HELP! Suggestions?

[jesvetmed]

Hi everyone!
Had a new experience tonight, one I hope not to repeat!

Towards the end of my ride tonight, my right shoe kept having trouble getting clipped in. (I use crank brothers candy's). Finally I got clipped in, finished the last mile, and pulled up to the car. I had to clip out on the left (not natural for me!) to avoid going down, because I couldn't unclip the right.

Had to take the shoe off to get off the bike.
Turns out the cleat is loose. So now I can't get the shoe off the cleat.

I asked a bike mechanic who rides with us -- he thought that it may have to involve "a screwdriver and perhaps a hammer".

I bet I'm not the first to have this happen. ANyone have it happen to them? How did you get it off?

I have new cleats I can put on, but not till I get this one off!!!

[Eden]

This happened to my husband once. Taking something flat and pushing it against the bottom of the pedal should spread the cleat wings from the underside and release your shoe. It might be easier if you take the pedal off of the bike.

He also just had the idea that you might be able to clip your other shoe into the bottom side of the pedal and then when you release that cleat (have someone hold onto the stuck shoe) you should be able to pull the other shoe out at the same time.

[jesvetmed]

Thanks Eden! Fabulous thinking. I'll try it all tomorrow in the daylight!

[Roadrunner]

I had a similar problem a while back. Unfortuately I had both shoes lockedand unwilling to come out. Needlessto say I to a tumble and the stupid shoes still stayed locked in. Luckily my husband was with me at the time and I had to remove my feet from the shoes. Gerry the managed to get them out the cleats using a tool he had with him.These were spd cleats and pedals at that time. It was the same thing as yourself the cleats had lossened.
I think Gerry first loosened the tension of the pedals. Maybe is yours is adjustable you could also try that if Edens suggestion doesn't work, although it sounds like it should do the trick.

I now use Look pedals and cleats

[emily_in_nc]

I just posted about this same thing happening to me today! Initially, we could not get my Keen sandal off the cleat (also Eggbeaters Candies), and my DH had no luck messing with it with a couple of tools. I just kept turning it around and pulling, and suddenly it gave way. I only unclip on the right, so was very glad I didn't have to put my foot back in that sandal and ride that way (or go home, even worse, we were only 2 miles into a 45 miler).

Good luck! That's the last time I tighten my cleat screws myself...DH does a much better job.

[jesvetmed]

I forgot to come back and tell you all that I got it off!
My LBS tech suggested pliers on the opposite side of the pedal -- where you would clip in on that side. I pulled the two springs together (LOTS of strength here -- ended up including a long screwdriver for some torque), and finally the shoe slipped off the opposite side.

Turns out the screw had fallen out completely on one side of the cleat! Hmmm... I think I'll use some locktite when I replace it.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone!
Jes

[emily_in_nc]

Turns out the screw had fallen out completely on one side of the cleat! Hmmm... I think I'll use some locktite when I replace it.

That's what happened to me too - one screw fell out, and the other was loose, allowing the shoe to rotate all the way around without being able to clip out. I didn't know about Locktite until my DH informed me. Lesson learned!

[Possegal]

I always knew people on this board had a few screws loose!

tap tap, is this thing on?

Come on, I know I'm not the only one that was thinking it!

[emily_in_nc]

I always knew people on this board had a few screws loose!

Yep, I joked the same to DH during and after the ride... "You always knew I had a screw loose, huh?"