Cleat tension preferences?

[Milzy]

As time has gone on I’ve been setting my SL pedals tighter & tighter.
I now have maximum tension for the turbo. Shouldn’t you go as tight as you can as long as you can get in & out?
Who else like them tight is alright?

 

[Globalti]

I like them tightish because I'm afraid of coming out at the moment of most effort.

 

[slowmotion]

I've always set my SPDs to the lowest possible tension without any problems. It probably says a lot about how poor a cyclist I am.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Loosest setting for me thanks. Never had an unintentional unclip. (Including turbo) In a crash I like to get away from the bike. Surely there’s less wear and tear on everything too. Knees included, unclipping and clipping in.

 

[vickster]

Loosest minus 1 notch for me on SPDs. I use the SH51 cleats so less chance of unintentional unclip than SH56s

 

[Slick]

Another for the lightest setting but I've never been on a turbo.

 

[Drago]

About 2/3 tight on SPDs.

 

[Ian H]

Single-release cleats allow much lower tension.

 

[gavroche]

Lowest for me too. Never caused any problems.

 

[Moodyman]

Single-release cleats allow much lower tension.

And more float, so better for knees and ankles.

 

[HLaB]

I've no idea how mine are set but I usually have the left one looser as that the foot I unclip first.

 

[fossyant]

Around middle, although tension on my Look Delta's was hard.

 

[Smokin Joe]

As they come, which is probably mid position. Your foot should be secure even on the lowest setting as the cleat will not release when you are pushing or pulling on the pedal no matter what the tension.

 

[Domus]

Lowest for me

 

[NorthernDave]

Yellow SPD-SL cleats and as slack as they'll go - my knees thank me for it and I've never had an unintended unclip.