rainycamp

Recently, a thread on the Clydesdales forum discussed clipping out of (disengaging?) clipless pedals. Some posters insisted that you unclip at the top of the pedal stroke. I always unclip at the bottom, and in fact have tried unclipping at the top, but can't do it. Is there a recommended way to get out of your clipless pedal?

maddmaxx 

Anything that you can remember to do without thinking about it......

John E

... or just use toeclips and straps, keeping them just loose enough to let you yank a foot out when necessary.

BluesDawg

Whatever works.

Beverly

I always unclip at the bottom, too. I find it puts more strain on my knee if I try to unclip at or near the top.

Cone Wrench

Learn to do it every which way, but bottom of the stroke is best because your leg and knee is in an optimal position to get maximum torque.

donheff

I'm a topper - it just feels more comfortable.

rm -rf

After 9000 miles on my road bike, I clip out easily without thinking about it. I have SPDs with the release set quite loose, 2 or 3 clicks from the easiest setting. It takes very little force to unclip at any part of the rotation.

ThinLine

I unclip (dura-ace spd's) at the horizontal level always. 9clock and 3clock position. I do this to avoid pedal rub against road surface when leaning off the bike.
Or in an emergency, any position which gets my feet free within a milisecond.

leob1

Any time before you stop.

BluesDawg

+1
or at least before you fall.

Terrierman

I honestly cannot remember how I unclip. But I do, somehow.

Garfield Cat

With my Speedplay Zero system, it requires a little more force than the older Speedplays I used. So definitely I unclip at the bottom, the 6 o'clock position.

My guess is that it depends on the amount of force needed. Just picturing it in my mind, the twisting motion is mostly at the ankle joint with maybe the knee joint as well. If I keep unclipping at a position other than the 6 o'clock position, over time, I might cause some kind of injury.

Hermes

+1 to what everyone else said and............here is what not to do. I saw this technique on the road. A cyclist a couple hundred feet ahead of me is approaching a stop sign. He unclips his left foot and lets his leg dangle. He unclips his right leg and lets it dangle. He begins to weave as he brakes. He stops the bike with both legs dangling while on the seat and when stopped falls over.

bobbycorno

...as if it matters! As long as you don't fall over, that is.

SP

stapfam

Perhaps he forgot which foot was unclipped and fell the wrong way

Metric Man

I finally found a way to keep me away from the medicine cabinet, and that's to unclip toward the bottom (right foot for me) and then come off the seat over the bar, then right as I stop I turn the wheel to the left ever so slightly. That will make an off camber situation so you won't go to the side you are still clipped. Obviously if you unclip left first do the opposite,, but it works for me.