I freely admit that I'm new to this, about 6-7 months now and I've been in clips for around 1/2 of that. Recently there was a thread here about clips and how many here had been years without a fall; there was talk about getting out of them instantly and instinctively. I wondered about that because with me there was a full 1/2 second + between decision and getting out, that's enough to cause falls and it did a couple of times with me.

I have SPD pedals and shoes and lately it has been real work to get out, a very hard twist and sometimes an even harder twist than that. I backed off the adjustment but as late as yesterday I had several seconds warning and there I sat working to get a foot out. I made it but just barely.

Late yesterday afternoon I found for the first time you're supposed to oil the damned things occasionally. Nobody tells me this crap! After a good oiling with a very light oil, all I have to do is just think about getting out and it's almost instant. I don't know whether to be really happy about this MAJOR improvement or pissed in general at my needlessly putting up with months of near misses and a couple of falls, not to mention permanent scarring of my right knee.

The clips got harder and harder so gradually that I didn't really notice it happening and I, with my limited experience, thought they were supposed to be that way.

Note to other people who are new to clips: OIL THEM occasionally. I know that to you guys who have been around bikes for a while that's not much of a revelation but for some people it needs to be said.