Road pedal suggestions...

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lakerunr

151 posts since
Dec 12, 2007

Aug 29, 2007 8:33 AM

Road pedal suggestions...

I'm a marathoner, and I also do a few duathlons and cross train on my road bike, Giant TCR-1. I currently use Shimano SPD-R cleats and pedals. No matter what I adjust, the clips are scary tight. I have to forcefully twist my left foot out, way before a stop, and I can hardly get the right foot unclipped while riding. It makes me very uneasy to ride this bike. On my mountain bike I have regular SPD's they unclip very easily, but stay clipped while pedalling.

I would like to try a different type of pedal/cleat. Thinking about Crank Bros. or Speedplay...

Any suggestions/advice???

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chele519

363 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

1. Aug 29, 2007 10:33 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

I love my Speedplay Frogs! Very easy to unclip, there is no spring tension to force your foot against.

teacherjen

469 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

2. Aug 29, 2007 10:57 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

I love my speedplays, too, but it seems that your cleats should adjust so that they unclip easily. Have you talked to anyone at your LBS about it?

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

3. Aug 29, 2007 11:56 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

those are pedals I would suggest for a new rider, they should be easy for walking around and release without a problem. I'm wondering if you have the incorrect cleat installed, have the release tensio too high or if there is something in the sole of the shoe that is causing the difficult release. If the sole is rubber, you may have to take a razor of slice away a bit of the sole, clip the shoe in the pedal and stick your face right down next to it and see where the sole contacts the pedal, you should see marks on the shoe also--try removing just a bit of the sole, but ensure the release tension is set light too.

I'd buy speedplays before crank brothers, I use the egg beaters for cyclocross, they are easy to get in and out of, but are real garbage in terms of bearing life and overall quality. I throw them away after 6 months.

lakerunr

151 posts since
Dec 12, 2007

4. Aug 29, 2007 3:52 PM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

Thanks for the replies. LBS is no help, they set the shoes/cleats/pedals up initially and it was so tight I couldn't hardly clip in/out. They just said "they'll loosen up..."

They actually sold me the pedals/cleats/shoes and when I went to pick the bike up, they told me the shoes were not made for these cleats/pedals, so they had to get adaptors. I asked for a refund so I could go elsewhere, but they refused. So, I'm not going back there.

I've had other bikers look at them, and they haven't seen any major errors in setup, just the pedals' tension spring is very tight. I've got the adjuster screw in the last notch before falling out.

I notice on the Shimano website that they no longer make my pedals/cleats. They do have a road pedal that uses a standard SPD cleat. I think I may try these. Then I can use the same shoe (one I can actually walk in, if need be) for mountain and road bikes. Maybe I'll be able to find a road/tri shoe that will accept a standard SPD cleat. I know I like the SPD and I feel confident and safe using them.

Any thoughts?

triandstopme044

1,454 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

5. Aug 29, 2007 4:11 PM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

Why not just run mountain SPD pedals on your road bike? If they're using the same cleat, the main difference is that the road pedal is single-sided (and a few grams lighter), and the mtn pedal is two-sided and a few grams heavier. I like the convenience of the double-sided mountain pedals and being able to walk in my shoes. I've got more than a few grams to lose off me before I worry about shaving them off my bike. And I can deal with any roadie sneers (which would be unlikely at a triathlon anyway).

mbannon

1,814 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

6. Aug 29, 2007 4:18 PM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

Pedals. Boy, I look forward to the day (if ever) that I'm happy with what I've got.

My setup - Currently have Shimano SPD's on my mountain bike, Crank Brothers Candy's on my tri bike, and platform pedals with toe cages on my commuter. I use my mountain bike shoes for both my mountain bike and tri bike, and I use old running shoes on my commuter.

What works/what doesn't - I love the SPD's on my mountain bike. Easy in and out, tough as nails, comfortable shoes you can hike in if necessary. Cheap, too. Don't want them on my tri bike, though (see next paragraph).

Not so happy with the Crank Bro's pedals on the tri bike, but I think it might be more a shoe issue than a pedal issue. My left foot has been hurting when I pedal hard lately, I'm starting to wonder if it's from riding hard with soft shoes and small pedal platforms. Will probably switch soon to a real road shoe with wider pedals such as LOOK's. Otherwise, no problems with the Crank Bro's.

Platform pedals with toe cages work great for the commuter and I even raced that bike last year and did okay. No question that clipless are better, though, once you're used to them. I'd switch these out, but it's actually my wife's bike so I wouldn't feel right about it. So instead I'm riding the **** out of it and once it disintegrates I'll buy myself a commuter and put clipless on. Somehow that's okay in my mind (whatever works, eh?).

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Silly Sally087

1,244 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

7. Aug 29, 2007 9:17 PM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

I have SPD's on both my bikes and use a shoe that is lighter than a mountain bike shoe, but not as rigid, but almost like a racing shoe (which I used to have until I lost just one of the pair

)

Anyway, I agree, if you're worried about weight, I think it's better just to lose it off the body before the pedal. I love my pedals ... easy in, easy out, tension set low. They and my cross-breed shoes got me through Ironman ... it's the motor, baby, the motor ...

Will I ever try another type of pedal, sure, if the price and situation allowed it, but right now, I am happily making do with what I have

Good luck!

Sally

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"Follow your bliss"
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jansd

418 posts since
Jun 8, 2003

8. Aug 29, 2007 10:38 PM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

I sympathize with you about the SPD-Rs. I had a pair of 105s that were great to ride in, but getting in and out was a nightmare... then there was that time my cleat got stuck in the pedal because a bolt loosened up at about mile 80 of a century...

My dad gave me a pair of Look Keo Sprints and I love them. No problems clicking in or out, very comfortable while riding.

runnerparris

365 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

9. Aug 30, 2007 12:38 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

I like speedplay...lots of float so I can move my feet however I want to, but they clip in and out easily as well.

Maybe you should try sending an email or letter to shimano explaining your situation. It wouldnt hurt.

lakerunr

151 posts since
Dec 12, 2007

10. Aug 30, 2007 7:51 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

Thanks for all the input!

Silly Sally: what brand/model of shoes do you use?

ksurp

91 posts since
Mar 10, 2006

11. Aug 30, 2007 8:01 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

I had the exact same problem this spring with my Shimano cleats/pedals. As a new rider it was extremely scary when I couldn't unclip especially during group rides/traffic stops, etc. or at the end of a ride when my legs were very tired.

My LBS installed shims under the cleats and this helped signifcantly and they were very apologetic that I had been having problems.
The other thing I do is spray a little silicone on the cleats and pedals from time to time and this also helps. Also keep the dirt/gravel out of your cleats.

dg12002

622 posts since
Aug 26, 2003

12. Aug 30, 2007 8:11 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

Silly Sally you're everything but silly.

broadbill

156 posts since
Sep 27, 2004

13. Aug 30, 2007 8:21 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

Shimano SPD recall...

http://www.velonews.com/tech/research/articles/6024.0.html[/URL" target="_blank">

Silly Sally087

1,244 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

14. Sep 1, 2007 1:57 AM

in response to: lakerunr

Re: Road pedal suggestions...

quote:<HR>Originally posted by lstall:
Silly Sally: what brand/model of shoes do you use?<HR>

Specialized. Don't know what model, but I just looked at my shoe and realised that the soles are as hard as my (lost) racing shoe ... only diff is that their is a bit of "traction" (rubber sole) built-up in strategic places, like the heel, tip of toe, sides of cleat. Attaches with 3 velcro straps.

I really lucked out with these shoes, and no dead toe syndrome even after a long ride!

Sally

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"Follow your bliss"
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Aug 29, 2007 8:33 AM

Road pedal suggestions...

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