I'm not happy with my new system pedals. It is difficult to get off and I have the feeling that the left and right pedals react differently. What can I do?
Claudia Schmid, Ludwigsburg
If pedals are difficult to release, this is usually because the locking mechanism is set too tightly. On many pedal systems, the release resistance can be adjusted with a three or four millimetre hexagon socket. The adjustment is often located at the back of the pedal on the spring flap, but it can also be on the top or bottom. Turn the screw anti-clockwise to release the spring - the shoe slides out of the pedal more easily.
If your pedal does not have a preload indicator, you will need to count the detent steps or the number of revolutions. If you notice differences between the pedals, turn the screws on both pedals back until they are easier to turn or you feel resistance; the spring flap is then almost unloaded. Do not turn beyond this, otherwise the screw may slip out of the thread and the mechanism will fall apart! From this position, turn the screw in one turn so that it remains under tension and is not lost due to vibrations. You can then increase the hardness until the shoes release as desired.
Please note that you must adjust both sides of double-sided mountain bike pedals. If the correct adjustment does not improve the situation, it may be because the shoe and pedal plates or even the shoe and pedal do not fit together - or the pedal plates are at an angle or warped.
