just bought speedplay x2's on dvt shoes. having a hard time clipping in and out. is there a break-in? how long? thanks in advance.
do new clipless pedals and cleat need breaking in?
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 9:11am
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 12:50pm
#1
YES!
My wife is breaking a pair of X.5's(I think). So far every clipless pedal I have used becomes easier to clip in/out of over time. Eventually you will wear out the cleats and need to replace them. You can break it in quicker by clicking in/out repeatedly for a while.
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 7:06pm
#2
I bought the same pedals this past weekend. No breakin was required. You may want to go back to the store where you purchased them to make sure they properly connected the cleats to your shoes.
Tue, 09/16/2003 - 3:18pm
#3
but she is VERY light
My wife weighs about 98 lbs soaking wet. Even with the spring tension adjusted to the lowest setting she has a little trouble getting in and out. Out being slightly more difficult. It is getting easier with wear and experience. .
Tue, 09/16/2003 - 6:20am
#4
Tension adjust?
"Do these pedals have a tension adjustment? If so, setting them for less tension will make it easier to clip in and out.
""Chainwheel"""
Tue, 09/16/2003 - 7:06pm
#5
Lube them!
"I have the same pedals and I put chain lube (like Prolink) on the metal pedal surface and on the metal ""springs"" in the cleat that clamp onto the pedal. It's much easier to click in after adding a bit of lube. Make sure you wipe off excess though."
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 5:17pm
#6
Another issue...
"Due to the large degree of ""float"" in most clipless pedal systems, the cleats don't have to be mounted in exactly the perfect position to work. As a result, you may find that you have to rotate your foot a few degrees before you can click in. If this is the case, try to rotate the cleat on the shoe until the cleat is perfectly aligned with the pedal when your foot first makes contact with the pedal. This will also give you the maximum amount of ""float"" in both directions while riding."
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 5:19pm
#7
And besides that...
"...it might help to *lightly* lube the pedal/cleat contact points.
What are ""dvt shoes"" ? Could the cleat engagement/release be hampered by sole lugs like on a MTB shoe? Clip a shoe into a pedal by hand and get down there and look at it. Could the sole curvature possibly be ""warping"" the cleats and interfering with them that way?"
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 7:22pm
#8
"What is ""float""??"
"What is ""float""??
is it better to have more? what percentage is recommended? I am looking to switch to clipless pedals and am totally confused as to which one to get. Is the amount of ""float"" a big factor in which pedals to get?"
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 8:32pm
#9
Good for bad knees
"That's all I know about ""float"" -- and that Speedplay pedals have a lot of it. Don't think it's measured by degrees, just whether or not the pedal allows you the freedom to move your knee around versus forcing you into a fixed position.
I don't have bad knees (yet), but I like the freedom of movement allowed by Speedplay Frogs--their MTB pedal--along with the recessed cleat that sits above the tread of the shoe so that you can comfortably walk around. They're easy to clip in and out of, especially in a panic.
I used to have X-3s, which stick out of the road shoe about an inch and a half, are murder to walk up a flight of subway stairs, and impossible to keep clean. One visit to a muddy wood and you will spend the rest of the day trying to force the cleat back onto the pedal. With the Frogs, it's a couple of shakes of the ankle and you're in."
Thu, 09/18/2003 - 12:49pm
#10
Bad knees and float
My knees are pretty suspect but I have used Look red arc cleats for years and have never had any problems. Very good idea to get the cleat covers so that you don't chip the cleats right away or slip in your lobby.
Mon, 09/15/2003 - 11:32pm
#11
FLOAT
Float is the amount in degrees you can turn your foot while it is engaged in the pedal before you disengage. Float is good because it allows your leg to “float” on the pedal and gives the knees some forgiveness and self-adjustment as you pedal. I believe the red Look cleats I use have 6 degrees – so I can have that much freedom. The black Look cleats have no float. Speedplays are noted for having lots of float, the Frogs the most.
