[Shad6Bones]

I decided to bite the bullet... Starting to get into XC and platforms are killing me on the trails. My friends leave me in the dust, and I just fill plain exhausted.

I've switched to clipless, and yes I busted over in the parking lot (pure concrete) on my first stop... With the intro aside, now...

Clipping in is nearly impossible for me. I just can not find the groove. Whether I am practicing in a doorway or doing circles in the lot, I can't seem to lock it in.

I am blinded by my foot and can't seem to "visualize" the cleat... and I keep missing the clip on part of the pedal.

Is this a normal problem? Is it possible I have the adjustment wrong on the cleat and shoe? Maybe it is too much towards my arch and should be more towards the ball of my foot?

There are 2 sets of holes on the bottoms side of the cleat. I put them in the holes closets to the arch of my foot. (Might try changing them out)



Also.... My right clipless pedal seems to have more BITE on my cleat than the left. I can gingerly kick my left foot out, but the right foot....I have to work to get it out. (I've check and all the settings and it seems to be at the "loose" settings...) Is my right ankle weak?

Curious...

Thanks in advance,
S6

 

[古強者死神]

More information? you didnt even mention what kind of clipless system your using.

Best advice I can give you is just keep practicing, it will come to you uventully. Or if money is not an issue try a diffrent clipless system I had great luck with crank brothers mallets as my first clipless system 3 diffrent ways to get into the locks and very easy to get out of.

 

[o_rod]

i had the crankbrothers egg beaters on my bike. Same as you, just couldnt get the hang of them. I was reccommded Shimano SPD's by a co-worker and now have no problem clipping in and out. World of difference.

 

[perttime]

The location of the cleats is important. I spent about an hour finding THE spot when I went clipless (still on my first clipless: Time ATAC). The cleats need to be TIGHT on the shoes. If they are not, unclipping may become impossible. Many pedal brands (all?) use a "right" and "left" cleat. Putting them on the wrong shoes may cause undesirable results.

 

[fred3]

Per the instructions that come with the pedals you should start with the cleat centered on the ball of your foot. Nearest the arch is not the ball of your feet, but if that is where you're most comfortable then go with it. All you'll suffer is a small lack of pedaling efficiency and maybe comfort. You don't say how long you've been using them, but it sounds like maybe a few days to a few weeks. That's not near enough time to get used to them and that includes clipping in as well as clipping out. You can't rush the learning curve. It is what it is for each and every person. If you have the patience you'll be rewarded. Perhaps with a few more bumps, scrapes and bruises than you'd like, but that's the price that's often paid.

As has been said throughout the centuries..."practice makes perfect".

 

[porkchop]

Does the shoe touch the pedal? Only the cleat is supposed to touch the pedal. On my first SPD pedals part of the shoe tread rubbed on the pedal body preventing proper engagement. I trimmed the shoe tread a little and the problem was solved. Click the shoe onto the pedal and check for adequate clearance between the shoe tread and the pedal.

 

[jeffscott]

As per most above you seem to have an adjustment problem.

Two daughters learned and within the first 10 feet they had it.

Comment was I can't get it in Oh there it is.

Shimano SPD

 

[BassChop]

I am new to clipless this year as well...have the Shimano SPD pedals... After a few rides, I feel quite confident on them and don't have problems getting in and out.

While installing them, I got a phone call...so I just hopped up on the bike, leaned against a bench and practiced until I was getting in pretty passively.

First ride, I was really punishing myself on some harder trails with the release setting set too tight...keep 'em on the loose side.

 

[Tarekith]

The Eggbeaters are harder to get into than the spd's IMO, for me it's because the clip mechanism rotates freely on the pedal spindle. Sometimes you have to sluide your foot forward some to get the mechanism in the right position to engage. I still don't understand why they do this, I would think it would be more predictable if it stayed put myself.

Adding a shim under the cleat helps a lot depending on what kind of shoes you use too.