clipless release dilemma

[MountainandRoad]

Can anyone give me some tips on getting out of the pedals clipped in with cleats? I am having a really hard time with this, both knees look like something from WWIII...also, need some tips for navigating downhill in muddy conditions...any help or suggestions from the more experienced of you who've been here done this would be greatly appreciated. Someone told me to cut away part of the knobbies on my shoes, but those things are made from kryptonite, and so far, I haven't found a way to even cut that stuff, not to mention know where to cut it away...

[doc]

There are tons of posts on getting used to clipless pedals. Use the search and you'll find reams of suggestions.

[SalsaMTB]

What kind of pedals do you have? If they're shimanos, have you tried loosening the tension screw? There should be a tiny screw on the side that you twist onen way to make it easier to get in and out of and the other way to make it harder. Be sure to twist your foot out and if anything, press down on the pedal, not up. Pretend to squish a bug.

If you have a newer set of pedals, I would be surprised if you had to cut your shoe. I think the older speedplay pedals you had to cut, but I haven't heard it too much anymore (I could def be wrong on this).

I had a pair of Shimano 515s that came with my mountain bike. It was my first time going clipless, I fell a ton. It wasn't because I forgot though, it was because my feet were stuck. I would fall over and actually had to take my shoe off my foot to get it out of the pedal. I then switched to a used pair of Time ATACs and my problem was immediately solved. The pedals we just crappy. I didn't fall once with the news pedals. So, if it still doesn't work, try new pedals.

[Irulan]

tension - I STILL keep mine very loose. Also, lube them If you ride in wet or muddy conditions, they will seize up. You shouldn't have to force them.

[Irulan]

down hill mud you kind of have to surf through. Ride loose, balance, don't brake more than necessary, minimal steering for correction only.

[MountainandRoad]

ok, thank you everyone........I forgot to say, these are on my mountain bike...they are shimano XT 525, and my shoes are the sidi dominator mtb shoes...Ihave the same pedals on my road bike, and they seem to release just fine, same shoes too...its the technique I suck at, when mountain biking. It all seems to happen so fast, I don't even have time to think about twisting to get out, and I'm on the ground

[MountainandRoad]

also, I forgot to say, before these shimano pedals, I tried crank brothers, and they were even harder to get out of, talk about falling down...