How tight is your spring tension?

bottom_bracket
bottom_bracket Posts: 76
edited July 2012 in Workshop
Not sure what tension my pedals should be set to, they are Shimano SPD-SLs with floaty cleats, I've had them 18 months and they have always been on the slackest setting. I never fall out of them but feel like there is loads of float on them, especially the preferred release side. How do you have yours? Cheers

Comments

  • lucasf09
    lucasf09 Posts: 160
    I might be wrong, but I believe the float on spd-sl are dictated by the cleat, not the pedal.
    The pedal controls the release tension (how easy it is to get in and out), but the cleat determines the float (how much your foot can rotate before it engages the release mech). It is logical then that as the cleat wears, the float would increase, and wear will be increased on the preferred release side.
    I suspect that you need new cleats, and if you like less float, get cleats that allow less float.
  • dw300
    dw300 Posts: 1,642
    Mine are at the slackest too. Never come out under power. No idea why anyone would have them tighter unless they vary a lot from pair to pair.
    All the above is just advice .. you can do whatever the f*ck you wana do!
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  • onbike 1939
    onbike 1939 Posts: 708
    Usually the tightest position is only used by those racing men who have the power to tear their feet from the cleats so Touring guys usually need only the slackest tension setting. Racing men are unlikely to use SPD SLs anyway.
  • rozzer32
    rozzer32 Posts: 3,923
    Usually the tightest position is only used by those racing men who have the power to tear their feet from the cleats so Touring guys usually need only the slackest tension setting. Racing men are unlikely to use SPD SLs anyway.

    Best get along to that big race in France at the minute and tell them they're using the wrong pedal's.
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  • rozzer32 wrote:
    Usually the tightest position is only used by those racing men who have the power to tear their feet from the cleats so Touring guys usually need only the slackest tension setting. Racing men are unlikely to use SPD SLs anyway.

    Best get along to that big race in France at the minute and tell them they're using the wrong pedal's.

    I love this forum!
  • onbike 1939
    onbike 1939 Posts: 708
    rozzer32 wrote:
    Usually the tightest position is only used by those racing men who have the power to tear their feet from the cleats so Touring guys usually need only the slackest tension setting. Racing men are unlikely to use SPD SLs anyway.

    Best get along to that big race in France at the minute and tell them they're using the wrong pedal's.

    Oops! Wrong pedals.
  • lucasf09 wrote:
    I might be wrong, but I believe the float on spd-sl are dictated by the cleat, not the pedal.
    The pedal controls the release tension (how easy it is to get in and out), but the cleat determines the float (how much your foot can rotate before it engages the release mech). It is logical then that as the cleat wears, the float would increase, and wear will be increased on the preferred release side.
    I suspect that you need new cleats, and if you like less float, get cleats that allow less float.

    Thanks Lucas for your help, I'll maybe get some non-floaty ones to compare.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    edited July 2012
    If you get fixed cleats just be aware that your set up needs to be very good otherwise your knees will feel it.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • Thanks to you too Smidsy....