Mountain Biking - I Got Clipless!!!

I have my clipless shoes now, and my cleats will be here any minute!!!!! I can't wait!!!

Great Fubar! You'll love 'em. Which ones did you get?

Specialized Sports,I got them today at lunch time from my LBS, they were 70 bucks. The only problem is that I can't clip in!!!! I adjusted the springs and all and I've clipped in once, but I can't seem to find the sweet spot.

Congrats on the new purchase Fubar. You're going to like going clipless.

A couple of quick suggestions. Some will be common sense but you'll be suprised how many people forget to do these things.

1. When adjusting the spring tension make sure you adjust both sides of the pedals evenly if not one side will have more tension than the other.

2. A good way to practice clipping in and out is to ride in a grassy area. That way if you all you won't get hurt.

3. You may want to ride a couple of easy trails while you get used to the new pedals before tackling anything real technical.

Once you get used to the pedals, clipping and out will become second nature.

Originally posted by Joe Pozer
Congrats on the new purchase Fubar. You're going to like going clipless.

A couple of quick suggestions. Some will be common sense but you'll be suprised how many people forget to do these things.

1. When adjusting the spring tension make sure you adjust both sides of the pedals evenly if not one side will have more tension than the other.

2. A good way to practice clipping in and out is to ride in a grassy area. That way if you all you won't get hurt.

3. You may want to ride a couple of easy trails while you get used to the new pedals before tackling anything real technical.

Once you get used to the pedals, clipping and out will become second nature.

Thanks Pozer, I am having a really tough time getting in. I am going riding tonight but I don't think I will be ready to ride clipless by then.I can get out just fine, but getting in is a totally different story.

If your SPD's (they are SPD's, right?) are anything like mine, they came with the tension inhumanly tight. I had to adjust it way, way, WAY down to get them to work, and they still held just fine. So that may be the problem. And remember what Joe said, get both sides adjusted the same--it would be easy to forget especially in the excitement of something new. And check the screws in your cleats every now and then; they won't often come loose, but it CAN happen.

Originally posted by JonR
If your SPD's (they are SPD's, right?) are anything like mine, they came with the tension inhumanly tight. I had to adjust it way, way, WAY down to get them to work, and they still held just fine. So that may be the problem. And remember what Joe said, get both sides adjusted the same--it would be easy to forget especially in the excitement of something new. And check the screws in your cleats every now and then; they won't often come loose, but it CAN happen.

Yes they are SPD's,sorry I didn't mention that before. I adjusted them a little bit but I think they(the pedals) are still to tight.Unfortunatly,here at work I don't have any allen wrenches. The Dr is not in today so we don't have any patients.I have been practicing since 2:00 PM.I'm getting the hang of it just a little.

Like I wrote some time ago, when I got my SPD's, they came by air freight to the office, and I installed them there and then, and rode home in them that night. I almost toppled the very first time I had to clip out, at the top of the parking lot heading for the street, but after that I had no problems at all.

If I could learn that fast, at age 52 and not particularly graceful, I don't think my 17-year-old amigo fubar5 will have any trouble at all! :D

If you got them through your LBS, they might be able to give you some general tips on using them without having to fall over a couple of times to get used to them. Congrats dude!

Chris

Originally posted by Chris L
If you got them through your LBS, they might be able to give you some general tips on using them without having to fall over a couple of times to get used to them. Congrats dude!

Chris


The dude at my LBS tried to tell me that my Ritchey pedals were not SPD compatible,and that I needed to order a special Ritchey cleat. Well I had emailed the Ritchey customer service a month or so back and they told me Ritchey MTB pedals were SPD compatible. So I didn't ask him for any help learning how to use clipless.

However, I practiced all afternoon, and when I went to today's MTB ride with the guys I used my clipless pedals.I biffed out a LOT!!! One time everybody stopped and I got one foot out but not the other,and I was falling towards the foot that was still clipped in......CRASH!!! Everbody was laughing. I lost a screw but not the cleat luckily, I had the screws in super tight but they came loose anyway.
Overall, I love being clipless, I can feel the power flowing into the pedals. Except when I wiped out I was at the front of the pack(there were 10 riders tonight), I am usually in the back eating dust.

Fubar5, my son's MTB came stock with Ritcheys but he found it unbelievably hard to clip out of them, no matter the spring adjustment. He read some user reviews on clipless pedals at www.mtbr.com and found that others had the same problem - one biker referred to them as "Ritchey Deathgrips." Anyway he and I both use Time Aliums with great success now - great float (saves my middle-aged knees) and easy in-n-out.

Another happy TIME owner. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am with my TIMEs. They are by far the easiest pedals to get in and out and I've never had any problems with accidently clipping out. Plus, there is not better pedal if the conditions are muddy.

Fubar,
Does Ritchey make their own cleats? I know that there are some non-Shimano pedal manufacturers that make SPD compatible pedals but they work better using their own cleats.
Just a thought...

Agreed, Time is the way to go. Little to late for Fubar though as it sounds like he just got the pedals.

TIME A.T.A.C.'s are my choice for #1 pedal. Hey, maybe we should have a poll. I know how Fubar likes polls. :D

I still however like using flat pedals when I'm jumping. Mid-air bails are easier when not permanently attached to your bike.

Anyways, congrats on the best upgrade you can make. I was surprised how sore I was after using clipless pedals for the first time. I realized I was using a whole lot more of my leg muscles in ways I hadn't used before.:cry:

I've had the pedals since I got the bike, and the SPD cleats I got work just fine. I can click out very easily,the only time I had a hard time clicking out was when I lost a screw, so the cleat rotated. Other than that my clipless system is working just great!!! I love it! I feel like such a cyclist...

Originally posted by fubar5
I feel like such a cyclist...
That's because you are such a cyclist.

And a great guy, to judge from your posts here. Even if you do prefer logo number 7 to number three.

Originally posted by JonR

That's because you are such a cyclist.

And a great guy, to judge from your posts here. Even if you do prefer logo number 7 to number three.


I actually think all the logos look great, except for the ones made up of little squares.

aw man. i feel so pathetic. i have read this clipless jargon and realized that i have just gotten to where i am able to get my feet into my pedal straps without lookin--i must soon get into this clipless phenomenon.

really though, a friend swears by his clipless, and i just don't get it. i guess it's one of those try-it-one-time-and-you're-hooked things, huh?

Yo f.u.b.a.r. Joe P is right about "practising" in a easy place like a football field..but I can remember 6 years ago when I first got my 515's I went out and rode an epic trail and there was this very technical rock garden full of babyheads etc..but because the pedals were new to me I knew what I had to do to get out real quick..because this was the first thing on my mind ..I backed out the tension screw to almost nothin' and that rideI did remained LODGED in my mind..a simple question of NOT gettin hurt !!!. I made it through w/out unclipping ..I guess we all have different ways of learning.....after a few months of riding with them, if and when you go back to riding a bike w/out clipless pedals you shall swear black and blue how did you ever do w/out them...with them you ARE a part of the bike and vice -versa.....cool....have funnnnn...

Tomas, I do think you'll like clipless better, BUT--there's nothing wrong with clips and straps! I'm still using clips and straps instead of my perfectly good SPD's for the single reason that I hate going back to having to wear a special pair of shoes.

There are pro's and con's to everything.

Originally posted by JonR
And a great guy, to judge from your posts here.

You have know idea what that means to me.

<Tomas cries to self>

sniff-sniff-sniff. sob-sob-sniff.

<Tomas ceases to cry to self>

Now, Tomas, there, there--try to pull yourself together... :cry:

Something that I find helps with clip-less pedals... lubricate 'em. Every couple of rides, a quick squirt on the pedal surface and the cleat surface. Be careful walking... it's tough enough on cleats that aren't lubed.

You want to use something that won't cause dirt and grit to stick too much. I use Pam, which is actually made to spray in pans to keep food from sticking (ask your mom about it). Silicone based lubricants work, but not as well. Petroleum based lubes cause grunge to stick.

Mr.sheen works a treat !

My boss put some lube on my pedals and after that my cleats came out like a charm, I don't nkow what he used. My cleats keep coming loose though, any fixes for that?

Originally posted by fubar5
My cleats keep coming loose though, any fixes for that?
Are you sure you're using exactly the right size of wrench with the cleats? It's the only way to get them really tight. Other than that, I have no idea--mine would get just a LITTLE bit loose after several months, but generally stayed good and tight. Could it be your shoes??? :confused:

I don't think it is my shoes. I may not have the cleats in tight enough in the first place. I am kinda worried about stripping out the mounts.

Where did you get them from? If it was from your LBS I would go back and get them to sort it out. They should do it free of charge.

Chris

You ought to be able to tighten them as tight as you can, without worrying about stripping anything.

I'd put a little threadlock on them. I used 242 threadlock on mine and have never had a problem.

If the shop is not forthcoming, try using a small amount of screw glue to hold them in place. You will still be able to remove the screws later but they should hold better.

And don't forget to adjust the alignment of the cleats afterwards if you need to. You will notice this only after putting in the milage. The last thing you want are twinging knees caused by the cleats being out of line.

I just have to give a thumbs up :thumbup: to my new Time Atac peddles. I have been using SPD's for a couple years, but knee pain and a good review from a friend made me upgrade to the Time.

So far, the float of 9 degrees is better for my knees and the lock in and easy out is great! Even though the Atac is being sold for use on mtn bikes, I installed them on my touring/commuting bike and am thrilled with my newest addtion.

Originally posted by roadbuzz
Something that I find helps with clip-less pedals... lubricate 'em. Every couple of rides, a quick squirt on the pedal surface and the cleat surface. Be careful walking... it's tough enough on cleats that aren't lubed.

You want to use something that won't cause dirt and grit to stick too much. I use Pam, which is actually made to spray in pans to keep food from sticking (ask your mom about it). Silicone based lubricants work, but not as well. Petroleum based lubes cause grunge to stick.

I use my Krytech (waxed based lube) on the cleat and pedal, does a good job without the crud sticking to the cleat.

I use speedplay frogs, never experienced the problems the SPD users often have. Getting in and out is amazingly simple. Monster float, to the piont of being a bit unsettling until you get used to it (often likened to walking on ice). Saved the old football knees. NO tension screws or adjustments of any type. Just keep them greased. To know them is to love them!

Addendum:
The frogs are also extremely light. Good for the weight weenies :-)

Originally posted by HardBall
Addendum:
The frogs are also extremely light. Good for the weight weenies :-)


Who you calling a weenie? You want a piece of me little man? BRING IT ON!!

lol :D

Originally posted by MtnBikerChick



Who you calling a weenie? You want a piece of me little man? BRING IT ON!!

lol :D

Who, me, what??? Making no judgements, just repeating what I've heard. I like them as light as I can get them too. ;-)

Originally posted by HardBall


Who, me, what??? Making no judgements, just repeating what I've heard. I like them as light as I can get them too. ;-)

That's better! :D