Cramped Arches - Problem Solved

Hi All,

Previously I had written seeking your advice on how to solve my problem of my arches cramping when I
rode. Your advice was to get some clipless pedals and cycling shoes. I followed your advice, and on
my first ride, which was equal in time and distance to the longest ride I'd made prior to the new
shoes and pedals, was entirely without cramped arches. So a heartfelt thanks goes out to the group
for that advice.

Now, another question.

The shoes I got are Specialized Sonoma's and the pedals are Speedplay Frogs. I am quite pleased with
both so far. I'm working on clipping in and releasing, and am having the expected difficulties in
perfecting the processes. The clipping in will come with practice, but the clipping out is the
subject of my question. At what point in the stroke do you folks clip out?

I am finding that it's easiest to clip out when my leg is extended. The problem with this is
that as soon as the pressure is of my extended foot is removed, my other foot, which is at the
top of the power stroke, shoots forward and destabilizes my balance. The first time, I almost
wrecked. Subsequent attempts were less dramatic, but the loss of stability was there to some
extent each time.

The obvious answer is to unclip at the top of the power stroke, and because my other foot is
extended, there should be no drastic change in body geometry and the stability of my balance would
remain steady. However, I am having some difficulty unclipping when my foot is at the top of the
stroke. Does any else have this problem? Did anyone else have it when they were starting out? If so,
how did you overcome it? Or will these problems all go away with practice and experience?

Thanks in advance for your patience and advice.

--
Rob Rudeski Trenton, GA RANS V2

 

"Rob Rudeski" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hi All,
>
-snip-

> Now, another question.
>
> The shoes I got are Specialized Sonoma's and the pedals are Speedplay
Frogs.
> I am quite pleased with both so far. I'm working on clipping in and releasing, and am having the
> expected difficulties in perfecting the processes. The clipping in will come with practice, but
> the clipping out
is
> the subject of my question. At what point in the stroke do you folks clip out?
>
> I am finding that it's easiest to clip out when my leg is extended. The problem with this is that
> as soon as the pressure is of my extended foot
is
> removed, my other foot, which is at the top of the power stroke, shoots forward and destabilizes
> my balance. The first time, I almost wrecked. Subsequent attempts were less dramatic, but the loss
> of stability was
there
> to some extent each time.
>
> The obvious answer is to unclip at the top of the power stroke, and
because
> my other foot is extended, there should be no drastic change in body geometry and the stability of
> my balance would remain steady. However, I
am
> having some difficulty unclipping when my foot is at the top of the
stroke.
> Does any else have this problem? Did anyone else have it when they were starting out? If so, how
> did you overcome it? Or will these problems all
go
> away with practice and experience?
>
> Thanks in advance for your patience and advice.
>
> --
> Rob Rudeski Trenton, GA RANS V2
>
Stop pushing on the other pedal when you unclip! You'll get the hang of it.

I too use Frogs, and I can't unclip during certain portions of the pedal stroke, due to interference
with my toe and the crank arm. I have gotten so I can unclip, reposition my foot so the pedal is
under the arch, and keep pedaling without hardly losing any power or rhythm (necessary for commuting
on crowded Silicon Valley streets). The Frogs have been on my bike for almost 4000 miles now, and I
don't even think about clipping in or out. Just happens like second nature.

Be patient, it'll come.

<Chas> Haluzak Hybrid Race -- the inline wheelchair

 

Sounds like you need to adjust the pedal to release easier. You want it as easy as possible to get
out, without coming out when peddling hard. takes a few adjustments to get it just right for each
individual.

 

I've never used Frogs, so I can't comment on them, but when I made the switch to SPDs, I made a
point of practicing clicking out all over over the range of motion - It's made a difference on a
couple of occasions when I had to bail out quickly...

"Rob Rudeski" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hi All,
>
> Previously I had written seeking your advice on how to solve my problem of my arches cramping when
> I rode. Your advice was to get some clipless
pedals
> and cycling shoes. I followed your advice, and on my first ride, which was equal in time and
> distance to the longest ride I'd made prior to the new shoes and pedals, was entirely without
> cramped arches. So a heartfelt
thanks
> goes out to the group for that advice.
>
> Now, another question.
>
> The shoes I got are Specialized Sonoma's and the pedals are Speedplay
Frogs.
> I am quite pleased with both so far. I'm working on clipping in and releasing, and am having the
> expected difficulties in perfecting the processes. The clipping in will come with practice, but
> the clipping out
is
> the subject of my question. At what point in the stroke do you folks clip out?
>
> I am finding that it's easiest to clip out when my leg is extended. The problem with this is that
> as soon as the pressure is of my extended foot
is
> removed, my other foot, which is at the top of the power stroke, shoots forward and destabilizes
> my balance. The first time, I almost wrecked. Subsequent attempts were less dramatic, but the loss
> of stability was
there
> to some extent each time.
>
> The obvious answer is to unclip at the top of the power stroke, and
because
> my other foot is extended, there should be no drastic change in body geometry and the stability of
> my balance would remain steady. However, I
am
> having some difficulty unclipping when my foot is at the top of the
stroke.
> Does any else have this problem? Did anyone else have it when they were starting out? If so, how
> did you overcome it? Or will these problems all
go
> away with practice and experience?
>
> Thanks in advance for your patience and advice.
>
> --
> Rob Rudeski Trenton, GA RANS V2

 

MLB <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Sounds like you need to adjust the pedal to release easier. You want it as easy as possible to get
> out, without coming out when peddling hard. takes a few adjustments to get it just right for each
> individual.

it is normal not to be able to unclip at top of stroke--your knee isn't designed to twist at that
point. there are no pedal adjustment! push in to clip twist outward to unclip. happy pedaling.