Dumb/Stupid/Idiotic Move

[Pink Diva]

Please don't judge, I swear I'm not this stupid, but I really feel it right about now! Anyways, I was trying to install my new Keo Pedals onto my road bike today but wanted to see if I could clip the shoe into the pedal without it being on the bike since I never had clipless before...DON'T DO THIS! ULTIMATELY STUPID MOVE!!!! Now the pedal is stuck on the shoe, and I can't get it off!!!

I called the LBS, and they said they can get the pedal off if I bring in the bike, shoe, and pedal. I sincerely hope so, but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas into how I can remove the shoe myself without embarrassing myself further at the LBS . I also think I didn't have the screws tight enough on the cleat, but I could have sworn I did. Now they're loose, but I can't get to the dang things to loosen enough to remove the pedal from the shoe. I twisted every which way, but the stubborn pedal is holding on for dear life...I'm assuming this wouldn't have happened if the pedal was on the bike, right? Eek! Stupid, stupid, stupid...bang, bang, bang the head on the wall!

Please tell me I'm not the only one who's done this or that something similar has happened to....ugh! Thanks for letting me vent my unthinking actions

[Tri Girl]

I haven't done that, but I'm really surprised that I haven't. It's not that dumb IMO. I never would've thought that you couldn't get it unclipped from the pedal without it being on the bike.
I just wanted to tell you that you're not dumb. It's a mistake I'm sure many have made.
I hope someone can help you.

[MillieNZ]

Sorry can't help you but it's something I soooooo would do too .

You're not dumb/stupid or idiotic

[singletrackmind]

Oh, don't go flattering yourself and thinking you're the only one who tries a little hands-on learning the hard way.

You've got yerself in a bit of a jam (ha!) but you certainly aren't the first. Guess putting the shoe on to get a little leverage and trying it that way's a no go? Course, if you are going to try that make darned sure you aren't going to fall over....which is the sort of thing I'd do.......
or we really will laugh, with you, of course!


Really, 'tis not the end of the world and best of luck to you that things go a little smoother for you.

[msincredible]

Can you try the following?

Tighten back the screws on the cleat.
Put the pedal on the bike.
Put your foot in the shoe.
Now try to remove.

Good luck!

[Zen]

(If I'm reading this right) why can't you put the shoe-pedal on the crank then take the shoe off?

[tantrumbean]

This might help (various methods in there)... Then again it might not...

Good luck!!!

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/sh...ht=cleat+stuck

[ClockworkOrange]

Well, I really did laugh out loud, as that is just the sort of thing I would do.

Hey, I hope these pedals matched the rest!



I think somebody should start a thread, for stupid things we have done.

A while back, locked my bike up, went into a shop and came out, jumped on my bike and went to pedal off, forgetting to unlock it.................yup, one dumb Clock!

No Pink Diva, you are not stupid at all, far from it, at least you attempt to fit all these things yourself.

[ny biker]

(If I'm reading this right) why can't you put the shoe-pedal on the crank then take the shoe off?

I'm thinking that's what the guys at the LBS would do.

It would never have occurred to me that you can't get the pedal off the shoe in that situation.

And if it were me, I would go into the LBS laughing at myself.

Before I got clipless pedals, my trainer told me not to get them because he thought I would not be able to laugh at myself when I did the inevitable horizontal trackstand. I proved him wrong - I laugh at myself every time I fall over due to not clipping out in time. I think laughing at yourself is key when you go clipless.

[Aquila]

I would TOTALLY have done this if the bike pedals hadn't been put on the bike when the LBS guys built it up before I picked it up.

But I've put the shoes on the bike without my feet in them, and it isn't that hard to get them off. So I'm wondering if there's a mechanical thing without being on the pedal, or just a hold/leverage thing? (Because now I sort of want to try it, but I wouldn't know how to get my pedals off...)

Good luck with it!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wow, that was really dumb.




(JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!)


Good thing you live in GA, where there's little likelihood of anyone daring you to stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole....



Hope you get your problem solved without further embarrassment.

[OakLeaf]

No, not dumb at all (but the LBS is not being very helpful). When I brought my shoes and pedals with me to install on a rented bike, I clipped the cleats into the pedals so that everything stayed together in my suitcase. All you need to do is screw the pedal into the crankarm. Fully engage the threads, but you don't have to tighten them. Now you've got enough leverage to unclip. You don't need to put your foot in the shoe, remember it's actually pretty small muscles in the ankle that you use to unclip, so you'll be able to do it with your hands. If you didn't tighten the pedals when the shoes were on them, do it now so you don't forget later - although they don't have to be very tight.

[Zen]

. So I'm wondering if there's a mechanical thing without being on the pedal, or just a hold/leverage thing?

Hammer time

[Karma007]

I so would have done that! Instead I experiment with clipless balancing in my garage between ex's 2 corvettes...unwise as well...

[7rider]

I had my shoe stuck in a pedal on my bike once when (unbeknownst to me) I lost a bolt on the cleat and the other was loose. Had a bear of a time trying to get them disconnected, and it was a freaky-scary ride home, because it was on my left shoe - the foot I normally disengage at stop signs, etc.
Lesson learned: ALWAYS check your cleats and make sure they are tight!