Mountain Biking - Time ATAC's and cleat question

When asking about Bebop pedals, everyone was dismayed that I didn't like the ATAC's. Sooooooooo...I took a look at how my shoe was resting on the pedal to see if that is the problem. I think the soul of my shoe is the problem. When tightening the cleat down, it sinks into the soul about a 32nd of an inch. When you clip in, the retaining bars are pinched up tight to the soul creating a rubbery feeling and making entry/exit a *****. I got out my dremel and tried to create a bit of an island so that the cleat would bottom out on the face of the pedal and the soul wouldn't make contact with the retainers, creating a bind free float. I need to go back and remove more cuz I was in a hurry and it didn't work like I wanted it to. While chugging up a fire road I disengaged my right foot, came to a complete stop, lost my balance, and of course, fell over on my left side :D I love laying in the dirt with a bicycle stuck to my foot :p A ***** maneuver I know...raz me all you want. I'm gonna remove some more material tonight to see if that loosens these little boogers up, even though I've already ordered Bepops.

Anyone else have to do any creative soul shaving? Is the cleat supposed to rest on the pedal body? I don't see how they can operate properly any other way...

I shaved the soles and got absolutely no improvement. I have to kick my heel way too far out to disengage. These pedals just aren't gonna work for me . Oh well.............Fubar, I'll cut you a sweet deal on some ATAC's buddy. PM me and I'll work somethin' out if you are interested.

Before you give them up, try shaving your CLEATS instead of your SHOES. The release angle can be modified to any degree you want if you take a file or grinder to the back egdes of the cleats. While I've never experienced any release difficulty with ATACS, enough riders like this tweak that shaved cleats are an available option at Speedgoat.

http://www.speedgoat.com/prod/store/category.asp?pid=531

or you can do it yourself:

"Here at Speedgoat, we've been shaving the back edges of our ATAC cleats down for faster entry and release on the uglier rockbed sections locally. Custom shaved ATAC cleats allow faster entry and release by reducing the pronation (foot's rotation) necessary to release. Shaving the back edges of the ATAC cleat reduces the float to 12 to 14-degrees instead of the more common 20-degrees. To shave your own cleats, first shave the less beveled edge
on the back side of the cleat until the cleat is symmetrical, then round the edges of the cleat (see lower photo) and shave across the top of the back section of the cleat."

Try it and let us know if it helps.

Originally posted by bentrox!
Before you give them up, try shaving your CLEATS instead of your SHOES. The release angle can be modified to any degree you want if you take a file or grinder to the back egdes of the cleats. While I've never experienced any release difficulty with ATACS, enough riders like this tweak that shaved cleats are an available option at Speedgoat.

Yeah. Somebody posted a link elsewhere regarding speedgoat. I may try it if my Bebops aren't to my liking. Can't hurt (well maybe it can if it doesn't work) :D