Unclipping from Look Pedals - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-11-2004, 05:06 AM

I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.

If I try to swing my heel away from the bike, it takes alot of effort
to unclip. If I swing my heel towards the bike, it unclips much easier
but I end up kicking the seat tube, my water bottle, etc.

I thought maybe it was break-in of the pedal/cleat - I must have
unclipped 40 - 50 times today. I believe that the tension is set to a
minimum (screw rotated all the way counterclockwise).

Am I doing something wrong? Or is this the nature of the Look pedal??

Thanks
Mike

07-11-2004, 08:50 AM

"Mike" wrote:
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.

I'm pretty sure the CX-6 and the PP-396 pedals have a higher tension range
(12-18 NM) than most of the other Look pedals (9-12 NM).

Make sure the neutral cleat position is adjusted so that minimum outward
foot rotation is required to release. And make sure the tension really is
set at minimum. There are several detents in the tension adjustment. You
should be able to turn the screw several complete rotations.

With my PP-396s, I found that the release tension decreased over time. It
was a little uncomfortable at first, but nowhere near causing a crash.

Art Harris

07-11-2004, 08:50 AM

"Mike" wrote:
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.

I'm pretty sure the CX-6 and the PP-396 pedals have a higher tension range
(12-18 NM) than most of the other Look pedals (9-12 NM).

Make sure the neutral cleat position is adjusted so that minimum outward
foot rotation is required to release. And make sure the tension really is
set at minimum. There are several detents in the tension adjustment. You
should be able to turn the screw several complete rotations.

With my PP-396s, I found that the release tension decreased over time. It
was a little uncomfortable at first, but nowhere near causing a crash.

Art Harris

07-11-2004, 08:50 AM

"Mike" wrote:
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.

I'm pretty sure the CX-6 and the PP-396 pedals have a higher tension range
(12-18 NM) than most of the other Look pedals (9-12 NM).

Make sure the neutral cleat position is adjusted so that minimum outward
foot rotation is required to release. And make sure the tension really is
set at minimum. There are several detents in the tension adjustment. You
should be able to turn the screw several complete rotations.

With my PP-396s, I found that the release tension decreased over time. It
was a little uncomfortable at first, but nowhere near causing a crash.

Art Harris

07-11-2004, 08:50 AM

"Mike" wrote:
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.

I'm pretty sure the CX-6 and the PP-396 pedals have a higher tension range
(12-18 NM) than most of the other Look pedals (9-12 NM).

Make sure the neutral cleat position is adjusted so that minimum outward
foot rotation is required to release. And make sure the tension really is
set at minimum. There are several detents in the tension adjustment. You
should be able to turn the screw several complete rotations.

With my PP-396s, I found that the release tension decreased over time. It
was a little uncomfortable at first, but nowhere near causing a crash.

Art Harris

07-11-2004, 08:50 AM

"Mike" wrote:
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.

I'm pretty sure the CX-6 and the PP-396 pedals have a higher tension range
(12-18 NM) than most of the other Look pedals (9-12 NM).

Make sure the neutral cleat position is adjusted so that minimum outward
foot rotation is required to release. And make sure the tension really is
set at minimum. There are several detents in the tension adjustment. You
should be able to turn the screw several complete rotations.

With my PP-396s, I found that the release tension decreased over time. It
was a little uncomfortable at first, but nowhere near causing a crash.

Art Harris

07-11-2004, 01:13 PM

"Mike" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:dc53077a.0407110506.4759e729@posting.google.c om...
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.
>
> If I try to swing my heel away from the bike, it takes alot of effort
> to unclip. If I swing my heel towards the bike, it unclips much easier
> but I end up kicking the seat tube, my water bottle, etc.
>
> I thought maybe it was break-in of the pedal/cleat - I must have
> unclipped 40 - 50 times today. I believe that the tension is set to a
> minimum (screw rotated all the way counterclockwise).
>
> Am I doing something wrong? Or is this the nature of the Look pedal??

Actually, I find it's *easier* to unclip if the release tension is set
*higher*. I, too, used to ride around with the release tension set low,
thinking it was safer. One day, I started setting it higher (one click
higher than the least) and I found it's easier to unclip now.

Try rotating your cleats slightly. There's enough float so you can rotate
them a little bit, and it'll make it easier to unclip while still giving you
enough float.

Also, make sure you haven't damaged you cleats in some way. I've had
accidents where the inside back edge of the pedal (the part in the rear of
the cleat that actually 'clicks' in, under the little 'shelf') was damaged,
and that made clicking out by outward rotation almost impossible until I
replaced the cleat.

It definitely takes some time to get the cleats in just the right place.
But, when you do I think it's well worth it. I'm a long-time Look fan, and
I've tried many different brands/types of pedals, but I always come back to
Looks.

Regards,
H.

07-11-2004, 01:13 PM

"Mike" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:dc53077a.0407110506.4759e729@posting.google.c om...
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.
>
> If I try to swing my heel away from the bike, it takes alot of effort
> to unclip. If I swing my heel towards the bike, it unclips much easier
> but I end up kicking the seat tube, my water bottle, etc.
>
> I thought maybe it was break-in of the pedal/cleat - I must have
> unclipped 40 - 50 times today. I believe that the tension is set to a
> minimum (screw rotated all the way counterclockwise).
>
> Am I doing something wrong? Or is this the nature of the Look pedal??

Actually, I find it's *easier* to unclip if the release tension is set
*higher*. I, too, used to ride around with the release tension set low,
thinking it was safer. One day, I started setting it higher (one click
higher than the least) and I found it's easier to unclip now.

Try rotating your cleats slightly. There's enough float so you can rotate
them a little bit, and it'll make it easier to unclip while still giving you
enough float.

Also, make sure you haven't damaged you cleats in some way. I've had
accidents where the inside back edge of the pedal (the part in the rear of
the cleat that actually 'clicks' in, under the little 'shelf') was damaged,
and that made clicking out by outward rotation almost impossible until I
replaced the cleat.

It definitely takes some time to get the cleats in just the right place.
But, when you do I think it's well worth it. I'm a long-time Look fan, and
I've tried many different brands/types of pedals, but I always come back to
Looks.

Regards,
H.

07-11-2004, 01:13 PM

"Mike" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:dc53077a.0407110506.4759e729@posting.google.c om...
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.
>
> If I try to swing my heel away from the bike, it takes alot of effort
> to unclip. If I swing my heel towards the bike, it unclips much easier
> but I end up kicking the seat tube, my water bottle, etc.
>
> I thought maybe it was break-in of the pedal/cleat - I must have
> unclipped 40 - 50 times today. I believe that the tension is set to a
> minimum (screw rotated all the way counterclockwise).
>
> Am I doing something wrong? Or is this the nature of the Look pedal??

Actually, I find it's *easier* to unclip if the release tension is set
*higher*. I, too, used to ride around with the release tension set low,
thinking it was safer. One day, I started setting it higher (one click
higher than the least) and I found it's easier to unclip now.

Try rotating your cleats slightly. There's enough float so you can rotate
them a little bit, and it'll make it easier to unclip while still giving you
enough float.

Also, make sure you haven't damaged you cleats in some way. I've had
accidents where the inside back edge of the pedal (the part in the rear of
the cleat that actually 'clicks' in, under the little 'shelf') was damaged,
and that made clicking out by outward rotation almost impossible until I
replaced the cleat.

It definitely takes some time to get the cleats in just the right place.
But, when you do I think it's well worth it. I'm a long-time Look fan, and
I've tried many different brands/types of pedals, but I always come back to
Looks.

Regards,
H.

07-11-2004, 01:13 PM

"Mike" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:dc53077a.0407110506.4759e729@posting.google.c om...
> I just bought a new pair of Look CX-6 pedals for my road bike and am
> really struggling to unclip from the pedal. I almost fell multiple
> times today on the bike. Prior to this, I was using Shimano SPD mtn
> bike pedals - which were pretty easy to get out of.
>
> If I try to swing my heel away from the bike, it takes alot of effort
> to unclip. If I swing my heel towards the bike, it unclips much easier
> but I end up kicking the seat tube, my water bottle, etc.
>
> I thought maybe it was break-in of the pedal/cleat - I must have
> unclipped 40 - 50 times today. I believe that the tension is set to a
> minimum (screw rotated all the way counterclockwise).
>
> Am I doing something wrong? Or is this the nature of the Look pedal??

Actually, I find it's *easier* to unclip if the release tension is set
*higher*. I, too, used to ride around with the release tension set low,
thinking it was safer. One day, I started setting it higher (one click
higher than the least) and I found it's easier to unclip now.

Try rotating your cleats slightly. There's enough float so you can rotate
them a little bit, and it'll make it easier to unclip while still giving you
enough float.

Also, make sure you haven't damaged you cleats in some way. I've had
accidents where the inside back edge of the pedal (the part in the rear of
the cleat that actually 'clicks' in, under the little 'shelf') was damaged,
and that made clicking out by outward rotation almost impossible until I
replaced the cleat.

It definitely takes some time to get the cleats in just the right place.
But, when you do I think it's well worth it. I'm a long-time Look fan, and
I've tried many different brands/types of pedals, but I always come back to
Looks.

Regards,
H.