keo sprint problems
 

so i finally got around to replacing my crank bros pedals and mtb shoes with some proper keos on the road rig.

this is scarey stuff. i cant pedal these things without clipping in. when pulling away from a traffic light or riding in between cars i like to ride unclipped, is this possible with road shoes and keos?

it was no problem with the mtb set-up on my road bike. are the keo's not acceptable for riding in traffic?

is my technique bad? any other tips getting used to these things without killing myself?

anyone?

Well, I've managed to pedal slowly when the light turns by placing the pedal in the arch of my shoe. Not a whole lot of leverage, but enough to go slow and make it through the intersection without falling over.
BTW, I have Keo Classics, so I don't know how different they are.

No, you can't really ride unclipped. You'll get used to it.

I was having this same problem. I don't know how you are clipping out, but I found it much easier to clip in with my left (weaker foot) than my right. I would always unclip with my right foot and leave the left in. Sorry, this is all I have to offer. :(

+1

You won't be able to pedal at any effective rate without being clipped in. Been there, done that....

there's no need to ride unclipped. i use keos on my commuter daily. once you get used to them, you'll be able to unclip without a second thougt.

Just purchased the Keo Sprints aswell. They are definitely more difficult to clip into than my spd-sl pedals but you do get use to it. And no, i wouldn't pedal without being clipped in because you can not put any effort into pedalling without slipping straight off the pedal. Which looks embarassing, you could fall off bike or get knocked off if your stuck in middle of junction.

Same here -- I've had a few one leg pedalling times early on with my Keo's, but now find I can clip in first time with no issue.

You don't have a Keo Sprint problem...You have a problem with balance, and perhaps also with clipping into road pedals. Work on your slow-speed balance, and you will not often have to unclip; work on your clipping in, and your other problem will be solved.

my slow speed balance mentality has gone down the toilet when I went clipless. I could trackstand through most lights before because I could easily remove my foot from the pedal. Now it is getting some getting used to. I'm still having troubles unclipping in dire situations. if I have to think about it (like if i'm trackstanding), I can't unclip but if I know I need to unclip it happens naturally.

Give it time and practice. I don't even bother trackstanding as I can clip into my sprints with half a second and a quick glance almost every time.

trackstand +1

such a useful skill to have

I like the spd-sl over the Keo Sprints because the 'no-look' traffic light move always seems easier. The platform is wider and I always seem to find the sweet spot fast.

thanks for the replies guys, at least i guess i'm not alone here. i suppose after some more riding time with them i'll get used to it.

being new to road biking makes this a little tougher for me i guess. i feel almost invincible on my SS riding on city streets with platform pedals, but i honestly feel like i'm trapped in a cage, waiting to get beat on with clipless pedals. that feeling should subside as i get more comfortable though (hoping)

It sounds like you may be pushing off with your shoe (?). If this is the case you'll have a hard time accelerating. Push off with the foot that's clipped in, you'll be across the intersection before you know it.

You can pedal across an intersection without clipping in, if necessary, even one that is uphill. Maybe not San Francisco uphill, but most normal uphills.

If you cannot clip in relatively consistently (8 out of 10 times) without looking down you're probably not practiced enough. I'd recommend doing the following:
- lean up against a wall or similar
- clip in
- see where your shoe is relative to pedal (i.e. "my strap is right next to the axle")
- clip out, back pedal a revolution, clip in again.
- do it 20 times in a row without messing up. If you mess up, i.e. shoe doesn't clip in on first try, then reset your counter.
- go out and do it 20 times again but this time tooling around your neighborhood. Same deal with counting, if you mess up, do it over again.
- you can do the first 40 in a row while looking. Based on the foot push off method of starting, you'll have about 5-10 feet of coasting on one downstroke. This should be plenty to get clipped in if you are looking down. It should take you maybe 1/2 second, especially if you've done it 20 times in a row without messing up. If you haven't done 20 in a row, go do it.
- once you can do it while looking down, it's relatively straight forward to do it while looking elsewhere (like at cars, lights, people, etc).
- to practice unclip and put a foot down at every stop sign, every red light, etc. You look like a respectable cyclist and you practice your technique, a win-win.

In 2 days you will be fluently clipping in.

cdr

yea, good tip. i'm going to really start riding with them. they are much better than the crank bros. pedals, just more difficult to get used to.

Yea it was really scary for me, the were my first set of pedals. Once you are used to it you will love them though.

:thumb:

I still do that occassionally... Sucks! Especially when you slip and crush the "boys"!!

That happened while trying to go up one of these steep San Francisco Bay Area hills... I hit the deck. Not fun! Moreso when you have an audience! DOH! haha!

I'm on my second set of Keos.

I leave my left foot clipped and clip out of the right, I soft pedal the right through traffic.

I can see how you would have a problem unclipping BOTH and trying to slow pedal unclipped, that is a disaster waiting to happen.

Try unclipping the right or left only and do your traffic maneuvering

thats a good idea, though i am somewhat admitting defeat at the moment.

i'm going to put the keo's on my steel bike, which i will ride on anticipated long rides with little traffic.

i just purchased a set of speedplay zero's, which i hope to be a little better in this department.

Don't give up yet-- I had a handful of clipless falls starting out this January. They were mostly to do with not appreciating my center of gravity while clipped in on one side. That was a real downer, but I got my confidence back and really like them now. Here's what helped me:

When you're leaving one side clipped in, which is what I do the whole time, you have to deliberately lean the bike to the other side. It's very easy.

When you're getting used to your pedal system, make sure that you unclip well ahead of your stopping point. You can leave it later as you get more proficient.

Always plan your gearing so that pushing off on one side you have a tall enough gear to get you some distance to clip in, but not too tall that you have trouble pushing off.

Just have some patience, it'll become second nature.

I just replaced my Crank Bros with Keo Sprints also. It's a bit of a pain, but you'll get used to clipping in. Lower the tension on the pedal a bit if you have to. Don't try to ride the Sprints without being clipped in. Every time I try it I come extremely close to falling into traffic or something cool like that.

With a little practice you'll learn how to keep one foot clipped in and get moving. Then in time it'll just become second nature to get clipped in right off the light.

You can always practice by a wall, put your hand against it to support you and back pedal. Practice getting in and out of the pedal that way. Once your comfortable with the new pedals you'll be golden.