Road Cycling - Pedal newbie, help and don't laugh please

Alright I'm probably a moron. But I'm using the clipless pedals for the first time ever. I have just purchased Shimano SPD pedals, model number PD-A515. The guy at my bike store swore these are breeze to get in and out of. Well I've been in my living room for the last 2 hours and not once have I been able to secure my shoe to the pedal. I know I'm not that mechanically challenged, but this is getting ridiculous. Has anyone had this much trouble the first time using these pedals. Is this a good brand to have? Are there any easier? Should I just go back to the traditional pedals with toe clips? Does the type of shoe matter. I'm not using a road shoe but the kind that is intermediate between a road and mtb shoe I think.

I even tried taking the shoe off of my foot and just clipping in holding it in my hand. I was able to do that once, after pushing very very hard down. And I loosened the spring screw almost to the point it was falling out.

This is something they should have demoinstrated in the store... sigh...

Try this... Point your toe downward slightly [about 5-10 degrees], with the ball of your foot slightly behind the pedal. Brush the sole of your shoe up against the surface of the pedal until you feel the front of the cleat make contact with the front clasp of the pedal mechanism. Apply some force as you lower the sole of your shoe onto the pedal until you hear a "click."

If this doesn't work, it is entirely possible that the pedal mechanism tension is set too high. That can be adjusted. Ask the guys at the store to show you.

You're certainly not a moron. Not only clipless pedals but any number of bike-related things are confusing and problematic, no matter if you're a beginner or an expert. (Well, at least I reckon some experts have problems like the rest of us.)

I didn't have any trouble clipping into my SPD's when I first got them, but that was probably just luck: the tension was set low (where I like it for city riding) and it wasn't hard to do. I found out later that even with the tension that low, it's practically IMPOSSIBLE to insert a shoe by hand into the pedal. Your thigh and leg muscles are many times stronger than your arm and wrist will ever be!

Like the other poster said, they should have helped you in the store. Don't feel bad--you'll get it set up right for you, when the tension's right, and then I think you'll enjoy the clipless pedals.

Let us know what happens! Happy rides. :beer:

P. S. It can happen that the cutout for the (recessed) cleat in the shoe is slightly off. It can be enlarged with a utility knife (taking care not to slip and end up in the emergency room).

There is an outside chance, since they never demo'ed the things for you, that you have a mis-matched set of hardware. Are you sure the cleats and the pedals are both the same brand, I'm sure most would reccomend they should be from the same manufacturer. Some other brands are supposed to be interchangeable with the SPD's, but can still be problematic.

The bike shop would have probably noticed this had they demo'ed them for you.

Hi , are you using a road type shoe with a smooth sole ? or a mtn style ?? , if mtn ,occasionally the chunky rubber sole can interfere with the pedal to shoe connection , and you need to trim some rubber ! , also as previously suggested back off the tension screw in the pedal to minimum ... a helpfull tip is ..once you have the cleat engaged in the pedal, grab a marker pen and make a small line on the side of the shoe that linesup with the pedal axle, making it easier for you to know "where it is" ... :)

Are the cleats already on the shoe?

Yes they are already on the shoes. I'm going to my bike shop today to see if they can help me.

Alright I'm not a moron after all!! :D

After going back to the bike shop today, they discovered they had put the cleats on the shoe upside down. After fixing I was able to clip in with no problem. Boy do I feel better. Thanks for all the help guys.

Although anybody's entitled to a mistake, you might want to check out other bike shops in your area...

They friggin put the cleats on upside down??? I'm with JonR, go to a different shop nex time, if that is possible. Even a neophyte wouldn't put the dern cleats on upside down. You're not a moron, the guys at your shop are!

Well I only went here cause they had a great sale on a new 2001 model bike, got it for nearly half off. I'll be going to a different LBS when it's tune up time tho.

The LBS was "too busy" to install the cleats on my first set of bike shoes. I bought them with my new bike last summer and when I picked up the bike and shoes, they forgot to install the cleats for me so they gave me the option to leave the shoes, or install the cleats myself. I was happy to do it myself, and I think it gives you a better understanding of your hardware to DIY. In defense of the LBS, they were extremely busy and probably would have put them on at the time had I insisted, but I hate to be pushy.

When I took my fork in to be installed a couple days beforew Christmas the guywas like, "I probably won't be able to do it today, we are really busy with x-mas and all". I guees the look on my face told him I needed the fork installed that day really bad...cuz he immediately said, "well, if you'll hang around I'll put it on right now".

Originally posted by fubar5
I guees the look on my face told him I needed the fork installed that day really bad...
That 9-mm automatic in your hand might have had something to do with it, too. :p

Originally posted by fubar5
When I took my fork in to be installed a couple days beforew Christmas the guywas like, "I probably won't be able to do it today, we are really busy with x-mas and all". I guees the look on my face told him I needed the fork installed that day really bad...cuz he immediately said, "well, if you'll hang around I'll put it on right now".

Most places are pretty accommodating if you show up weilding a large piece of metal.

andy

I recently purchased a new bike with clipless pedal... I had the same problem during the period I was adjusting the positioning... I found that if I had my foot turned too far for clearance on the sides of the cleats. Once I changed the position of my foot, to a more "straight" over the pedals position, I had no more trouble.
It's worth all the effort.

DON'T forget to turn your foot out when you try to stop...
the fall won't hurt as much as it makes you FEEL like a knuckle-head.