Originally Posted by
GravelMN
You didn't mention the clipless system you are using, but SPD should not take that much force. Are you certain you turned the pedal retention to the minimum and not the maximum setting? I have two styles of SPD pedal (M324 and A530). Each is set to a low, but not minimum, retention setting and stepping in is nearly effortless, requiring only light pressure to get the cleat to clip in. Clipping out is even easier as long as I don't try to step forward or straight backward off the pedal. Just a few extra degrees of ankle turn in or out, or a light tug sideways and I can step off the pedal without hindrance. I've also tested how much pull it takes to disengage the cleat pulling straight up. It takes a good hard tug and wouldn't happen accidentally during any type of riding I do, but not so much that they wouldn't disengage in an accident. With the settings I have and multi-release cleats, I've never had an accidental clipout, even over washboard gravel or potholes, but have been able to easily put a foot down without consciously clipping out on sudden stops or on soft surface washouts. If you are using SPD, I'd recheck the retention setting and get multi-release cleats if you aren't already using them.
Kudos on sacrificing yourself to save your bike
Well you called it. I checked when I got home from work today and sure enough they were one click from max! No wonder I had to literally stand on the pedals to get them in and violently dance like James Brown to get them out. I backed the 3mm out one click from minimum and I can now put the shoes in and out by hand with my bike standing on the work bench. I will take the Allen key along in case I need a little more tension to stay in.