Does anyone has the same problem with Speedplay pedals?

As many of you saw my thread earlier this week, i managed to fall at the stop light. Last year i purchase speedplay pedals, and I think they are X2 model. The thing I noticed with them, is that they somehow tend to clip back in. Has anyone else encountered this problem? Maybe I need to tighten the clits a little more? Any suggestions? And as long as we are there, this brings another question- What does the rest of you do when you unclip, how do you place your foot on the pedal so it doesn't slip in road shoes? I tend to slip from the pedal if i place my foot anywhere except directly on the clit? Thanks for all your input.

FreshNewbie

I use speedplays, so I'll take a stab at this, though maybe I don't understand your question. You come to a stop light and you unclip, but before you put your foot down, you've accidentally clipped in again? Is that the issue? I think speedplays are meant to do that, to slimply clip you in as you start to pedal, and that's generally a good thing. Maybe you should not try to unclip so soon in some situations. Stay clipped in until you are within about 15 seconds of putting your foot down or in a coast before your stop. What I do is unclip as I'm standing and braking to put my foot down. I never try to unclip while seated (not sure I could). I may stand, unclip, and coast for a few feet with my loose foot just above the ground. If I'm in stop and go traffic before a light, I'll unclip if I'm going very slowly or might have to stop. Then if I stop and move again, I'll rest the cleat on the pedal and try to avoid having it clip in by keeping light pressure on that pedal and mostly using my other leg, but if traffic moves enough, I'll let it clip in. You shouldn't need to adjust your cleat, and don't try to keep your foot on the pedal but off the cleat. Just think of trying to pedal with only one foot in those situations. But if you do happen to clip in unexpectedly, have confidence that you can unclip again as needed. Practice in a parking lot. And think ahead in traffic. In stop and go traffic, you can hang back a bit to keep maybe 10 feet between yourself and the car in front of you so that you always have that space in which to coast, brake, and unclip.

I actually unclipped my right foot, already put it on the ground and had my whole balance on the right side, and then unclipped my left foot to have a drink. As soon as I unclipped, i accidently put a little pressure on the clit and clipped back in. Lesson learned, I guess I need to unclip with my left foot so in case i fall , i dont end up on the traffic side, and fall in the bike lane. I was actually more worried about my hoods, as the did bend a little and my rear wheel got was was rubbing on the frame. ( i am happy it's a cheap bike i got from ebay last year) I will def get out this weekend and practice my unclipping skills.

I don't have speedplays, but Bebops which are similar. They are designed to be "step down" pedals. (I heard that somewhere.) It's one thing I really like about this style is the recessed cleat. I pop out and then move my foot forward so the pedal is essentially under my arch instead of the ball of my foot (where the cleat is). If you're slipping out, you're pointing your toe down, push down with the heel a little.

Do NOT tighten it, you'll not get out of it! (If the shop has them correct that is.)

Also, are you right leg dominant? You should be unclippping left so you can be ready to push off with the right leg. (Or the opposite if you're left). I learned this because I was taking 10 years at red lights. Unclip right, put foot down, unclip left so I can prepare my right leg to push off. My starting and stopping has gotten much, much smoother. When I'm rollling to a stop and I'm unclipped left and start chanting "left side left side left side" and by the end of the day, I'm doing left automatically. Cheezy but it worked for me.

Yes, I've cliped back in without noticing until I bit the dust stopping. So what I do now is wait until a few seconds before I have to unclip then do it. Or I will unclip and then set my foot so the pedal is actually right behind the cleat. This feels strange so usually I'll pedal with one leg for a short distance with my foot off the pedal and hanging back by the seat stay.

I just put Speedplays on my bike last week, and I went for my first ride with them last weekend. I actually had the opposite problem...I couldn't get clipped in. I would sometimes go for two to three blocks before I would finally get in. It seems to take a lot of force from me. The one time when it wouldn't go in, I was wiggling it back and forth trying to force it when my heel got caught on the chain stay (I think that's what it's called...it's the part of the frame that goes from the cranks to the rear axel) and was rubbing the spokes. :eek: It was kind of scary! But so is clipping back in when your not expecting it.
We will figure out how to use our Speedplays, and we'll be great at it soon! :)

Putting the pedal anywhere besides the cleat unfortunatelly doesnt work for me. My shoes slip right away. You are right Robbin_G though, I am right leg dominant, and all this time i was unclipping with my right foot, duhhh, see the L sign on my forehead ( cause i do :D . Well now i know the proper way.

Hey AuntieK, I had a problem like you before also, I think the secret with Speedplays is that your foot has to be absolutely parallel to the pedal for an easy clip in. Otherwish it won't work well.

Well I am so new to clipless club that I still have hope to master it one day. Well I sort of have to, as I tend to do North Fork century this august. Good luck

Robbin_G the way you used to stop is exactly what I was doing all this time :D I bet it looks hilarious if you look at me. Oh well, I never had a bike when I was a kid.

No L signs required. I didn't know till I was told either. It's all in the learning.

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Originally Posted by AuntieK

I just put Speedplays on my bike last week, and I went for my first ride with them last weekend. I actually had the opposite problem...I couldn't get clipped in. I would sometimes go for two to three blocks before I would finally get in. It seems to take a lot of force from me. The one time when it wouldn't go in, I was wiggling it back and forth trying to force it when my heel got caught on the chain stay (I think that's what it's called...it's the part of the frame that goes from the cranks to the rear axel) and was rubbing the spokes. :eek: It was kind of scary! But so is clipping back in when your not expecting it.
We will figure out how to use our Speedplays, and we'll be great at it soon! :)

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AuntieK, try lubricating the spring inside the cleat on your shoe. Use a dry lubricant, like White Lightning. It's also possible that the cleat is attached to the shoe too tightly and the spring can't move freely. Speedplay cleats should be lubricated monthly, or whever it starts getting harder to clip in.

Marina, before I zip out of here for the day :D I thought I would quickly jump in. I feel better unclipping well before I stop. So when I unclip I coast with my leg down off the pedal and ready to come to a complete stop. Actually my husband and girlfriend do this also. This also gives anyone behind you a heads up that you are coming to a stop and anyone behind me knows I am stopping. If I need to unclip my left foot for any reason, I don't do it until I am stopped and my right foot is already on the ground.

Come to think of it, my brothers girlfriend does the same thing and I have seen other cyclists stopping this way.

If this sounds confusing just let me know.

Ok...off I go. A days work is done for me. :)

~ JoAnn

Thanks for the suggestions, FreshNB & DebW! I'll try them out... hopefully soon!

Auntie K , I was looking over the pictures that you posted ( from your ride in Utah). Looks beautiful. Also looks like you have exactly the same specialized shoes like i do :D

Thanks, FreshNB! That was a great ride! Same ride where I had the trouble clipping in, actually. I really like the Specialized shoes, how about you?

I like them too, they are pretty comfortable, and look cute. I wish the cleats were a little smaller though.

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Originally Posted by FreshNewbie

I like them too, they are pretty comfortable, and look cute. I wish the cleats were a little smaller though.

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Ditto that! I switched from SPDs, so the Speedplay ones seem ENORMOUS!

I have speedplays... and when I unclip, I dangle my foot away from the pedal and have it ready to put in the ground.

What is great about speedplays is that you DON'T have to FIGHT to get your foot clipped back in.

I can't tell you how annoying it is to ride behind seasoned cyclists, coming off a stop, who can't get clipped back in, because there pedals are such a challenge.

You just need to keep your foot off the pedal after you unclip. Dangle your foot and be ready to put your foot down. You should do fine.

Good luck!

Thank you KSH, i remember you did few tris last year, how is that going this year? Any plans ?

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Originally Posted by KSH

You just need to keep your foot off the pedal after you unclip. Dangle your foot and be ready to put your foot down. You should do fine.

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Well, keep in mind that's not great group riding etiquette because the person behind you has no clue whats going on so don't make it a habit, just do it till you learn.

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Originally Posted by FreshNewbie

Thank you KSH, i remember you did few tris last year, how is that going this year? Any plans ?

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Oh! Thanks for asking!

I am completing a 10-week Tri 101 program, with my 1st tri of the season this Saturday. Should be fun. My running is horrible due to injuries... but I will get out there an just keep moving forward with my very slow jog.

Then, I start another 10-week Tri 202 program. Keeps me busy!

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Well, keep in mind that's not great group riding etiquette because the person behind you has no clue whats going on so don't make it a habit, just do it till you learn.

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Well, I have never gotten yelled at because of it... then again, I only do it when it's obvious WHY my foot is off the pedal (people are stopping ahead of me, etc.). I just don't do it whenever... so no one has had a problem with it... yet. But, all groups are different and maybe mine are lenient because I don't ride with the Alpha pack.

Good luck with your TRI and the programs! Never done a tri, don't really have time to train right now. Also, i am a bad runner, my knees hurt from running.

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Originally Posted by FreshNewbie

Good luck with your TRI and the programs! Never done a tri, don't really have time to train right now. Also, i am a bad runner, my knees hurt from running.

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Thanks so much! I will probably post a report on 4-9-06 reviewing my tri on the 8th.

Yea, my running sucks... due to lower leg pain... that even a Dr. can't seem to fix. So, I run around a 12-13 minute mile... aka: I go as fast as I would walking, but I make it a jog so it looks better!

As long as you out there and doing something good for yourself and inspiring other people that's all that matters. As long as you have a goal to reach and the determination to push you, you will get to the finish line even jogging. So good luck , and keep inspiring!!!! :D

Hi,
I am thinking about getting Speedplay pedals and have been reading a lot of reviews about them. The only negative that keeps repeating is that the cleats are very fragile and you have to be really careful not to get dirt, rocks, etc. in them. I run triathlons and am concerned about whether this will be a problem running in my bike shoes out of T1 and after the bike into T2. Has anyone had experience with this and what do you think? I have not mastered (or even attempted) the art of leaving my shoes clipped in, so that's not a solution for me at this point. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by tnhlind

Hi,
I am thinking about getting Speedplay pedals and have been reading a lot of reviews about them. The only negative that keeps repeating is that the cleats are very fragile and you have to be really careful not to get dirt, rocks, etc. in them. I run triathlons and am concerned about whether this will be a problem running in my bike shoes out of T1 and after the bike into T2. Has anyone had experience with this and what do you think? I have not mastered (or even attempted) the art of leaving my shoes clipped in, so that's not a solution for me at this point. Thanks.

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I do tri's and I have yet to have any issue with my Speedplays and the cleats getting gunked up. The run you will make out of the transition area will be minimal.

Now, they are NOT fragile. But, if you walk in mud (I have done that), they might be hard to get on/off the pedals. I experienced this after I walked in mud for a whole day. I was still able to get on/off the pedals though, with some work.

But, that has only happened ONCE the entire time I have ridden on them... 1 year.

I love my Speedplays! They are great!

Cool! Thanks. Now how to decide between the x5 and the x2. I'm leaning toward the x5 because of cost, unless someone can tell me a good reason to spend the extra $.

RE: MUD IN SPEEDPLAY PEDALS

I put a large paper clip on one of the velcro straps on my shoes and use it to clear out any mud, etc. from the cleats.

carol