new clipless pedals - frustrated (speedplay zero)

[Pedal Wench]

Oh - I forgot that you should DEFINITELY put a few drops of dry lube on the cleats - a drop on each side of the exposed C-clamp.

I ride with people who use Look pedals. I always give them space, because they always swerve and look down to flip the pedals when they start. With the Speedplay, I just put my foot down, give it an extra 'umph' to clip in, and go.

[yetigooch]

I bought a pair of zeros for my wife's new bike and she had problems getting into them. My lbs said that speedplays have this problem with lighter riders. I swapped them out with my Look Keo carbons and she now has no problem getting in and out. The zeros are on my bike and seem to work fine.

[Eden]

Careful with the Speedplays and small shoes too - I have tiny feet.,36s, and the person I had do my cleat fitting didn't install the correct spacers. I was popping right out with hardly any pressure until I figured out that he'd set them up wrong. I tried the Light Actions, but they were way too easy - I could pull out of them unintentionally. I swapped them for Zeros and even though I'm only about 104 lbs, I haven't had any problems, especially not getting out, which seems very easy. I do have to twist, but don't have to pull up hard. Definitely do try lubing them. That helps with clipping in quite a bit. Give them a little time too. They seem to have a bit of a break in period.

[Becky]

Just wanted to echo what the others have said about break-in time, using dry lube, and using the proper snap-shims for your shoes to get the cleat perfectly flat on the shoe sole.

I'm ~125 lbs, and had a rough time with them initially. But, since they've broken in, I've been very happy. Everything I loved about my X-2s, but with the ability to fine-tune the float.

[lo123]

Definitely do try lubing them. That helps with clipping in quite a bit. Give them a little time too. They seem to have a bit of a break in period.

Tried lube as well.. The compounding problem is that I have a bad hip due to psoriatic arthritis. I have limited range of motion and diminished strength in one leg, and it's very easy for me to set off painful inflammation . After my attempts last night, I was hurting so badly I had to take a pain pill--which I HATE.

On top of clipping in. Once I finally got clipped in, my shoe got stuck! I just couldn't get out. I had to go ring the doorbell to have my hubby undo my shoe. It was hard for HIM to get the shoe loose. Getting stuck is what did me in with my hip, so there's big fear there now.

I'm going to go by LBS today and see if there's anything else we can do with the speedplays or if they can swap them out for looks. I do like how secure I felt once I clipped in, but I'm afraid of getting stuck again on the road with no one to help me get out.

[beancounterbeth]

My first pair of clipless were Speedplay Zeros. They were given to me. I fell sooooo many times because I would come to a stop and still be yanking my feet trying desperatly to get my foot unclipped. My DH had to come over and yank my foot apart from the pedal. I switched to Looks and I love them. Easy in, easy out. The only bad thing is that I have to look down when I go to clip my foot in but after that they are great.

[emily_in_nc]

Tried lube as well.. The compounding problem is that I have a bad hip due to psoriatic arthritis. I have limited range of motion and diminished strength in one leg, and it's very easy for me to set off painful inflammation . After my attempts last night, I was hurting so badly I had to take a pain pill--which I HATE.

I sure do understand your frustration and fear too. It definitely shouldn't hurt to clip in or out! If you aren't married to road pedals yet, you might want to take a look at Speedplay Frogs. The extra float may feel good to your hip, and they're uncommonly easy to get clipped into and out of, yet, unless your foot wanders all over the place, you shouldn't clip out accidentally. I found Frogs to be the easiest pedals I've ever had to get used to, and I know there are a lot of happy Frog users here, both roadies and mtb'ers. They are mountain pedals but there are plenty of shoes made for recessed cleats that look roadie like (yet are more walkable than road shoes with exterior cleats).

Good luck!

[Kathi]

I"m not sure how the zero's release but with the X's it is a simple twist, or turning of the heel, and you pop right out. Yanking on them to release doesn't sound right to me.

I have a small foot too and the X's are so easy to release that I was able to use them on my trainer with a torn ACL and MCL. It didn't take long to begin using them again on the trainer after ACL surgery.

I do agree with others that the screws can be too tight and there are different shims for the brand of shoe your are wearing. It's easy to get dirt in the cleat so I immediately but my covers on my cleats before I walk. It helps to protect the cleat and keep dirt out. Release will be more difficult with dirt in them.

I have the Frogs on my mtn bike and find if I riding at a good clip, on the road, I have inadvertently released my foot.

Hope you find out what's wrong.

[spazzdog]

lo123... did you put your cleats on or have the shop do it?

I ask because once (early on when I first got my speedplay X's) I put my cleats on the shoes.

I got stuck, much as you describe... it took me removing my foot from the shoe, getting off the bike and then wrenching the shoe off of the pedal.

Turns out I'd installed the cleats on my shoes backwards (they don't call me spazz fer nuthin )

Good luck!

spazz