Rsix

This weekend I bought my wife a new Orbea Onix bike. (she LOVES it) However, she also transitioned from SPD pedals to Speedplay.

The new pedals / clips are so hard to clip in to that she can't do it without standing up in the pedal to snap in. This also makes snapping out problematic and has caused a couple close calls. We all understand how much she wants to avoid crashing her new bike.

I'm not familiar with Speedplay as I ride Shimanos. Is there a way to loosen those up? I'm not seeing any obvious adjustments.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cycliste

They feel a little hard at the beginning while clipping, unclipping however shouldn't, she needs to give it a good 1/8 or a turn or close to that to unclip.

Try putting a little lube on the springs, this may ease clipping-in. Manufacturer recommends this as regular maintenance anyway.

I have both Speedplay X2 and SPDs and find the Speedplays easier to get in and out, so it may just be a matter of braking them in and getting used to them.

C4Byke

I'm not sure about the clipping out problem because speedplays are probably one of the easiest and smoothest pedal systems to unclips out of; I'm guessing there may be some dirt in the cleat (part attached to the shoe)-the system is really just a one ring metal coil that expands under the pressure from your pedal coming straight down in the middle of the cleat ring. Try to clean everything out and use some dry lube on the contact points of the pedal and cleat. Another thing you might want to get you wife to try is, when clipping in, try to latch the front part of the cleat over the front part of the pedal, you shouldn't even need to clip the front. Once the front of the pedal is 'in' the front of the cleat, just press straight down with even pressure- should clip right in! good luck

C4Byke

haha, you got it first cycliste!

caligurl

hmmmmm i'm not sure.. cuz i had speedplays as a newbie and they were super easy to clip in and out of! maybe the cleats aren't on correctly? oil/lube them?

demoncyclist

If you overtighten the cleats on the shoes, you get the problem you are talking about. The instructions are pretty clear on this point. You DID read the instructions, right?

DEMON

RTFM Tech Support

lotek 

Demon got it,
loosen the screws on the cleats about 1/4 turn, should be easy to clip into/out of.

marty

Rsix

For the record: Pedals and cleats were installed by the salesperson at the shop. I'll check for overtightened cleats and lube them.

Thank you for your replies so far.

Al1943

Yeah, put some lube on the springs before each ride until they are broken in, later it won't be needed.
Speedplay recommends a wax based lube like White Lightning for this but any lube will work.
You don't need to rotate the ankle out to release. Pull up with the inside of the foot and down over the little toe, a slight rotation may help. Be sure all screws have blue Locktight, especially the screws that hold the adaptor plate to the shoe.

Al

roadfix

Speedplay cleats must be seated perfectly flat, without any deformity, when mounted. As suggested, back off on those mounting screws or use the supplied shims (only if needed) to keep the cleats flatly mounted.

ohmyspokes

Rsix, I had this problem too when I switched from spds to the Speedplay Zeros. A little practice, a little break-in, and she should be good to go. If you loosen the screws, make sure she checks them every few rides.

Marlin523

Check the cleanliness of your cleats. The only thing I've encountered that makes Speedplay tough to use is if you get the cleats dirty. Also, try lubing the cleats.

Mo'Phat

If nobody's mentioned it yet...loosen the screws and lube the springs.

patentcad

Spray Tri-lube on the cleats before every ride. Works great.

Fox Farm

I occasionally put a few drips of Phil Tenatious Oil on the pedal grooves. The point about over tightening the cleat faces is also accurate. Go to the Speedplay site and read or submit a question. They are very good about replying.

GMJ04

should the screws be lose enough to allow the plate to move some from side to side?

cydewaze

No. (C-clip yes, plate no) Screw them in until they make contact, then go another 1/4 turn tighter. If you have problems with them coming loose, use a bit of locktite.

merlinextraligh

+7 for the cleats being too tight. There are 3 things that make a speedplay pedal difficult to clip in 1) cleat too tight (that's why they put locktite, or a similar compound on the threads so you you don't have to torque them way down.) 2) dirt, 3) the cleat not being flat (hence the shim). The newness of the cleats tends to rule out 2, so its 1 or 3. With a properly adjusted clean cleat, speedplays are about the easiest pedals to get into.

TCR

Demon got it. If you overtighten the cleat screws you get exactly what your describing. You don't tighten them much at all and use some blue loctite. Yea, the screws are already blue but you still need to use the loctite and let it dry 24 hours before riding.

Talewinds

I had a hell of a time with my X2's at first, I'm 180 lbs and I practically had to jump up and down on them to get them to clip in. After some break in time, however, it's gotten MUCH better.

Psimet2001 

Uh....loosen the scr.....oh. somone said that. Well then lub.....someone said that too. White Lightning works we.....I see that's been said as well. Loctite...beat to it as well.

Oh that's right. We're talking about Speedplays again aren't we