Grrr...2nd bloodied knee courtesy of SPD-SL pedals!

**zoom-zoom** · 08-23-2011, 01:47 PM

16 days ago I could. not. unclip. After that I really cranked those pedals as loose as possible, nearly bending my little hex wrench. I also lubed the pedals up well (with a light lube, similar to WD-40). It helps most of the time, but sometimes I still cannot get my left foot unclipped. Before lubing they were always overly tight. Now it's erratic...sometimes it's relatively easy to unclip, then there are times like today when *SURPRISE* I can't get unclipped and down I go.

The pisser is that my left knee had just finally stopped being crusty and scabby. Now it's a bloody mess, again. Left elbow is banged-up, too.

Now I'm regretting not going with Look pedals like my hubby's. He's had 0 issues with his. But it was only AFTER having issues with my 105 SPD-SLs that I did some looking around and discovered that there are others who have been frustrated with this pedal system, for the same reason. All the reviews I saw when researching pedals were pretty much glowing. But when I started searching for release issues, after the fact, I've found quite a few threads on various cycling boards...

**Biciclista** · 08-23-2011, 02:07 PM

please go back to the bike shop with those! it shouldn't be that nasty or hard to adjust! sorry about your knee!

**zoom-zoom** · 08-23-2011, 02:22 PM

I wish I could...I ordered 'em off of eBay. Fortunately they weren't super $$ (I think I paid about $60 for them). I'm just irritated. I guess I'm back to square one researching road pedals. I wish I'd looked harder at Times. DH sorta pushed me away from those, since finding replacement cleats in a pinch would be trickier (most shops in the area seem to only carry Shimano, Speedplay, and Look).

**TsPoet** · 08-23-2011, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

DH sorta pushed me away from those, since finding replacement cleats in a pinch would be trickier (most shops in the area seem to only carry Shimano, Speedplay, and Look).

Funny, I've put thousands of miles on my two sets of eggbeater cleats (1 on my sandals and 1 on my shoes) and I've never had a cleat replacement need. I wouldn't think that quick access to cleats would be all that important.
Edit to say - now that I think about it, although I ride road, these are Mt cleats, which maybe last longer because of the recess. I really like Mt Bike cleats to be able to hop off and walk around.

**skywalkerbeth** · 08-23-2011, 03:50 PM

I have speedplays (which I have taken off) because I fell twice. The first was a complete surprise (also stupid) but the second was because of what you say. Could not get my foot out to save my life.

Don't like clips. Now that the seat is higher yet, I really don't like them.

**zoom-zoom** · 08-23-2011, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by skywalkerbeth

I have speedplays (which I have taken off) because I fell twice. The first was a complete surprise (also stupid) but the second was because of what you say. Could not get my foot out to save my life.

Don't like clips. Now that the seat is higher yet, I really don't like them.

Our LBS buddy is NOT a fan of Speedplays, for this reason. He is the most skilled person I know on a bike (road or mtn.) and he had bad experiences with Speedplay. MI is pretty much one big sand dune, so he couldn't keep the cleats clean on those no matter what he did.

I'm really looking at Times, again (they have a discontinued RXL "women's"
pedal with lighter resistance, which sounds good on paper). I'd like to stay with road pedals, since the smaller contact area with the mtn. SPDs on my other shoes was giving me sore feet after 50 miles, or so.

**zoom-zoom** · 08-23-2011, 04:25 PM

So hubby just put my bike on the repair stand, clipped my shoes in, and had a dickens of a time unclipping them. Also noticed that the advertised "float" is not smooth or loose.

Then he put his bike on the stand, clipped his shoes in (he has Look Keos), and unclipped with no trouble.

It's not just me. Phew.

How are Shimano SPD-SLs so danged popular? I am totally NOT impressed.

**westtexas** · 08-23-2011, 05:05 PM

I've only ever ridden on SPD-SLs. I love mine. I've never had a single problem with them. Of course, I have no experience with anything else, but I've never been in a situation where I couldn't get unclipped when I wanted to. I love my 105 pedals.

I just thought I would put it out there that there are some of us who like them...

**Caddy** · 08-23-2011, 05:57 PM

I highly recommend Look if you're searching for another pedal brand. Never had a problem unclipping with mine. I've used both 0 and 4 degree floats.

**zoom-zoom** · 08-23-2011, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by westtexas

I've only ever ridden on SPD-SLs. I love mine. I've never had a single problem with them. Of course, I have no experience with anything else, but I've never been in a situation where I couldn't get unclipped when I wanted to. I love my 105 pedals.

I just thought I would put it out there that there are some of us who like them...

I almost wonder if there could have been a bad batch. A friend of ours got the exact same 105 pedals within a week of me and is also having issues with hers.

Looks like I can still return mine. I looked on Amazon and they are eligible for return until 9/5, so as soon as I have new pedals (DH will be down at our LBS on Friday and is going to pick up Look Keo Classics for me) they will be going back.

**Seajay** · 08-23-2011, 07:43 PM

Sprry you are getting so beat up. Are you keeping your heel down as you twist out? Are you releasing at the bottom of the pedal stroke? SPDSLs are a little-little bit tougher to get out of than Looks....But not THAT much. KEOs should be easy in and out.
If they have time ... we put our Clipless pedal clients on a trainer and have them get used to the motion before going on the road. Next we advise they take a ride in the grass park and get the hang of it. We rarely have customers with your experience.
Hope it works out.

**zoom-zoom** · 08-23-2011, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Seajay

Sprry you are getting so beat up. Are you keeping your heel down as you twist out? Are you releasing at the bottom of the pedal stroke? SPDSLs are a little-little bit tougher to get out of than Looks....But not THAT much. KEOs should be easy in and out.
If they have time ... we put our Clipless pedal clients on a trainer and have them get used to the motion before going on the road. Next we advise they take a ride in the grass park and get the hang of it. We rarely have customers with your experience.
Hope it works out.

I know the motion...I'd logged at least 6k miles with mtn SPDs prior to going to dedicated road shoes and pedals. Which is part of what has me so POd by all of this. 6000 miles with 2 minor falls (not from unclipping difficulties, but from space-cadet noob issues) vs. 2 harder falls in the course of maybe 250 miles.

**Seajay** · 08-23-2011, 08:01 PM

Well, you're wise to bail on them and try something else. I've had excellent luck with Look for years and years...Hopefully you will too.

**zoom-zoom** · 08-23-2011, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Seajay

Well, you're wise to bail on them and try something else. I've had excellent luck with Look for years and years...Hopefully you will too.

My hubby really likes his Keo Classics (has them on 2 bikes), so he was perplexed by all the difficulties I've had with my 105s, until he compared the torque necessary to release on the loosest tension and with added chain lube. He really had to work to get them to unclip. With his bike he was able to clip his shoe in and out with his hand with minimal effort and the float was loose. The "float" on my pedals is not at all loose and feels sticky.

**Biciclista** · 08-23-2011, 08:19 PM

they do sound defective. send them back!

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