Sidi Genius ratchet system...I need HELP!!

[runsusie]

Ummm, well, I feel like an idiot, and I have a stupid question that any of you SIDI shoe-wearers can hopefully help me out with. I just borrowed a pair of SIDI Genius 5 women's road shoes, put 'em on, ratcheted 'em up, walked around for a few minutes....and went to take them off. And I can't get them off. I can't figure out the buckle system! Help! I was able to pull the shoes off my feet and I somehow managed to get one shoe unbuckled, but the other one is just not budging. I'm trying to find instructions online, and it looks like I need to pull up on the center buckle and push the two side levers down to release the clamps from the groove in the rubber strap, which is what I'm doing, with NO LUCK!! Is it the shoes? Is it me!? Hopefully someone's got a hint that I'm not trying, because I am not looking forward to taking these in to my LBS and trying to explain this one... I think these are the 2008 version, if that makes any difference. The plastic pieces on the sides of the buckle are black, along with the center buckle part.

[crazycanuck]

The same thing happened to me a while back w one of my sidi's but I have no idea why It took me a 1/2hr to get the buckle undone

I think perhaps if you press gently on the ratchet it might work? I think that's what I eventually did..

Sorry I can't be of more help but I just remember trying to get my right shoe undone after mtn biking one day & it just didn't happen!

[kermit]

Push down on both sides of the plastic buckle on either side of the ratchet. That should release the strap and you should be able to pull it out. It took me a little bit to get use to it but that should work.

[Pedal Wench]

Push in the little ones on the side, but if they're too tight, see if you can push the strap in (as if to make it even tighter) to relieve the pressure on the buckle and then push the little side levers after you've reduced the tension.

[SadieKate]

. . . it looks like I need to pull up on the center buckle and push the two side levers down to release the clamps from the groove in the rubber strap,

PW and Kermit have it.

Push the two side levers down, then pull up the strap over your foot.

Pulling up on the buckle tightens the strap, notch by notch.

Also, to micro-adjust tightness while you're riding, push down on only one of the side levers. It will loosen a half-notch.

If you walked through grass at some point, you may have gotten a bit lodged into the buckle (which is why sometimes I get stuck in my mtb Sidis) so good luck! No, just keep a dental pick or something thin and pointy handy in your car or garage to dislodge the bit when you finish, then you can loosen the buckle again.