Unclipping road shoes - difference in technique

Moaner
Moaner Posts: 117
edited May 2010 in Road beginners
Hi:

I’m in the process of switching from SPD (touring / mtb) cleats to SPD-SL (road) cleats and need some advice on technique.

The Shimano instructions for both SPD and SDP-SL both recommend you unclip when you’re pedaling towards a situation where you may need to put your foot down e.g. approaching junctions, climbing.

That works fine with SPD because you can unclip then pedal without accidentally clipping back in by putting your instep on the pedal instead of the ball of your foot. It also means that you don’t have to decide in advance which foot you’re going to put down, because you can unclip them both in advance.
The same technique doesn’t work with SPD-SL because the sole of the shoe is smooth so your foot just slides off.

The options I can see are to either:
1. Stay clipped in until the last second and then only unclip the foot I’m going to put down or
2. Unclip in advance but pedal with the heel of the foot raised so that I don’t clip back in accidentally. This feels odd but may come with practice.

I’m sure many of you go for option 1, but I’d welcome any advice on technique for pedaling unclipped for short distances with road shoes on.

Thanks.

Comments

  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    just unclip just before you come to a stop - no need to unclip 50 yards away....
  • sub55
    sub55 Posts: 1,025
    Stop thinking about it and just go with it
    it should be a subconscious thing
    constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly
  • irezumi
    irezumi Posts: 142
    I find using a combination of the two works best.

    I'm normally in a reasonably dificult gear if for instance stopping at lights so it makes balancing by standing on the pedals a bit easier. But unclipping my left foot and putting it on the heel works fine for me, when you start pedalling away put little effort through the heel and then clip in once gently rolling.

    No need to unclip both either, just one (your left if you don't want it to get run over!). Also why on earth do you need to unclip whilst climbing? :lol: