When I pull up hard on my SPDs, it sounds like there's a bit of clearance in between the cleat and the pedal due to a noticable click (both in sound and feel). I haven't had this lead to me disengaging, but its just annoying that there's play there when I feel like it should be a nice snug fit.

Is this normal?

EDIT: To clarify more, this isn't during the upstroke, its when i'm pulling up to put back pressure on the pedals, which is why its here, because its not something you'd experience on something with a freewheel.

I've had this happen a few times and then it goes away. Doesn't seem like a big deal.

It doesn't neccessarily go away, its just that i'm not always trying to rip my knees out of the sockets unless I really need to stop super quick.

Have you tried tightening the spring tension? They get loose sometimes, and you can feel some play.

i'm experiencing this annoyance also, and i'm pretty sure it's actually my shoe making the sound.

+1. This seems like the most obvious possibility, based on what the OP wrote.

I have the same problem... the feel of it is what really annoys me and I lay awake at night thinking about the amount of power that is lost on my upstroke j/k (well sort of)... anyone know of anything else besides spring tension?

mrred,
do you have fixed or float cleats?

My SPDs do this clicking on pull up with M520 pedals. But like others say it comes and goes, some days I notice it, some weeks will pass with none. I find with a good smooth spin it doesn't occur.

My spring tension is set to max.

Al

I've also got M520's with the same deal. Some days it bugs the hell out of me, some days there's no sound or play. Hadn't started today but I'm sure it will start when I go back out.

i took the shims out of my crank bros cleats and it went away. i think they just weren't taught enough in the interface.

do you have shims or anything like them on your shoes?

are your cleats worn?

nope, and I have float cleats, I do believe. The problem again isn't when spinning nice and smooth, its when trying to slow down as quickly as possible. It's just click clack click clack, and that sound has never reminded me of anything nice and fun, so I figured its worth asking about. I'll try and set the tension, but from what I understand that only affects the tension on the release once the cleat has reached the point of disengaging in its side to side rotation. This happens, when pulling straight up with the cleat roughly centered in its float.

are the bottom bracket, pedals and cranks tight?

I may be the pedals. I have a pair of SPD Shimano knockoffs, which I have been using for 7 years. I tried the VPs that came with the Pista for about a month however. Aside from the ****ty bearings, they made noise at just the wrong time too.

ohh yeah. I am 98% positive its a noise from foot area.

is your foot bone connected to your ankle bone?

by a big piece of metal and 5 screws, yes.

the plot thickens...

I've had this problem on the past 2 spd's that I've owned. I could never fix the problem... and I got this noise going up hills, starting from stop on my upstroke, and like the op when stopping. I found a great fix... Time ATAC pedals.

As I said above I use Shimano cleats with M520 pedals of different age at max tension on two different bikes (on fixed, one not) and with new or old cleats or new or old pedals get the same occasional clicking noise which is most certainly from cleat interface only when pulling up on pedal. It comes rarely and goes away for long periods of time and never really bothered me.

Al

hmmm. have you tried tightening everything down? perhaps you have a cleat screw that is a tad loose or broken so the noise only happens under pressure....

perhaps its a combo of worn dorn pedals and cleats....

dc

I had m520's and no matter what i tried, I couldn't get the clicking to go away... until I got new pedals.

I think it might just be months of abuse on these pedals. Everything seems tightened down properly, I might have just abused these pedals for a few months too many. I tend to be rough on equipment. Maybe its time to replace 'em.

and I have the big ole' M-545's. I bought them when I thought i'd like to ride with regular shoes every once in a while. I was wrong.

I've heard a clicking noise when pedaling which I've tied to either the cleats or pedals. Very annoying. I think I've solved it. I tried tightening the screws on the shoes and that worked for a ride. Then the same noise again. I tried using the Locktite Blue, the type which is removeable and after 2wo tides no noise. We'll see if this solved my problem.