For those with Speedplay pedals...

[mixie]

Hi, Im new here. I do feel awfully rude as Ive been lurking for awhile, but Im shy. I'm a new rider, and I just went clipless last week! YAY! I got the Speedplay light action pedals and Im having a problem getting unclipped from them. Clipping in is no problem whatsoever, that part is easy. It takes me 2-3 tried to unclip from the, sometimes I get it the first try but most of the time it takes me a few tries. Part of it is nerves, as when I come upon an intersection I feel myself getting nervous and squirm, and can't get out AT ALL until I take a deep breath and RELAX.

Though even when practicing in the parking lot it takes a try or two to unclip, I feel as if I have to twist my ankle out and then lift my toes up as well. Almost like I'm ripping my foot out of the pedal. Is this something that I have to get used to or is something wrong with the way Im set up. Also, there are little switches on the cleat that say "heel in" or "heel out" Somehow my left shoe keeps getting switched to "heel in" when Im riding. I will have a very hard time and I'll dismount and look at the shoe, and what do you know, it got flipped to heel in. The right cleat does not have this problem, yet it is still difficult for me to unclip. Please help me!! Thanks

[Aquila]

I'm a beginner, especially with clipless pedals, so I hope someone with more experience will chime in.

When I got my new bike, the bike shop folks adjusted the clipless so that I could stand there and get in and out pretty easily. They had me standing there a while, practicing, too.

And they told me that I'd probably want them tighter as I got more used to the pedals and such.

SO, check with your bike shop folks or if you have directions, and see if you can loosen up the cleats a bit, at least for while you're getting comfortable?

(The bike shop lent me plastic pieces on one side of each pedal so that I could ride regular if I wanted; when they took those off, I was able to adjust the cleats on that side with a little hex wrench pretty easily. I just used the shoes alone to test that each cleat was pretty easy to get out of, then practiced again with the shoes on.)

I hope that helps! Good luck!

[emily_in_nc]

Hi, Im new here. I do feel awfully rude as Ive been lurking for awhile, but Im shy. I'm a new rider, and I just went clipless last week! YAY! I got the Speedplay light action pedals and Im having a problem getting unclipped from them. Clipping in is no problem whatsoever, that part is easy. It takes me 2-3 tried to unclip from the, sometimes I get it the first try but most of the time it takes me a few tries. Part of it is nerves, as when I come upon an intersection I feel myself getting nervous and squirm, and can't get out AT ALL until I take a deep breath and RELAX.

Interesting....I am one of the ones who gave up on Speedplay Zeros because although I could clip out fine, clipping in was difficult and frustrating. I now ride Speedplay X-2's on my road bike and Frogs on my mountain bike. No problem clipping out at all. I turn my heel outwards and do give it a tug up with the X-2's as you do have to "click" out of them (the Frogs you just lift up; there's no resistance). But I have really never had a problem clipping out unless I started to fall and had to do it really fast. I don't know much about the Light Action, but they should not be that hard to get out of, especially if you can get in easily.

I'm sure this didn't help at all....sorry. Good luck with them! Perhaps it just takes some practice?

Emily

[redrhodie]

Hi Mixie,

I don't have Speedplay pedals, but I do have some advice that I hope will help. When I went clipless, the guys at my LBS set my bike up on a trainer so in I could practice clipping in and out. They adjusted the tension on my pedals while I was in the shop, making them slightly loose at first so it was pretty easy to unclip. I suggest that you have your local shop do the same for you. You'll get much more confident without the stress of falling in traffic.

[Pedal Wench]

Speedplays do not have an adjustable tension. However, they start out quite tight and loosen up with use. But, it's usually hard to get into them. It sounds like you might have the coverplate on the cleats too tight - this can cause problems with getting in and out. The four screws should be snug, then 1/4 more turn (use Loctite so they don't fall out).

[amymisk]

I have speedplay zeros and love them. Pedal Wench is right, they will loosen up over time and check the coverplate. Mine were harder to get in than out, but now they are pretty comfortable either way, at least the left one is. I always clip/unclip on the left while riding.

Hang in there and welcome.

If after all adjustments and you still don't like them, then try another type of pedal. I used Shimano Ultegra pedals and hated them. So, I switched and am much happier.

[mixie]

ok, I think I'll loosen them up and keep riding. Im going to go for a looooong ride tomorrow I can't wait!

thanks everyone!

[bikerchick68]

I ride Zero's and about once every couple months I also spray mine with White Lightening lube... keeps them from getting "sticky" and hard to get in and out of...