having problems clipping in
 

We have a Terra Trike Tandem, although we have some DF tandem experience, we have to trike e experience and have never ridden clipless. Our TT does not have IPS. We are both having a hard time clipping in. (Can't imagine trying this on a DF. ) We can't seem to find the "magic spot" to line the cleat and the clip up. It takes us at least 10 minutes to clip in. So far I can only unclip my left foot, DH has to help me get the other one unclipped. We keep thinking that there must be an easier way to do this. Our pedals are Shimaono. What are we doing wrong?
Thanks,
TP

Release springs too tight?

:)ensen.

Ditto. Shimano clipless pedals have adjustable tension. Loosen them all the way- generally, the cleat will hang on to the hook on the pedal just by gravity- no need to crank up the tension.

On some shoes, you need to carve away a little bit of the sole around the pedal to clip in easier. This is rare, though, and rarely happens with Shimano pedals.

My wife and I both have had SPD pedals & shoes since they became available in 1991. I can't imagine not riding clipless.

+1. Unscrew the tension adjustment as far as you can. (If you have 2-sided pedals, there will be one for each side.) If you get stronger, you can always tighten them again.

Other possibilities: Did your cleats come with the pedals? Sometimes SPD-compatible pedals don't work with another brand of cleat. Cleats on backwards? Should be pointy end toward toes. Lube the mechanism and then attach the shoe by hand; it should go on easily enough and you will be able to see what's happening.

If the pedal tension adjustment is at its minimum and it is still hard to unclip, another possibility is to add a shim between the cleat and sole.

I don't expect this with new pedals/cleats, but I recently had a problem with a pedal. I couldn't clip in with one shoe, but the other one was fine. It turned out that I had a small stone stuck in the slot, more or less underneath the cleat. The stone was preventing me from getting the cleat all of the way into the pedal's mechanism. Didn't even see it until I had the shoe in my hand. I just mention it to give you an idea of the stuff that can happen if you try clipping the shoe in by hand.

One other problem I ran into, cleats were working fine, then I could not get them in , The shim mentioned earlier had bent and was interfering. However my guess is too tight or not mounted correctly (been there done that lol).

After loosening the tension put a drop or 2 of oil on the pedal clips.

Thanks for your replies, being new at all of this, I need a bit of clarification. Do we need to adjust the pedal or the cleats? Is a special tool needed to do this?
Thanks,
TP

The tension is adjusted on the pedals. You need a hex wrench - metric, not sure which (small) size. The pedals that I am using have plus and minus signs next to the adjustment screw, to show which direction to turn the screw to loosen (-) or tighten (+). Sounds as if you need to loosen the tension to make it easier to clip in.

To loosen the tension you back out on the screw just like turning a screw to take it out. If you have two sided pedals there will be a screw for each side. Make sure you have the shoe cleats that release by turning your heel in either direction. Go to a bike shop and they should be able to help you. You can see the adjustment screw here.

http://bike.shimano.com/publish/cont...-L.-type-.html

Maybe, with all the advice on troubleshooting, we should start with the basics. To clip in, slide the front of the cleat into the notch on the pedal. So you're sliding your foot forward into it. When you feel it detent, it's in position, and you can push down to engage.

To release the cleat, rotate your heel away from the bike.

Thanks to all who replied, went for an 8 mile ride today, I oiled our clips and am finding that clipping in is going better for both of us. For some reason I am having difficulty getting my left foot free, I may need to loosen that clip a bit, until my left foot gets more coordinated and can unclip as easily as my right.
TP

Crank Bros FTW! oO. Never had a single prob with any of thier eggbeaters and I've owned 4 of them, all C models and one TI version.