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Managed to accidentally unclip both my legs today (thankfully not at once) on the upstroke during an uphill sprint into a headwind in an admittedly too heavy gear (sometimes I like to mash 🤷). 90 kg bw.
Pedals are XT hybrids (very lovely) with factory spring tension using shoes with fresh shimano one-way cleats. Tightened them up 5 clicks each, think that'll do the trick?
Should do. Have you tried them out since adjusting them?
No haven't, haven't used SPDs before (only SPD-SL many years ago) so don't have a good take on how much tightening is needed, wondering if it'll help at all and if about how much is right. Have however not had any problems when not mashing.
Would rather not find out by accidentally clipping out again!
I reckon you'll definitely notice a difference, just be wary on your next ride out & maybe have the correct hex key with you in case you need to adjust them +/- again.
There are 2 types of clips, not sure what they are called exactly, but I think the multi release versions are the ones that unclip easily. I tried them and found it all too easy to unclip. Whereas with the others it almost never happened, only if I fell off.
So I binned them and went back to the single sided clips (non multi release) instead. Check out what you have. I tried to tighten the cleats initially, but this didnt really solve the issue. The slightest twisting of my foot caused them to unclip.
Now I dont unclip and dont need to tighten the SPDs much at all.
Do the cleats have an M stamped on the rear bit of them?
If so I think they are the multi release which will unclip if you pull up as well as push your heal to the outside.
If they don't have the M then tighten the spring tension until you're happy and it doesn't pull out. If they do I don't think any amount of tension will solve it so it'd be new cleats..
Prepared to be corrected!!
You get single release and multi release, as mentioned. Never tried the multi release, but I gather they can can release without twisting. Doubt you would have them as think they come separately but worth checking because if you do, tightening pedals might not be enough. Cant remember how you tell...the multi might be silver? EDIT - yes they’re silver
Which cleats are you using?
SH51 (single release) or SH56 (multi-release)?
@Trimix @MartynS @Oblongbob @teethgrinder
If you read the OP you'll know which cleats he is using 🙂
will tightening springs help?
Yes
Cleats also wear and become easier to unclip
Oh aye. That'll learn me to read proper
fresh shimano one-way cleats
It's all there...
Yep - tighten them up a turn or two then see if it works. If you've gone beyond that, make sure you try unclipping in a friendly environment first (like a grassy field).
Thanks - tried 5 turns and unclipping wasn't a problem, see how that works, will be a bit scary to test though, guess i can just mash at low speed.
But there's no benefit in upstroke pedalling. 😉
10% higher peak power is what I read hehee
Yeh, tightening will help. Depends a bit on how ragged your technique is as well - if you pull up at an angle then you've a biggish risk of pulling out
Are they the XT ones with the reflectors built in ? Those seem to me to have softer tension and I have mine done up F-Tight
Technique probably so so, the more you mash the worse your technique I reckon. Good to know that tightening em up can help.
Why'd you post, instead of just trying it out? 🙂
Because I want to know ballpark how much you need to tighten them and if it could even help at all.
I always thought the multi release unclipped from both sides, and single release unclipped from one.
Anyway, in my experience there is a huge difference between running them loose and running them tight. I have them loose on off-road bikes and tight on the road. And when they're tight it takes a good bit of force to unclip.
5 notches harder tension wasn't quite enough still "accidentally" pulled out my feet mashing.
15 notches was too much making it hard to clip both in and out, even managed to fall off or rather with the bike right in front of my landlord to her great amusement.
10 notches seems about right, a bit harder to clip in and out but still manageable. Was only able to accidentally unclip once really jerking my leg up (which Isn't something I normally do).
Guess SPDs aren't really meant for road sprinting and SP-SL might be more secure, but heck, even those seems to not be enough for track sprinters who use straps in addition.