Tall Cool One

OK...I am a total rookie road cyclist. My brand spankin' new CAAD9 5 just arrived at the bike shop and it is waiting for its upgraded seatpost and handlebars before I bring my new baby home.

So, I have my new Speedplay Zero pedals at home with my new Lake cycling shoes. I thought, I gotta put the platforms on some time. Tonight is the night. I put the platforms on without a hitch and I did the obvious. I started wondering how the pedals and the platforms stick together....You know where this is going.

Yes. I put my shoe on and stepped onto the pedal to get them to click in. Yes. It did indeed click in.....wait for it....That's right. I can't get the pedal and platform back apart. I tried taking the platform apart but the metal U ring that surrounds the pedal will not come off.

What do I have to do to get the pedal and U ring back apart?

I officially nominate myself for dumb @$$ rookie of the year.

Be kind in your responses. But, feel free to get a few jabs in if you must.

exRunner

Good F*****g Luck, dude.

When you took the cleat apart you pretty much made a mess. I would suggest a pair of pliers and brute force, and figure that you are going to need new cleats when this is over. If you are careful you will not damage the pedals.

Next time, just turn your heal out (away from the bike) to release the cleat. New pedals take some force, but they will release if you twist far enough, unless...

I came across a beginner in a club ride once that had the same problem. Who ever installed the cleats took the float adjustment screws out. When you do that you have to swing your heal WAY out to disengage. They will still release, but it is hard to twist your foot that far for some people.

Tall Cool One

I just installed the Speedplay pedal on my old bike. I pulled the cleat right off the pedal with no visible damage. Problem solved!!!!

Mr Zippy

I haven't had my Speedplays for long either, so others may have a better suggestion.

Because they're so tight and the action to remove your feet takes a bit of practice, one thing I did was take short slow rides with only one shoe/cleat and the other with a normal shoe, starting with my favoured side to land on in the normal shoe (i.e. I'm right handed, so that'd be my left foot). I practiced that for a while, then swapped over to the other way and practiced that for a while. Eventually I was confident enought to have a go using both speedplay pedals.

AEO

yeah, that's all you really need to do.

assemble everything, and attach it to a crank that's attached to a bike so you can get some leverage. use your legs obviously, since they are roughly 7 times as more muscular as your arms.