SPD Unwillingly Disengaged

**Timbuk2**

Hi

Today I was using my SPD shoes in a spin class and during fast-paced sprints my left shoe came out of the pedals. Luckily the cleat was still attached to the shoe (I've seen it happen that the cleat comes out of the shoe and gets stuck in the pedals - which is very difficult to get out).

But why did this happen? Surely the idea of the SPD clipless system is that the shoe can't come out unless twisted outwards. Oh and yes, I do have Single Release Cleats. I've gone that speed before, and never encountered any trouble

I'm worried now. Could the cleat or the shoe be damaged? How do I prevent this from happening again (as you can't freewheel on a spin bike so a foot dangling loose when the pedals are going at 'blur' speed is dangerous).

I asked the instructor who said it might be just the grip on the pedals and to make sure the cleats were tight when I went home. The pedals are set to the lowest release tension on all the bikes, but again I've done that speed before.

blorg

Could be a worn cleat. Ultimately, it happens, I use SPDs exclusively and some of my pedals have much better retention than others.

blorg

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

The pedals are set to the lowest release tension on all the bikes, but again I've done that speed before.

Lowest release tension would be the problem here I reckon, tighten it up well. Unless you have a perfect pedal stroke you will probably come out otherwise. I have certainly come out myself in "sprint" type situations (foot went into the spokes at the top of the Aspin but thankfully I was only sprinting against myself )

Shimano pedals of every level are generally very secure. I have lighter SPDs but they don't hold so securely.

Chips Lovell

You're using mountain bike pedals and you've got them on the lowest release tension, so it's not surprising really that your foot eventually popped out in a sprint.

Even with road pedals people can unclip in a sprint, which is why track riders adopt the belt and braces approach by using clipless pedals and straps.

If you're going to be hammering it, crank up the release tension to the max.

**Timbuk2**

The problem is it happened in a spin class (it has never happened on the road)

In a spin class the pedals are attached to the bike, and I can't adjust the release tension as the pedal belongs to the bike, if you know what I mean. Can I adjust the release tension?

victorcarrera

Could be one or a combination af the above. Although I have seen this happen on a climb where the rider was standing on the pedals and seemed to be tilting the bike left and right with an exagerated style.

blorg

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

The problem is it happened in a spin class (it has never happened on the road)

In a spin class the pedals are attached to the bike, and I can't adjust the release tension as the pedal belongs to the bike, if you know what I mean. Can I adjust the release tension?

Can't as in the pedal isn't adjustable (unlikely?) or can't as in it's not your bike? If the latter, just ask to tighten them, it's in nobody's interests to have people unclipping.

Worn cleat or slightly incompatible might be another issue, if your cleats were a different brand to the pedal.