Well, one has finally worn out...

[AndyRM]

Sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

 

[ianrauk]

Sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

I think I have nearly got over it over a cup o' tea and a 4 finger KitKat.

 

[ianrauk]

Strange! I actually found myself with one foot stuck in the pedal on @Ajay's South Lakes forum ride a couple of years ago. I had to scoot the bike up the troublesome hill then catch up with the others. Ajay had to twist my foot for me to get it unclipped. It turned out that I had one side of the pedal at maximum tension. They were new pedals, put on the night before the ride. Perhaps they loosen with use?

It's obvious then that I have far stronger ankle twisty strength then you

 

[SquareDaff]

They just don't make things to last these days...I remember when you could get 50k miles out of a cleat!!!

 

[fossyant]

MTB SPD's even on the highest settings are relatively easy to clip out of, and I use XT's.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm finding this a bit baffling then!

I wouldn't describe my legs as weedy, but I could not get my foot out. The limiting factor wasn't actually strength because I could have twisted a bit harder, but I was already twisting so hard that my ankle and knee were hurting and I didn't want to cause an injury. It should not be that hard to unclip!

The pedals in question are Shimano M520s.

I always ride at minimum tension and I have never unclipped accidentally.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'm finding this a bit baffling then!

I wouldn't describe my legs as weedy, but I could not get my foot out. The limiting factor wasn't actually strength because I could have twisted a bit harder, but I was already twisting so hard that my ankle and knee were hurting and I didn't want to cause an injury. It should not be that hard to unclip!

The pedals in question are Shimano M520s.

I always ride at minimum tension and I have never unclipped accidentally.

dirt, grit, not clipped in properly in first place, all these produce your symptoms.

 

[ianrauk]

dirt, grit, not clipped in properly in first place, all these produce your symptoms.

Indeed... certainly not symptoms of a worn cleat.

 

[fossyant]

Are XTs harder than others?

XT and XTR usually have stronger springs. My XT's are certainly stiffer than the M535's I used to have.

 

[ColinJ]

dirt, grit, not clipped in properly in first place, all these produce your symptoms.

Definitely clipped in properly - I have 20 years experience with SPDs and know how to clip in!

The troublesome pedal was immaculately clean since it had only seen an hour or two of on-road action since being fitted!

Shoe - possibly that had some dirt in it.

You lot have almost persuaded me to go to my bike, turn the tension up and clip the shoe in to test it, but I know what will happen because I have already experienced it. Blow it, I'll do it again! Will report back later ...

 

[numbnuts]

They just don't make things to last these days...I remember when you could get 50k miles out of a cleat!!!

I'm up to 30,446 miles and they are still OK

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Definitely clipped in properly - I have 20 years experience with SPDs and know how to clip in!

The troublesome pedal was immaculately clean since it had only seen an hour or two of on-road action since being fitted!

Shoe - possibly that had some dirt in it.

You lot have almost persuaded me to go to my bike, turn the tension up and clip the shoe in to test it, but I know what will happen because I have already experienced it. Blow it, I'll do it again! Will report back later ...

Sorry boss didn't mean to insult.

Here's an anecdote by way of compensation....

I've been using spd's since '95, I've commuted, enduro-ed, xc raced, polaris-ed, road ridden, et cetera in them. Like you I know how to clip in. Yet the other evening I got home and could I unclip my left foot? Could I heck? In the end I had to undo the shoe and "step away from the bicycle.". Much effing and jeffing and twisting and flexing and that darned shoe was stuck fast. Climbed back on bike leaning against wall, one almighty heave, nowt. Two. Nowt. Teeny little inadvertent ankle flick and "click" out came my foot unexpectedly and crashing down I went.

There's a spud fairy and she likes a good laugh.

 

[Dangermouse]

Pity this cant be said about Shimano road cleats............on my second pair within 5 months, the inside part always seem to break, even after a shoe fitting

 

[ColinJ]

UNCLIPPING REPORT!

I have just been experimenting with unclipping from my troublesome left SPD pedal. I leaned against the frame of my kitchen door and had my front brake on so I was not going anywhere and couldn't fall over. I confirmed that releasing from the pedal was sometimes very iffy. Sometimes it was ok, sometimes I got stuck. Clearly, further investigation was needed ...

I finally sussed it!

I always try to unclip at the bottom of the pedal stroke but it seems that the lower the pedal is, the more problems I have with unclipping. My left leg is significantly shorter than my right leg so I am stretching down slightly on that side. A combination of the angle of my foot and a reduction in torque with the stretched leg seems to cause the problem. If you think of a clock face, then I struggle unclipping between 5 o/c and 7 o/c. Between 3 o/c and 5 o/c, and 7 o/c and 9 o/c, it felt much easier. The top of the clock felt easy!

So, I have learned something today chaps - thanks!

Now all I have to do is overcome 20 years of habit and start unclipping with my foot higher in the pedal stroke ...

 

[ianrauk]

UNCLIPPING REPORT!

I have just been experimenting with unclipping from my troublesome left SPD pedal. I leaned against the frame of my kitchen door and had my front brake on so I was not going anywhere and couldn't fall over. I confirmed that releasing from the pedal was sometimes very iffy. Sometimes it was ok, sometimes I got stuck. Clearly, further investigation was needed ...

I finally sussed it!

I always try to unclip at the bottom of the pedal stroke but it seems that the lower the pedal is, the more problems I have with unclipping. My left leg is significantly shorter than my right leg so I am stretching down slightly on that side. A combination of the angle of my foot and a reduction in torque with the stretched leg seems to cause the problem. If you think of a clock face, then I struggle unclipping between 5 o/c and 7 o/c. Between 3 o/c and 5 o/c, and 7 o/c and 9 o/c, it felt much easier. The top of the clock felt easy!

So, I have learned something today chaps - thanks!

Now all I have to do is overcome 20 years of habit and start unclipping with my foot higher in the pedal stroke ...

or unclip with the other foot.