Pedal problem

[cdy291]

Three times now I have pulled my foot out of the pedal during a race. Yesterday it cost me a First place finish. They are Look Keo Sprints. The first time I did it I thought it was because my cleats were getting a little old, so I reaplaced them. I also have the tension on them as high as it will go. Any suggestions?

[sogood]

Nasty. Is the tension setting on the pedal correct?

[cdy291]

Yeah, as tight as it will go.

[alfeng]

Three times now I have pulled my foot out of the pedal during a race. Yesterday it cost me a First place finish. They are Look Keo Sprints. The first time I did it I thought it was because my cleats were getting a little old, so I reaplaced them. I also have the tension on them as high as it will go. Any suggestions?I'm not sure what the suitable solution would be for someone in your age group, but I suspect you are using a crank with relatively SHORT crankarms ... is that right?

How tall/etc. are you ... and, what is the length of the cranks on your bike?

[cdy291]

The cranks really are a little to long. I'm 5' 7.5" and the crank arms are 172.5mm. i think that 170's would be better.

[alfeng]

The cranks really are a little to long. I'm 5' 7.5" and the crank arms are 172.5mm. i think that 170's would be better.Presupposing that you are pulling out closer to the bottom of the back stroke than near the top (is that right, OR are you pulling out near the top?), then I think I the problem is solvable.

ALSO, ARE YOU ALWAYS PULLING THE SAME FOOT OUT, OR HAS IT HAPPENED ON BOTH SIDES?

BTW. I don't think the cranks are too long ... but, there is a lot of debate about crank length (at least, in MY mind!) ...

[Matt888]

I have the same pedals, never had a problem.
Maybe your cleats aren't centred on your shoe properly.
Just a thought.

[cdy291]

Yeah, its the same foot. And all 3 times its happend I was coming out of a sharp curve and then put out a hard effort.

[sogood]

Yeah, its the same foot. And all 3 times its happend I was coming out of a sharp curve and then put out a hard effort.
Could it be due to your pedaling action? Somehow you've twisted a bit and disengaged in the process?

[cdy291]

Thats what I was thinking, but I really dont know.

[sogood]

Thats what I was thinking, but I really dont know.
Might be worth getting a ride buddy to watch you from behind during one of your sprints.

[BikingBrian]

I have had the same exact experience with the Keo's! The cleats just wear down way too fast and are very flimsy. Once they start getting thin, they will break quite easily. Do a search....you will find more than a few people report the same thing.
And..... the engineering geniuses at Look decided to put the metal part of the tension adjustment bolt flush with the top of the carbon claw...result - it will start eating a hole through your soles after logging some miles! If you look at the Shimano SPD SL pedals, in comparison - the tension bolt is RECESSED into the retention claw - no problems.
My solution: I ditched the Keo's. It's just not worth the frustration (and danger!) to save a few measly grams. I now ride SPD SLs...so far, no probs.

[alfeng]

Yeah, its the same foot. And all 3 times its happend I was coming out of a sharp curve and then put out a hard effort.Okay.

Here's what I think is happeninig, FWIW ... particularly, if you are indeed pulling out near the beginning (bottom) of the upstroke of your pedaling cycle ... you didn't say, but it's pretty hard to pull out at the top UNLESS your technique is really herky-jerky.

I reckon that you are unintentionally forcing your foot to roll as-and-when you stand up which results in you pointing the toe of your shoe inward -- either, naturally or as an affectation (yes, that happens, even unintentionally ... Lance appeared to toe-in when he stood up to sprint, for example ... and, happenstance duplication or intentional emulating aspects of his riding style could result in unforeseen problems) -- AND consequently, you are possibly/probably kicking your heel outward ... thus, disengaging your foot from the pedal.

If it is a natural occurrence which you do not think you can correct during the course of this season, then you can, nonetheless, probably "fix" the problem ...

... while it is probably counter-intuitive, I would suggest that you try a cleat with float ... AND, set the cleat so that the appears to flare outward toward the LITTLE toe the amount of float the cleat has ... THAT will mean that if/when you are standing up and rolling your foot (with your toe pointing toward the centerline of the bike more than when you are seated), the cleat will be closer to square. ALSO, consider moving the cleat as far forward as possible (YES, that is absolutely opposite to what is currently being espoused in another thread on "arch cleats"!).

ALSO, consider maximizing the Q-factor ... you may be swaying enough to exacerbate the presumed foot rolling whereby you would be approaching a skating motion (hence the cleat coming out of the pedal) if your foot were not trying to maintain the pedal's plane(s).

As suggested by sogood, have a buddy watch you from behind to confirm my suppostion OR to determine if something else is happening.