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Explain clipless pedals to me.

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Explain clipless pedals to me.

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Old 08-13-12 | 08:20 PM
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Explain clipless pedals to me.

On my Raleigh road bike I have a set of SPD pedals and bike shoes with cleats. I'm having a difficult time learning to clip in. Getting out is not a problem. Today I spent an hour holding on to a railing to practice clipping in and clipping out. My right foot goes in easier than the left. Should my pedals have some sort of lube on them? I would think that would make it harder to clip in, but I don't know all that much about pedals. Is there an adjustment I need to make? They're set up as they were when they left the factory. If everything on the pedals and shoes is fine then I'll just keep practicing. I just want to make sure that everything is working the way it's supposed to.
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Old 08-13-12 | 08:43 PM
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From: Des Moines

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

There are lots of good resources around on using clipless pedals

https://www.biketcbc.org/tips/bt-101-...s%20Pedals.htm

Did you buy these at your LBS? If so, you could go back to let them have a look.
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Old 08-13-12 | 10:42 PM
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From: seattle, WA

Bikes: LHT

For SPD 520s, which are pretty common, there's a screw towards the back on either side of the pedal. To make it easier to clip in and out, turn the screw out a quarter turn. Also, try putting the heel down a little as you clip in.

Or you could just ditch the clipless pedals and go to platforms, as I have done. For urban riding in heavy traffic, I decided that platforms were a lot more convenient and not that much less efficient. A lot of people really like clipless, and you may, too, but you also might find that they're not needed for the kind of riding you do.
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Old 08-13-12 | 11:24 PM
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Thanks for the info. I bought these local for my road bike, I only use this bike for club rides. My everyday bike has alloy platform pedals.
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