Originally Posted by
agoodale
Don't twist your foot to unclip...Twist your hip! Keep your foot flat & leg stiff and start the twisting motion with your hip. This will result in the heel first method mentioned earlier.
Originally Posted by
deep_sky
I can't see how this is effective at all unless you have the tension on the pedal set so high that you need to twist your entire body to get out of the pedal, which is just an accident waiting to happen. In addition, your ankle is designed to tolerate the stresses of twisting in that manner; your hips are not. If someone is having physical difficulty disengaging the cleat, then the tension of the pedal should be turned down to a minimum.
It's not as difficult or different as you make it out to be. You can try the difference by standing with your knees slightly bent and your feet shoulder width...
1. Twist just your right foot, heel first, without moving much of your hips and upper leg. Ok, that's not too bad. You'll notice your right hip moves a little even though you're not thinking about it. If it doesn't you end up with your foot & knee in a very strained position.
2. Twist your right hip (stick your ass out to the side) while keeping the knee & ankle angle the same. Your foot & leg will rotate very smoothly & powerfully. If you do it right the rest of your body will move very little.
30,000 miles no falls. just sayin....