Hey guys,

A while back I figured I ought to learn to skid. I'm not super enamored with it as a primary means of stopping and I kept both brakes on my bike, I just figured someone riding fixed for two years ought to know how to do it. I spent a night after a drink with friends just cruising the neighborhood practicing, and lately I've been using it a bunch to get good enough to use it in an emergency (i.e. brake failure) situation. (Who am I kidding, its mostly super f****** fun).

I've gotten adept enough to use it to slow down/stop with some efficiency from high speeds. Obviously if I need to stop really fast I'm still reaching for my brakes. On a ride home from school/work earlier, I pulled out of my front pedals clip at a stop sign. No crises was caused, but it made for an awkward intersection.

What is the most likely cause of the problem and hence best solution? I'm using shimano pd 520s. I rode them at the loosest setting (as set by the bike shop where I purchased them) for about 8 months, then tightened them about 2 revolutions and have stayed there (as an aside, I'm not sure how to properly gauge tension if someone cares to explain that). Should I just tighten them? That pedal does feel looser than the other. Is my cleat just ready to be replaced? Had em for a bit over a year now, so definitely possible (my bike is an everyday commuter for me), but it doesn't look worn. Just don't want it to happen when it counts. Thanks for any help, as always!

P.S. Probably doesn't merit a thread. Sue me. I figured others might benefit from the info, and the "ask scrod" thread goes all over. Plus I'm not sure how familiar he is with clipless. I know he wrenched for a bit, but I'm under the (perhaps incorrect) impression that he rides clips and straps.

There are a few factors here.

If I were you, I'd watch your skidding form. Make sure you're not doing any funny things with your feet, like twisting them.

I have no experience with SPDs, but from what I understand, turning up the release tension will probably keep you in a little better. Also, I hear the multi-directional cleats (the brass ones) are not as good for this sort of thing as the lateral directional cleats (the black ones).

And yes, Scrod is back to clips and straps.

bike shop telling you to put in loosest setting probably because they think you're using these clipless pedals for mtb riding and mtb riders usually want safetest setting so in case they need to escape when something happens on the trails. (spds are more common on mtb setups)

i would check to see if the cleats are Multi-direction release denoted by a letter M on the face as these are not to be used with skidding because multiple release means it has more ways it can unlock.
get the cleats without the M (notice the bottom sides of the M cleats are "rounded" thus allowing more release positions, the non M ones are flat)


bad

cant find image of good.gif
good

hay yohhhhh

Tension up and try not to move your ankles. A worn out cleat can be a factor but SPD cleats last forever (assuming you're in MTB shoes that keep the cleat neatly recessed)


New SPD pedals come with lateral release cleats, right?

I would also like to chime in that cleat angle makes a difference as well. Even with ATACs, if the cleat is not angled right, my foot sits at the edge of the float, and right when I lock those legs up, a little twist kicks me right out.

that depends on how your foot naturally orients itself - there is no "right" or "wrong" except for what is comfortable or uncomfortable. My right foot is at the edge of the float with my atacs

Do NOT want (SH-56):


Do want (SH-51):

why do SH-51's still look like they're multi release?

those photos don't show the part of the cleat that actually engages the pedal



cant find naything on the others

My guess is that your cleats are worn down, especially if you've been using them regularly for most of a year or more.

oneeyedhobbit, will post a pic of your cleats?

Right. I mean that I try to orient the cleat so that my foot is at the side of the float that my foot is least likely to twist.

worn cleats are better than worn pedals.

id bet technique is the issue.

technique is always the issue

also, longer stem

I usually pull out. Just works best for me.











Oh wait, you were talking about pedals...

Idk man, I like cages. I could never get used to spd.

Wait... she can't get an SPD if you pull out???

the black cleats i assume are steel, but if the brass ones are that bad at least spd pedals are afforadableish so its your call.

The cleats are whatever came with my shoes, but I'm 99% sure they're not the multi-directional release.

To this eye it doesn't look terribly worn, but hey, first pair of clipless so I don't necessarily know what I'm looking for either.

My gut instinct is that it was caused by the loose tension. I just wanted to make sure I took all steps to fix the problem so that it won't result in catastrophic failure down the road. When adjusting tension on spds am I just cranking willy-nilly til it feels tight when I snap in? It moves in discrete "clicks" from what I remember, is there a maximum?