doesn't always work with the left foot. In fact, a lot of the time it doesn't. Suggestions?

[Catrin]

I've no good advice for you (I had the same problem which is how I wound up changing to Speedplay Frogs), but I feel your pain in this. Perhaps a couple drops of lube might help?

[thekarens]

Certainly couldn't hurt!

In case anyone was wondering the shoe requires a 3 bolt system.

[Catrin]

If you have a trainer, put it on the trainer and clip/unclip a gazillion times - this might help to break them in and, hopefully, make it easier...

[thekarens]

No trainer, I've been practicing in the hallway holding onto the walls :-)

[tealtreak]

Do you have the instruction manuals? No offense to your bike guy... but my first thought would be to check the shoe/cleat and pedal settings against the manuals to see if they really are at the loosest setting.....(I hate to sound jaded,..but I always double check this kinda stuff because they don't always do it correctly... that goes for house appliances too haha)

[zoom-zoom]

I HATED SPD-SLs and had several issues with being unable to unclip and have permanent scars to show for it. Looks have been MUCH better in terms of unclipping.

[Catrin]

I've SPD-SL's, and have never had a problem with them. But, it seems like there was a bad batch of them in circulation last year where people had the problems you describe.

I think there was more than ONE bad batch, my problem was 2 years ago...and I had already learned clipless on dual-sided SPD pedals. I know a couple of people this year who had the same problem and moved to non-SPD pedals - but of course who can say when those pedals were manufactured?

[OakLeaf]

When I got my road bike I wanted Eggbeaters. When they were setting up my bike at the bike shop I tried them out, and I just could not get out of them no matter what I did. The shoes I'd chosen were drilled for either two or three bolts. I put on Looks, which I had experience with from way back in the day, and haven't looked back.

It stinks that they let you go home with pedals and cleats that weren't working for you on the trainer. I think the difference with me was that I DID have 20-year-old muscle memory of how unclipping was supposed to feel, and I KNEW that large amounts of force and >45° rotation aren't normal, safe, or acceptable. I didn't even begin to let them dismiss my concerns, I just told them to take those pedals and cleats off and give me Looks instead.

Maybe on that basis you can get them to take them back in exchange for something that you can clip and unclip at least on the trainer. If not, hopefully you can unload them either locally or here on TE for not too much loss.

[thekarens]

As far as the setting goes I watched him do the one pedal and that one I know was on the loosest setting, but on the other I wasn't paying attention.

I did check out the Looks, but they were quite a bit more expensive. He told me I could come back on Monday and he'd set me up on the trainer.

I may also take my bike to the shop where I bought it and see what he says.

[thekarens]

As a side note my partner got the eggbeaters and Scattante shoes, or them on the the house and within 15 minutes was zooming around the neighborhood. I was a tad jealous :-)

[Owlie]

I've SPD-SL's, and have never had a problem with them. But, it seems like there was a bad batch of them in circulation last year where people had the problems you describe.

My boss says there were a batch or two of bad 105 pedals that have been running around.

He doesn't like the R540s because it uses the older version of the mechanism (that, and the plastic plate on the pedals that keep needing to be replaced). But he's something of a bike snob.

[thekarens]

For what it's worth I've managed to get the left foot unclipped, but it feels much tougher than the right foot. I'm taking the bike to the shop where I got the shoes and will put it on the trainer so they can watch me and get their opinion. After that I'm going to suck it up and go to an empty parking lot to try it out. Like most people, I'm slightly freaked :) "Everyone" keeps telling me it's easier to practice when you're actually moving, so we'll see.

PS....clipping in seems easy enough, though I'm not sure I can do it without looking because the pedal keeps flipping over.

[thekarens]

Mechanical issues aside, can you picture squishing a bug against the pavement? Press down and twist, then yank your foot back?

Do the right foot a bunch of times until it loosens.

That may be part of the problem. I've only been twisting, no pushing down. Thanks for the suggestion!

[thekarens]

Be sure to put weight on your opposite foot as well, so you don't fall over. :) (Not sure I can describe any better without actually getting on the bike).

That makes sense. If you have too much pressure and it's not balanced on the other side you're going to fall over. I'll practice on the trainer at the shop tonight and if all goes well the street tomorrow.

[thekarens]

So, the new entertainment is trying to get clipped back in without looking at my feet. I took my bike to my bike shop and the manager put it on the trainer and I practiced clipping in and out. He loosened the tension and tightened the bolts on my cleats. Anyway, after the adjustment and Sheila's advice I was able to get out from both clips. Then I started practicing clipping back in without looking and so far I can't do it. I am having visions of running into someone or something because I have to look at my feet to get back into the clips.

[Owlie]

Practice. Practice, practice, practice. You will eventually learn by feel where your pedals are. Do you have some bike paths or very lightly-traveled roads near you where you could practice?

[thekarens]

I was thinking of an empty parking lot. We have bike paths, but they are hike and bike and usually pretty crowded. If hate to run over a pedestrian.

[Owlie]

Empty parking lots work well too. :D

[OakLeaf]

Parks or athletic fields work even better (as long as they're not muddy - do a little test ride and make sure your tires won't leave ruts or tear up the turf). It's a whole lot more comfortable to fall on grass than it is on asphalt!

[thekarens]

It's been raining for a few days do no park at the moment, but maybe in a couple days :-)

[OakLeaf]

Honestly, it took me 3,000 miles to reliably clip in without looking, and I still occasionally miss. There is more than one picture of me with a group of much more experienced riders launching from a stop, and I'm the only one not looking at my pedal....

Still, being able to glance at something while still keeping your focus on the road ahead is a really important skill, whether that "something" is your pedal, a critter in the road, a traffic control device, etc.... So that's something to practice too. Look at the road ahead (12-14 seconds ahead), glance down at your pedal if you need to, return your soft focus and 210° peripheral vision to the road ahead.

Basically, it's all about avoiding tunnel vision. Your vision shouldn't tunnel to look at your pedal, any more than it should to look at a pothole or left-turning traffic, things that can lead to target fixation.

[thekarens]

I truly appreciate all the advice from everyone. Yesterday when I was trying to clip in without looking my foot would slip off the pedal forward and I was thinking I was glad I wasn't a guy because I would have injured some important parts.

And if you find that post I'd definitely be glad to have it.

[Catrin]

It takes time to learn how to clip in that second foot without looking, after over 2,000 miles of riding I still do that occasionally. Nothing says you HAVE to clip in that foot until you feel safe glancing down - it only takes a second or two. Personally I don't feel secure pedaling without clipping in, and with my frogs quite often the cleat will find the right place on the pedal on it's own...but I've a different system that doesn't have a spring.

Frankly I am a bit jealous you have the chance to get out and play on your bike right now - I've only been on mine once since New Years :( so have fun :)

[thekarens]

Yay for looking down :-)

The winter weather is definitely a blessing when it comes to living in Texas. Come summer I will be crying because I'll be trying not to die of heat stroke.

[luvmyguys]

Yay for looking down :-)

The winter weather is definitely a blessing when it comes to living in Texas. Come summer I will be crying because I'll be trying not to die of heat stroke.

Ain't that the truth.

I got good at looking down briefly just because I started out with the dual use pedals, so I was looking down to flip to the platform side. I'll usually get almost up to speed before I'll clip in completely.

Oakleaf, I'd be interested in that post as well!

[ny biker]

I truly appreciate all the advice from everyone. Yesterday when I was trying to clip in without looking my foot would slip off the pedal forward and I was thinking I was glad I wasn't a guy because I would have injured some important parts.

And if you find that post I'd definitely be glad to have it.

Are you sitting on the saddle? You want to sit as soon as you start to pedal with your clipped-in foot. You will be more stable that way so it will be less of an issue if it takes a few revolutions to clip in with the second foot.

Also start with the clipped-in foot as high as possible, at about the 2:00 position, so you will get enough speed with that first revolution while you're clipping in with the second foot. If needed you can pedal once or twice more with just the one foot clipped in to maintain your momentum.

Also make sure you're in an easy gear before you stop and unclip, which will make it that much easier to pedal once or twice with one foot clipped in.

[Owlie]

A few tips:
1) Shift down before you stop. I am terrible at remembering to do this consistently, but it helps a lot when it's time to get started again.
I'm going to use myself as an example. I clip out with my right foot normally, so my left stays clipped in at all times. Substitute your foot preferences as necessary.
2) When I'm getting ready to get going again, or I want to be in a position where I can get going quickly again (like at an intersection), I pull my left pedal up to 1:00-2:00 (if you're looking from the right side of the bike).
3) To get started again, I use the momentum from pushing that left pedal down to get myself back into the saddle...and once I'm going again I clip my right foot back in. It's okay to use only one foot to pedal if you need to, or to pedal with one foot clipped out but still on the pedal (if that makes sense) if you're trying to get across an intersection. It is a bit harder to do the latter with road pedals, I will give you that.

It really is all down to practice and getting the process into muscle memory.

[Catrin]

+1 on importance of practice and muscle memory - that latter one takes time.

Develop a routine that you do every time you prepare to stop until your body starts remembering. Anticipate when/where you will stop and prepare in advance - there was a time when I would start thinking about stopping a block or more in advance. Of course there isn't a way to anticipate emergency stopping - so practice, practice, and practice some more :)

Spinning class did help a bit with this (I clipped in), but only to a degree since balance isn't an issue. What helped the most was making certain that simply riding was part of my muscle memory before moving to clipless. I had a failed clipless experiment 2 months after I learned how to ride and I returned to platforms for 6 months and I rode a LOT in those 6 months. When I tried again the move was a non-event and I ascribe that to muscle memory.

You will need to experiment to see how easy a gear you want to start in. Some like to start in a very easy gear, for me I feel more unstable if the gear is too easy. Experiment :)

[thekarens]

Everyone has given great advice and I truly appreciate it! I had hoped to go on a group ride this weekend, but I may put it off for a bit. :)

[Catrin]

Everyone has given great advice and I truly appreciate it! I had hoped to go on a group ride this weekend, but I may put it off for a bit. :)

Nothing is wrong with platform pedals...just saying you could switch back for the weekend and enjoy your group ride :)

[OakLeaf]

Oak, at the risk of going off subject, you posted a list of things to practice to work bike-handling skills not long ago. It included putting water bottles on the ground, riding by, and picking them up. Do you remember that post? I'd love a link to it. Can't find it anywhere. Could help OP since practicing bike handling in general will help with clipping in, and I'd like it too.

I remember the post but not where it was ... I just googled bicycle handling drills. A couple of the top links are this video of a LAB Road I course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cwwmvpEWmI - and Coach Levi's written drill descriptions: http://coachlevi.com/cycling/parking-lot-bike-handling-drills/

The trouble with both of those is that they show the drills, but don't really talk about how to do them. At the motorcycle safety course, where we do a lot of the same drills, the instructors emphasize over and over again to pick your eyes up off the ground and look where you're going, not at something you're trying to avoid, and not along the tangent when you're in a curve. RELAX (easier said than done sometimes) and let your bike lean into the curve; at low speed that will mean slightly counterweighting the outside of the bike.

I know we have some LCI instructors here ... Melalvai and PsyclePath for two ... hopefully one of them will chime in.


ETA - I saw the request for a new thread, but honestly I'd rather if one of the instructors would start one. Everything I know, I learned by crashing. :rolleyes: Paging Mel... (and changing my sig line)

[tealtreak]

Oakleaf my sons would love your signature- their philosophy is that if you do not crash- you are not pushing your boundaries enough.....(I agreed until my last Bday!)...(:

[marmac]

i think that is supposed to be for skiing...:)

[tealtreak]

i think that is supposed to be for skiing...:)


lol they do it for skiing too (: Garmin+my sons skiing= terror for anyone watching..........