Loose cleats, hit the streets

I learnt the hard way yesterday. always had loose cleats as my way to unclip and leave the bike in emergencies...

like couple of weeks back when fk wit car turned left across me, in one fluid motion unclipped, went over handlebars and landed on feet...ta da!

however last night pelting away from the flouros and chicken chasers, my left foot sprung free at full sprint...

lost control but luckily was far enough ahead to dive for kerb without hitting anyone but mr pavement...at speed.

bike good, hip bruised, arm bit shredded, worst is ruined my beloved icebreaker ninja hoodie.

and was on my way to my birthday meal.

lesson to self, there is such a thing as too loose...

wind them right in, your legs will always be strong enough to un-clip.

This almost happened to me the other night when some wiseguy shouted 'Do a Skid!'. I think my cleats have been getting quite worn from walking in them, so instead of skidding I unclipped to do a massive upward bounce to single leg pedal action.

This still manage to provide good entertainment for fixed heckler!

Tighten that shit up! Loose cleats are an accident waiting to happen. Even more so when you need to unclip in an emergency and you're unable to give it a decent ankle twist. Nothing worse than that spongy feeling and knowing it ain't gonna come out when you need it to!

Loose cleats? This is a nonsense! Wherever did you get the idea that this would be the thing to do?

Meh. My road bikes often have quite loose cleats. Too lazy to adjust from factory tension.
If you flail about when trying to sprint you're probably gonna come unstuck. Smooth like buttaaah..
I hate ruining clothes. I'd always seemd to crash near my birthdays and inevitably in some new clothing item. It would thereafter rain blood until the anger subsided. Good to hear only minor consequences. Happy birthday ;)

Hang on... are we talking cleats or pedals? Hippy the factory tightness setting of my cleats is generally set to "in a little bag."

I like it tight.

i think he means, pedal tension.

Hang on... are we talking cleats or pedals? Hippy the factory tightness setting of my cleats is generally set to "i like to be tea bagged."

Obviously pedals are adjustable and cleats are not (although, ATACs can be installed two ways though, facilitating a 13 or 17 degree release angle, I think).

Obviously pedals are adjustable and cleats are not (although, ATACs can be installed two ways though, facilitating a 13 or 17 degree release angle, I think).

Sorry Hippy, only messin.

You're factalicious.

Meh. If I have to read shit threads* you lot have to read my shit posts.

*not this one.. mostly that dancing james 'tard.. his threads are all really over-the-top uber shit. WAC

I've got my ATAC cleats set to the "competition" release angle for fear of random unclipping.

Oddly they were much much easier to unclip when using S-works MTB shoes rather than Sidi's.

With the Sidi you have to really turn your ankle outward and the noise of the clip releasing is much louder.

First time I rode with the new shoes I started unclipping just before I stopped, rather than coming to a stop then unclipping as I was worried about not being able to get out of the pedal in time.

Used to it now mind you, just thought it odd that the make of shoe made such a difference- profile of the sole I imagine.

Profile of your soul I'd imagine.

Available now from SJS

ha ha i was expecting this...

above is a pair of genius

yes pedal tension, not cleats, though doesn't quite sound as snappy does it now.

yup henceforth pedals tight as a ducks butt.

need to find a sea mistress to fix my hoody...and a vampire to rejuvenate my arm ouchy.

yes pedal tension, not cleats, though doesn't quite sound as snappy does it now.

"Pedal tension low; onto the street you go"

"Tighten that thread, or you'll be dead."

"Don't be a dolt, tighten that bolt."

"Wind in that screw, it's good for you."

"Nice and tight, you'll be alright."

"Righty tighty, lefty lose-y."