Clipless Pedals/Shoes Question

[Trek420]

DeniseGoldberg uses "Speedplay's Frog pedals which are a totally free-float pedal."

I gotta question for Speedplay users, if they are totaly free-float how do you unclip?

I mostly wear Shimano ATB shoes with a Shimano clipless pedal system. If I turn my heel in any direction past the float it just unclips so I always wondered; if it just floats, what's the action to unclip?

Am I making sense?

[DeniseGoldberg]

I gotta question for Speedplay users, if they are totaly free-float how do you unclip?

Of course you're right - at some point they do unclip! What I meant by totally free float is that you don't have to push through anything to release the pedal. There is no pressure at all to release - you simply move your heel to the side and lift your foot. And the release point is far enough over that I have never unclipped accidentally. With my "before Frog" pedals (sorry, it's too many years ago for me to remember which pedals they were) I had to push through to release. It's hard to describe, but free-float is the best description for me.

From the description of the pedal on the Speedplay web site: "Lightning-fast release puts an end to falls caused by pedals that won't disengage. ... Knee-friendly, non-centering free float."

--- Denise

[Carm]

Hi Denise - at this point I don't have a preference. I have tried on the Shimano MTB shoes and they fit well and felt good. I too am concerned about the ability to walk off the bike but just wanted to hear what others are using so I didn't state a preference.

Nancy - congratulations on overcoming your arthritis in your knees. You give me hope!

Carm

[cruziegirl]

I recently switched from SPD's to Speedplay Zeros and I love them. I had to buy Sidi road shoes (oh darn) as the Zero cleats wouldn't fit on my Specialized ATB shoes. The cleat is enormous so it makes walking a bit of a challenge but you can get cafe covers that help quite a bit. The Zeros can be adjusted Heel In/Heel Out from Zero to 15 degrees of float so basically you can fine-tune each cleat for each leg. The Sidi road shoes have this really great stiff sole and with the big cleat I feel like I have this nice big platform for my foot. I can't believe what a difference these have made with how I feel on the bike. The cleats take a bit more fiddling than the SPD's in that you have to lube them with White Lightening every couple of rides and you're supposed to lube the pedal itself every 2000 miles. Also, you need to be careful not to step into a blob of mud or you'll foul the cleat and it won't work properly until you take it apart and clean it. I haven't run into this problem but it should be kept in mind depending on the type of terrain/riding you do. Denise, I think your Speedplay Frogs have a self-cleaning cleat, don't they? In any event, I'm now a devoted Speedplay fan.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise, I think your Speedplay Frogs have a self-cleaning cleat, don't they? In any event, I'm now a devoted Speedplay fan.

Self-cleaning? Pretty much - there have been one or two rare occasions when I've managed to walk in mud so thick I had to help out by scraping some of the mud out, but that's 1 or 2 times in many many years. I can't remember exactly when I switched to the Frog pedals, but it seems like it's been at least 10 years.

[cyclingnewbie]

I have Look pedals and a pair of Lake men's "walking" road shoes, which has a recessed cleat, similar to the mountain shoes. I like both. I need a wider shoe because of a foot problem, and they are conforming enough to not be a problem in the heel. I got the pedals for $50 during a clearance sale at Nashbar a couple years ago, which turned out to be a great price. At the time, a friend just pointed to them and said, "Buy these", so I did. Then I figured out that they were a great price. They have a nine degree float, and I haven't had any problems.

[Number 7]

i have look pedals and i wear shimano women's road shoe, b/c they're narrower than the men's. i have knee problems as well, and so far the look pedals haven't caused any problems at all. the pedals give a wide range a float, which help with the knees. i'm very happy with the combination and wouldn't change.