How to Unclip Cycling Shoes [With Photos]

I remember when I first got my cycling shoes. My uncle kept telling me how he swore away from cycling shoes because he fell and didn’t know how to unclip cycling shoes. It took me a bit of time to realize that he may just be a jabroni, and I would have to go ahead with my own journey with cycling shoes. When you look at the reasons why to own cycling shoes, the possibility of having one small accident does not outweigh the massive benefits of wearing cycling shoes.

In this post, we will shoe you photos of our unclipping cycling shoes correctly. We also go over what a float is in a cycling shoes and also help you understand wear in cycling shoes so that you do not accidentally clip out of the shoe while riding. These are the most important for Shimano SPD cleats while cycling.

If you read through this guide you will have enough knowledge to not do this:

Invest in your knowledge:

If you’re taking a look at this post, these may also be of interest to you.

• Best Insoles for Cycling with Hot Foot [Numb Toes]
• Best Cycling Shoes for Morton’s Neuroma [Numb Toes]
• Best Cycling Accessories for Cold Toes
• Are White Cycling Shoes a Bad Idea?
• Full Cycling Shoes Brand Size Guide
• How long do Cycling Shoes Last?
• Do you wear socks with Cycling Shoes?

How to Unclip Cycling Shoes

The steps to unclip your cycling shoes are as follows:

Step 1

Your foot should be placed firmly in the shoe which is clipped into the pedal. When riding, avoid moving your ankle from left to right which could lead to an accidental clip out. If you have float in your clips, then your shoe will have a small amount of “give” in the ankle movement and the clips.

Step 2

Lift your heel out of the pedal as if you are trying to take your shoes out without your hands. (Like you did when you were a kid). Do this while rotating your cleat outwards. If you are unclipping your right foot, rotate your ankle in a counterclockwise motion (bring your heel towards the front of the bicycle). If you are unclipping your left foot, rotate your ankle in a clockwise motion (bring your heel towards the front of the bicycle).

Step 3

There will be a dramatic “clipping feeling” as you release from the bicycle. This is your bicycle cleat releasing from the pedal that it was seated inside. Now lift your foot away and rest it on the ground.

How to clip into cycling shoes

Follow these steps to clip into your pedals:

Step 1

Clipping into your cycling pedals are actually a lot easier than unclipping. Step over the pedal and align the cleat to the pedal. You will feel the grooves align with the pedals so that there is a firm catch within the soles of the shoe and the pedal.

Step 2

Press firmly directly down onto the pedal. Before when unclipping the shoe, you were initially twisting the ankle forward to remove the cleat. Now rather than twisting to insert, you simply are pressing firmly down on the cleat to insert the shoe into the pedal.

Conclusion

You should know that snapping in and out of your cycling shoes is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Just follow these steps above should you have any trouble once you get your cycling shoes. If you are wondering if cycling shoes are worth it, the short answer is yes. There reasons why can be found here. Ride safe and enjoy.