clipless pedal woes

[DMB]

I've decided to take the leap to clipless. Got the beautiful SIDI shoes, and Shimano pd-r540 pedals....those were the first pedals. I have a very small foot - size 4.5 - 5 and I can't kick out of the pedal. My husband thinks it's because I have a small foot? however, I think it's just that I don't have the right pedal. I've tried a few other Shimanos, and even when set on the easiest tension I have to go through contortions to kick off the pedal. I've been riding quite some time so I do have some leg muscles - so what's up with this? Anyone else have this problem? Any really easy release pedals? I've done some research and found some LOOK easy pedals, but I'd be just guessing. Anyone with experience with this problem? thanks! D.

[roadie gal]

I don't know those particular pedals, but a few things come to mind. How hard is it to clip in? If that's a problem too then maybe there isn't enough clearance between the shoe and clip and it's catching. I don't know if a small shoe makes a difference in that. Are you sure the tension is way down? I had that problem with my first SPDs. I thought it was all the way down but I had it all the way UP, so I couldn't come out. Are you twisting your foot correctly to get it out?

I still use SPDs on my mountain bike (mostly because I'm too cheap to buy different pedals). But on my road bike I have Speedplays. They need very little tension to come out, but you have to swing your foot through a longer arc because of the amount of float. I've been very happy with them.

[vinbek]

I started with Time pedals and the tension was too tight and I could get in them, but couldn't clip out. I was terrified! We adjusted the tension and I still couldn't get out. I tried Sampson pedals - very light and enjoyed those. Not sure if they make them anymore. I am now using Look pedals for the road bike and Shimano for the mountain bike. I like both. I have a small foot too and its important to get your clip in the right place on your shoe. I suggest you lean your bike against a counter somewhere or put it on a trainer and practice the motion of clipping in and out. Get someone to help guide your foot. When you are out riding on the road, clip out before you get to a stop sign and rest your foot on top of the pedal. that way you don't panic that you're stuck!

[ginny]

Oh man, I did not move to the Looks very gracefully. Let me tell you my thinking on it. Last season I had SPD pedals, this season I read about a great shoe then I found a good deal on it, and bought it without much research. The upshot is, it was a road shoe and I couldn't use the SPDs... duh! Anyway, I bought looks and tried the grey cleats. When I first started using them, I fell over all the time. I had horrible lumps on my legs for a good long time. I have put a lot of miles on my bike this summer, and the cleat/pedal system seems to have loosened up quite a lot. I think I had to sort of break in the cleat part. It is WAY easier to clip unclip now. So, yes, it has a steep and painful learning curve, but also, the cleats do 'break in' (break down?) a bit and become much easier to get in and out of the pedal. So, I would suggest to keep at it. It was a miserable early season in terms of falling off my bike, but when my friends and I started laughing at the lumps on my legs and celebrating every ride without a topple by me, it became a bit more comical Good luck - I totally know what you are going through.

[Grog]

Hi DMB and welcome to TE! If you have a chance, please take a minute to introduce yourself in the sticky thread at the top of Open Topic (Getting to Know You).

There might be a problem with the pedal (it happens - I mean THAT pedal, not the whole R450 series) but I would suggest that you do as others have suggested and 1) verify that the tension is really on the loosest setting (towards the - sign) and 2) Put the bike on a trainer, or next to a wall, or to a hip-high counter, and practice clipping in and unclipping, with maybe someone to help you guide your foot. Do just one foot at a time. I don't know what you mean by "kick out of the pedal" but for me that motion had nothing to do with a kick and everything with a rotation of my ankle to push my heel towards the outside. In those pedals for me there is no upward motion, just an outward motion of the heel. It does not have to be a violent move but it does require some strength, and I can testify that when I started riding clipless my ankles were not as strong as they are now. There might also be a "break in" factor.

You can put your feet flat on the floor (barefoot) and practice pushing your heels out (thus your toes will point in) while keeping your whole foot on the floor. For me it really mobilizes the same muscles and gives me the same feeling.

I have seen children riding with clipless pedals so I don't think the size of your foot is a big factor, but perhaps it does force you to push your heel relatively further out than a guy who wears size 13 shoes.

You can also have someone a bit more experienced try your pedals and see what they think/feel.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[SadieKate]

Grog's answer is very comprehensive. The only thing I would add is to be sure you are not lifting your heel while rotating it outward.

[alpinerabbit]

SPD pedals should be very easy to get out of.

The whole clipless experience is not designed to be painful... to talk to the store you bought them from.

[batsheva]

dont kick - just slowly rotate your heel outwards just using your ankle joint to do so--

try straddling the bike at home maybe and just clipping in on one foot, keeping the other firmly on the floor and practice doing this heel rotating-outwards manaoevre - no lifting of your foot - just your heels rotating outwards---

bat

[uforgot]

I second the "keep one foot down and practice". I found it really difficult to turn my heel outward, so by accident, when I first got them, I turned my heel inward and that's how I always clip out. I can't ski either, my toes and knees just have a hard time going in that "heels out, knees and toes in" direction.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Can you practice with your bike on a trainer or some other 'hands free' way of staying upright and still?

I had SPDs and had them cranked as loose as I could get them and I still crashed and was still clipped in. It's a mystery to my friends and the LBS as other people have no problems. And I have BIG FEET! Haha...
For mtn biking I don't use them at all, but on the road, well when the foot is better, I will. If you are mtn biking with them, I would try doing your getting in and out on the road or a very easy trail first.

[DMB]

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and quick replies. I spent the better part of the morning reading the horror stories of going clipless from men and women, and now I'm not sure I should do this at all! I ride about 20 miles a day, 6x a week - by myself. On path, off a path, down a bumpy street, on dirt, wherever I want to go.......now I'm wondering if clipless is even something I should consider. I'm not going to race, don't really enjoy riding with groups - and if I do anything it's a Randonneur ride where the only one you're racing against is....yourself. I use toe clips now - and like them very much. I also have to tell you that I'm no spring chicken (55) and an injury now would probably take forever to heal and I would be soooooo depressed. So - I guess my question is - what's the reason for going clipless? any real benefit if you're not racing. The toe clips I use now hold my foot in the perfect spot - and that in itself was a challenge - especially locating the correct pedal to go along with it. Small feet are cute and all but ......geesh! thanks again

[Flur]

When I switched to clipless I gained 2mph without changing anything else. It's just more efficient. And, with my pedals at least, it's easier to get out of than toe clips. I ride crank bros candies.

The easiest pedals I've ridden to get out of are speedplay frogs. There's no strength involved in getting out at all. Just turn your foot and they come right off.

BTW- small foot size should actually make it easier for you to get out as your heel doesn't have to turn as far (short lever) to get the same degree of rotation. So I wouldn't blame the little feet.

[Crankin]

I am not the most coordinated person in the world; if I could learn, you can, too. And, I am also 55, although I was 49 or 50 when I switched to clipless...
I practiced on the lawn, but what helped me the most was clipping in with one foot and riding with just one clipped in. I did that for about a month. Then I started clipping in with both feet, but I would constantly unclip one foot and put it back in, to practice how fast I could do it in different situations. Obviously, I did this on quiet streets.
I second the Speedplay pedals.

[DMB]

Thanks again for all the great answers and suggestions. I spent some time reading many reviews on speedplay frogs and no one is saying anything negative. I like that they'll "save your knees" too - had no idea that going clipless would even affect the knees. One more question - do I have to get special shoes or will the shoes I have work? I have your basic Izumi cycling shoes with the 3 holes on the bottom. So, I just get the SF pedals, and the clips that go with SF's for the shoes right? Thanks again for your time. D.

[Eden]

Sorry to say that those pedals may not be compatible with your shoes.... at very least you will probably need a 3 hole to 2 hole adapter - if Speedplay makes one - Frogs owners?

An option for easy to use pedals that do have a 3 hole to 2 hole option are Crank Bros pedals. Their pedals and cleats are all pretty much interchangeable (so you can use the 3 hole cleats from Quattros with the other pedal styles), but their road pedals (Quattro) are just as easy to use as their mt bike pedals (Candy, Eggbeater, etc) in any case. I wear a pretty small shoe myself usually a 5 or 5.5 in street shoes and I've never had any trouble getting into or out of this brand.