shoe-tyre interface relationship problem

andrewlwood
andrewlwood Posts: 224
edited August 2009 in Road beginners
My first proper road bike - a CAAD9 - had it for two weeks and I am LOVING it. It practically rides itself to work, now that I am used to the change in riding position after mountain bikes for 15 years.

I have one question. I'm using SPDs - Shimano A530 pedals and spesh mtb shoes - as I have been for 10 years or so. NO problem with clips, except that now the clearances on my bike are much smaller and when I unclip, my foot often hits the rear tyre. I unclip naturally by turning my heel inwards.

In the best Claire Raynor tradition, am I normal? Should I learn to unclip the other way? Do you think I'm shortening the life of my tyre by doing this, or is it more likely to wear out naturally before this becomes a problem?

Comments

  • pompeypoppy
    pompeypoppy Posts: 182
    Doubt you're shortening the life of your tyre, but normal people would twist outwards.

    TBH I wouldn't worry too much about it. If that's what you're used to (and it's been 10 years!) then it'll be fine. If it wears your tyre I'd recommend getting better tyres.
  • timb64
    timb64 Posts: 248
    edited August 2009
    I have this picture of you potentially jamming your shoe in the back wheel/chain with disasterous consequences.I'd try getting used to unclipping by twisting your foot away from the frame.
    On a similar point which foot do most people unclip first?I always unclip my right foot first with the thought that if my left doesn't unclip I'll pitch into the kerb rather than following traffic but I noticed other cyclist unclip left foot first.
  • Gustibus
    Gustibus Posts: 12
    Left foot first for me. Don't know if there's any real benefit in one side or the other but I'd rather have my foot down closer to the kerb than leaning out in traffic.

    I just picked a side and stuck with it - I don't have to choose a side when I'm stopping so less chance of going over. In theory...........
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    Gustibus wrote:
    Left foot first for me. Don't know if there's any real benefit in one side or the other but I'd rather have my foot down closer to the kerb than leaning out in traffic.

    I just picked a side and stuck with it - I don't have to choose a side when I'm stopping so less chance of going over. In theory...........

    I would suggest that most people probably unclip 'left' first, due to learning to bike ride as children. It seems the natural thing to do(leaning over to the left) when learning, so as to stop hitting the chain/ oily chain rings.
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • Big Banjo
    Big Banjo Posts: 78
    Lefty left for me and i twist my foot outwards, I couldn't imagine being able to twist my foot inwards to unclip
  • PinkPedal
    PinkPedal Posts: 180
    Right hand for me - as a result of commuting for a year with a single pannier on the left hand side - the bike would tip over taking me with it if I put my left foot down.

    I'd like to be able to retrain myself but I tend to shift my weight wrongly and fall over when I unclip to the left now!

    I twist my foot outwards to unclip too.
  • pompeypoppy
    pompeypoppy Posts: 182
    Right for me.
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,457
    I do both sides in and outwards depending on my mood, i'd reccomend outwards more often though, you don't want to snag your heels in an emergency.

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