Originally Posted by
slcbob
PS, curiosity got the better of me, and I just checked Crank Bros site. To be precise, it appears the dotted-cleat-left-or-right position impacts RELEASE ANGLE, as distinct from FLOAT which they define as
I assume the larger-than-I-expected angle of rotation between the lower float number and the higher release angle number is basically restricted movement in the process of disengaging from the pedal. So my comment quoted is apparently wrong, the float is not adjustable.
I've always found these terms confusing and difficult to figure out. Now, I'm just hypothesizing here, but my theory is that the marketers want to use the largest number possible, and when they say "float" they're measuring the total angle - um, how to describe it....if the back of your shoe started as close to the bike frame as possible (possibly hitting the spokes on the wheel), and then you moved to to being as far away from the bike as possible without unclipping, I think maybe that's "float". Release angle might be half that - the angle between when your foot is straight back to when your foot is as far away from the bike as possible before it unclips - you know, the actual angle you care about.
I'm just thinking out loud here, but it seems like the "release angle" is always about twice the "float" value. 12 or 13 degrees of float? 6 degree release angle. If this is the case, then changing the cleat position so there's more release angle would also increase the float.
I don't know what else the difference would be between release angle and "float" - I can't think of any other definition that would make any sense and not have it such that increasing one would increase the other.