help with pedal selection

gonga

Im just getting used to the custom candy c pedals that came with my trek fuel ex8.
I got some of these shoes;
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/northwave/mission-mtb-shoes-ec011854

i can clip in ok but clipping out is way too hard.
im thinking a pedal with adjustable tension and those multi release cleats would be a lot easier.
I would like to release and ride tricky stuff and still have enough grip to stand unclipped.
I have seen the pedals with the cages but wondered if the cage itself would hinder the clipping and unclipping process?
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RealMan

gonga wrote:

Im just getting used to

Give it a bit more time. All clipless pedals take a while to get used to, and when theyre new they will be a bit stiff. They should loosen up fairly soon, and then be easier to clip in and out of.

As for clipping out for technical stuff, I would never recommend that. You will have to learn to stay clipped in all the time, or go back to flat pedals. Just always remember to think. Take it slow on technical stuff to begin with, and get used to the pedals.

gonga

Thanks for replying.
If i could unclip easier i would'nt worry but its quite hard.
Last night i clipped my shoe in and spun the pedal round to see what it looked like clipped in.
theres parts of the shoes grips gripping the pedal around the plastic edge of the candys.
Im wondering if trimming the sole a little would make it slightly easier to unclip?
or maybe shaping the cleat to allow an easier unclip

fletch8928

Leave it all well alone and go find some nice bumpy bouncy ground and just practice. We all start off a bit nervous and shakey (i hope it wasnt just me).

I got my first SPDs in 92!! and had some great moments learning, some are still brought up today! not that long ago i toppled over when i stopped to open a gate, right foot out, lean to the left, brilliant stuff.
Its actually surprising how quickly you release in times of bailing out and as for multi release well i can only comment on my way but I only ever unclip in 1 direction.

Stick with what you have and savour some moments before you get too skilled

gonga

fletch8928 wrote:

Leave it all well alone and go find some nice bumpy bouncy ground and just practice. We all start off a bit nervous and shakey (i hope it wasnt just me).

I got my first SPDs in 92!! and had some great moments learning, some are still brought up today! not that long ago i toppled over when i stopped to open a gate, right foot out, lean to the left, brilliant stuff.
Its actually surprising how quickly you release in times of bailing out and as for multi release well i can only comment on my way but I only ever unclip in 1 direction.

Stick with what you have and savour some moments before you get too skilled

Hi fletch.
i have already had two comedy moments last night on the canal,both involved slowing down coming up to bridges and failure to unclip any feet and splat in the bushes(thankfully not in the canal!)
i really have to fight to get my feet free.
i rode roughly 10 miles constantly clipping and unclipping and i can't suss an easy way to unclip.
the only way was to stretch my leg out in front as far as i could and bend my foot to almost 90 degrees.
I like the Candy's as you can still pedal while unclipped if really needed so I'm not sure a switch to an spd only pedal would be suitable?
i would love to be clipped in all the time but until i can unclip ,(at least on demand) then there will be more comedy for anyone watching

petejuk

Hi gonga,
it sounds to me like your cleats may have been installed incorrectly. I too own a set of candy c pedals and have never experienced the problems you seem to be suffering. I note from what you have said that there may be parts of your shoe grip fouling the release of the pedals.
Check this: (not meaning to teach you to suck eggs if this is obvious)
1. did you fit the supplied spacers underneath the cleat?
2. clip the shoe in, turn it upside down as before and release it. note the release angle and check for fouling as it releases. you my need to cut part of your tread of your shoe.
3. find a wall. ride up to it, support yourself and clip and unclip from your pedals about 20 times each. Does it get easier?

good luck.

gonga

threre are parts of the sole in contact with the pedal.
I have the shim under the cleat.
i must of clipped in and out about 50 times last night and it was just as hard to unclip by the end of the ride.
i might just trim a little off the sole thats in contact and see if that helps.

petejuk

yep, I'd agree with trimming a little off the sole. If that doesn't help, I'd suggest taking them back to the shop. Ideally you should be able to unclip them at any time you want no matter where your foot is in relation to the pedal stroke. I use mine for cyclocross so clip in and out regularly. I've not suffered the problems you have with mine so pedals may be faulty.

fletch8928

AH right, didnt look at the point of view that the shoe itself may be blocking a swift movment, I thought you kinda liked the idea of some shoe contact so you could ride unclipped, never mind my mistake :oops: .

I agree that a bit of hacking and trimming maybe required after reading the last posts, also when checking for fouling have a look to see if the cleat is moving with the sole and there isnt any sideways flex (apart from the grip fouling)

Good on you that you hit the bushes and not the water.

good luck

cat_with_no_tail

Whilst I DO agree with the comments above, this is just my own personal thoughts on this.

I have always used Shimanos SPD system and found them very easy to use. When I got my current bike, it came with some Candy Cs so I thought I'd give them a try. Perhaps it's just because I am used to the Shimano system, but I just couldnt get along with the candys, no matter how I tried. I'm not saying they are bad pedals, but they just werent for me.

I switched back to the shimanos and no longer have comedy clipless moments.

If you try all the above solutions and STILL cant get it to work right, it MAY be worth splashing out £20 on some PDM520s. You can back the tension right off and slowly tighten it up as you get more used to it.

Do try the solutions above first though.

gonga

Cheers for the help guys
I'm looking(god knows where it keeps hiding) for a stanley knife to butcher my new shoes!
not to much to trim though,so even if a swap them for the shimano`s i`ll still have plenty of sole left!
Ill let you know.

rowlers

I have Candy Cs they take a few weeks to "break in". I used to struggle alot with them, but they do get easier. They should also have come with some black plastics shims to lift the cleat away from the sole a little. This should make it a bit easier too.

TBH I might move to a pair of m520s soon, they sound easier to get in and out of.

fletch8928

I use Shimano and as i said i got my 1st pair in 92. i had a few years out of biking (9ish) and last year when i got back into it i didnt even bother with flats, straight to SPDs.

Hope you get it sorted and if not i too can recommend Shimano for ease of use. if you sort it out it would be good and at least your giving it your all to get them to work for you

gonga

Managed to cut off the offending rubber chunks and it has improved clipping out.
its still hard to unclip but im willing to give these a go and hopefully they will losen up a little

RealMan

Cool, good luck. Give them a few rides.