Clipless pedals installed, but how to engage?

[wildeny]

I read the manual and installed the pedals (... removing old ones took lots of efforts). Adjusted the tension (the less the red thing the less tension?).But I just can't engage the cleat with the pedal.

I put the cleat on the pedal (Shimano PD M-424) and tried to understand how it is engaged.


Another angle


I pushed it hard and the back of the cleat was still outside. Is that normal? Do you need to push it hard to be engaged?

I checked the part numbers of the pedals and the cleats, and they are frm the same set.

What did I do it wrong?

[alpinerabbit]

DONT!!!!!!!!!!!

don't do it off the shoes, it might be *quite* hard to get them out again.
Put them on the shoes. Get on the bike and try. it's an easy snap-in motion and a twist of the ankle to get out but with your hands, you might have a hard time. you don't have the power in your hands that you have in your legs.
Also set the tension low with the little hexagonal screw inside the pedal mechanism.....

[ny biker]

If you have an indoor trainer, practice clipping in and out with the bike on the trainer.

If you don't have a trainer, put the bike someplace where you can hold yourself steady with your hand while you practice. E.g., I put mine next to the wall with a door so I can hold onto the doorknob with one hand, or out on my balcony where I can hold onto the railing.

[alpinerabbit]

Yeah, or outside on a fence, garden wall, lamp post, tree.

[wildeny]

DONT!!!!!!!!!!!

don't do it off the shoes, it might be *quite* hard to get them out again

Too late.

Just few minutes ago I adjusted the tension on this pedal and tried again. With a (hard) push on the back of the cleat. I finally put in. YA! Then found it so hard to get out. Had to get the pliers (no use) and flat skrewdriver (used to push back the part that holds the back of the cleat).

This is my first time to try the clipless pedals. I didn't expect it can be this tight (maybe because I used hands), even with the lowest tension (the red indicator is barely visible). Do you engage the cleat with the pedal when the pedal is at its lowest position?

I don't have a trainer to practice (I do think of getting one but I'm afraid that I'd get bored in ridding indoors). I'd tried it yesterday in the office. Fortunately no one found me tied to the bike, lying on the floor and calling for help.

Maybe I should buy some body armor before going on road. (IXS Battle EVO Ladies Jacket)

Thanks all of you for the suggestions.

[tulip]

If you put your bike in a doorway, then you can use the door jambs for support. Do put the cleats back on the shoes and just try it. They are no use with your hands, only on your shoes.

[wildeny]

Bad news: It seems that my Diadora shoes do not fit with Shimano PD-M424 pedals. Please give me some suggestions.


The front of the cleat in the position.


Probably because of these parts.


Cannot press down to for cleat engagement. The back of the cleat is visible (marked in red circle).

I have emailed Shimano & Diadora and both said that it seems there's no room for the cleat engagement.
Shimano said: their shoes should fit all their pedals. (I asked whether PD-M424 has special requirement on the shoes)
Diadora said: their shoes can fit with standard SPD pedals. (does that mean no cage outside?)

I wonder which part is the culprit: the cage or the pop-up angle (12.5 degree)?

[Biciclista]

are you anywhere near a bike shop or a bike club where you could get some instruction with these things? I'm glad you have the tension as loose as you can get it, that's good. I'm concerned the cleats aren't in the shoes right or something.
I would be very surprised if a major brand of shoe doesn't work with SPD's
at the LBS they could check that for you.

and if you do venture outside, find a soft grassy area for starters. and then ride UNCLIPPED. Then clip ONE foot in. then unclip it. do that for a while and then try the other.
good luck.

[Zen]

Diadora said: their shoes can fit with standard SPD pedals. (does that mean no cage outside?)

I think that's likely it.

[gnarwhal]

Did your cleats not come with a spacer? I happily installed my cleats on my new Scott's last night only to discover when i rode down the street that there was NO WAY they were going to engage. However my cleats came with tiny nearly flat plastic spacers which you fit just between the cleat and the shoe sole and somehow they now engage like Billyo! Check your cleat box, if not re-email Shimano and see if they do something like that or ask at your LBS.

Good luck

[tantrumbean]

Could you remove the cage? I know you can on some pedals, not sure about those...

[wildeny]

Did your cleats not come with a spacer?

Is the plastic that can be screwed with cleat? If it is, that comes with my Diadora shoes.

Could you remove the cage?

Yes, I can because the cage is just like the flat platform pedal that can move freely.

The manual said: "Press the cleats into the pedals with a forward and downward
motion."

When I hold the cage by hand and push the front of the binding, I can bring the back up.

But when I do that with my shoe, it's not so easy because of the outer part of my sole has a good contact with the cage. When I try to move forward and press down, I turn the whole pedal with my shoe.

Biciclista, yes, I can go to a nearby LBS to ask their opinion. It's just that they sell high-end bikes and my bike wasn't bought from them (it's from a shop that is a little bit far) nor the pedals & shoes. Some of our LBS's are very territorial, only responding to their customers' questions (or tell you to go back to the shops from which you bought the stuff). This is one of reasons why I want to learn how to DIY -- I just got Zinn's book & some tools.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I really think you should have LBS with a repair department set up your cleats and pedals. They will get the cleat in the right place for your foot. You can mess up your knees if its not done right. And pay them for it. They shouldn't charge too much.

[woohoo]

Hiya, one quick thing - although you could *technically* remove the cage from these pedals, I wouldn't. I've stripped a pair of these exact pedals down before and can tell you they wouldn't go back together too neatly without the cages - at the bare minimum you'd need to add a collection of washers. I never had any problem using mine with shoes that had lugs on them which weren't shimano branded, so you shouldn't need shimano shoes to get a fit... I'd say try the little spacers that came with your shoes - good luck

[wildeny]

I really think you should have LBS with a repair department set up your cleats and pedals.

I took my bike with Shimano pedals and shoes to the LBS, and asked the staff how to fit it. With his "assistance", I still couldn't, though he kept saying nothing wrong with my pedals and shoes and that I just need to try to rotate my foot a little bit.

I never had any problem using mine with shoes that had lugs on them which weren't shimano branded, so you shouldn't need shimano shoes to get a fit... I'd say try the little spacers that came with your shoes - good luck

check this photo. Is that gap normal? Because the lugs touch the cage, I can't press down any further without rotating the pedal.


What's the spacers that came from the shoes? Do you mean cleat nuts?