From: lloyd@leland.Stanford.EDU (William Koenig Lloyd)
Subject: Re: SPD Cleats - Standard vs. Multi-release
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 92 20:32:00 GMT

In article <28420@oasys.dt.navy.mil> mackinto@oasys.dt.navy.mil (David Mackintosh) writes:
>I picked up some used 737 pedals for about $65 that did not come with
>cleats.  I bought the Multi-release (silver) cleats (the standard are
>black) and Ground Control shoes.  I've been using this combination for
>trail riding and racing for about a month but have not tried any other
>models of SPD shoes, pedals, or cleats.
>
>Initially I had a lot of trouble engaging the cleats.  I found that
>the cut-out in the bottom of the shoe was not long enough to avoid
>interference with the pedal when the cleat is all the way forward (this
>is my preferred position).  This problem was easily fixed with an Exacto
>knife.
>
>I find the system vastly superior to clips and straps for dry conditions.
>The pedals are relatively easy to engage without looking and allow me
>to pull up and back as hard as I like.  I found with straps that they
>were always too loose for climbing or too tight to get in and out of
>easily.
>
>I have to tighten the adjustment screw about four turns from the loosest
>position to avoid pulling out while pedalling.  I still have unintensional
>releases occasionally when the shoe hits a rock or while bunny-hopping.
>I may try tightening the screw another turn.  Are the standard cleats
>less likely to release at lower tension settings?  Is there a difference
>in the amount of foot rotation before release or the ease of release?
>
>I did a muddy race last weekend that involved a couple of uphill dismounts.
>After the first two laps (of four) I had a very hard time getting back
>into the cleats.  This was a thick clay-like mud that filled the shoe
>recess and covered the cleats.   I spent about half of the last two
>laps not being able to engage.  When this happens the pedals are much
>worse than standard pedals with NO toe clips.  I don't suppose there
>is any cure for this situation but I did not expect it.  I may now change
>back to standard pedals for muddy races.
>
>David Mackintosh

The black cleats are less likely to release unintentionally.  I think the
silver ones were designed more as "training" cleats, because you can disengage
them just by pulling up sufficiently hard, as they're chamfered to allow
that to happen.  The standard ones only release by a heel-out (or in), unless
you crash...  I went over the bars pretty good once with spuds (and black
cleats), and they released, and I sure didn't have any time to think about
clipping out.  I have had no instances (in the 1 1/2 years i've had spuds),
that I've wanted to release and they didn't and it was the pedals' fault.

It is possible for the cleats to get clogged with mud, but I haven't had all
that much trouble clearing them.  I just smack my feet on the pedal until the
chunks of mud clear from the cleats and pedals.  In cases of clay-like mud
it's often possible to just grind the cleat on the pedal until it clips
in.  In these cases, however, it's tougher to get the pedal to release because
all that clay inhibits the action.  

All in all, I haven't had all that much trouble with mud and my SPD's, but
I HAVE had troubles if I've ever gotten snow in them.  It turns to ice when
it gets in there, and often I'm relegated to trying to dig the ice out with
a 4mm allen wrench.  The cleats just don't like snow at all.

Bill


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