broken ankle = new pedals?

[Richie Rich]

I broke my ankle in December and got a plate and screws sugically implanted in my ankle. At the time my doctor told me I'd have a full recovery as long as I listened to him and I did my physical therapy. Last week on my second visit to my physical therapist I explained the process of clipping out of mtb pedals - turning your heal and putting lots of pressure on your ankle. As the look of horror left her face she said I better talk to my doctor.

I'm sure I'm not the only person to have done damage to his/her ankle. Does anyone know of a type of pedal that requires a different motion to get out of? ???

[Big Game]

I've never used them, but apparently with the Frog pedals, you just turn your ankle; you need not pull in out the the same manner as SPD's ir Times

[Mt.A TODD]

Does anyone know of a type of pedal that requires a different motion to get out of? ???


Yeah, they are called platforms.

[C.P.]

Ouch. I broke my ankle 2 years ago when my right ATAC pedal wouldn't release, (The story of how/why is too humiliating) It was a long healing process, and it was my driving foot, no car for over 5 months, the cast wouldn't fit down to reach the gas pedal/brake pedal.
Here's some advice. 1st - perhaps get a second opinion on the therapy for your ankle. My therapist was aware of clipless pedal systems, and kept telling me to keep the excercises up outside of our visits. I worked very hard at those excercises, and after the 5th visit, she remarked at how fast my ankle was healing. Her advise payed off. I still use the ATAC pedals, with confidence, and have kept up the ankle strengthening excercises to keep that joint and tendons/muscular strong...The combination has worked well for me.

As for pedal release systems, I don't know of any different that traditional "clipless". You might try something that requires less force to "click out" Some SPD (Shimano Pedaling Dynamics) type pedals have an adjustment to increase/decrease cleat exit/entry force...try that out.
Or - look for pedals with more float? Speedplay Frogs - I think they have a lot of float?

The alternative is flat pedals. I would avoid the toe clip/strap route.

[Richie Rich]

Thanks for the advice! I broke it playing basketball. Once the snow and wind hit I go indoors and hit the courts. It keeps me in shape and I find my wind is just great in the spring for mtb, although the legs have no power.

Flats are not really an option for me. I enjoy climbing way too much. I tried flats once before when I first bought clipless and I took a couple of nasty falls. Not being able to climb nearly as well was a real downer.

I use Shimanos right now but I will definitely check out the Frogs. C.P., what's the problem with the clip/strap idea? That was going to be my fall back plan.

[AGENTGRAPE]

death cages you will rebrake your ankle or the other one have you ever used agood pair of platforms try sun ringle zuzu's they are about $35.00 you can climb very well with these. i go from platforms to clipless all the time if you have any skills it is not that big of a difference

[EVIL BOTA]

Rich,


I believe Slomojo Has a problem with one of his knees and getting out(twisting action) of his time pedals was becoming difficult. He remedied it by shaving off a little of the cleet to make getting out easier. I'm sure he will be able to tell you excactly what he did.

[Tim]

I rode Frogs for about 3 years, and they could be the ticket for you. There is no pressure required for release at all -- once you turn enough, you're out! And if you don't turn enough, no amount of pressure will get you out. You can tune the release angle by adjusting the position of the cleat on the shoe. If you do go with Frogs, the other thing you should do is grind off the stop on the pedal so they will release to the inside too in an emergency -- otherwise that ankle may be in trouble again.

For me, I put platforms on to ride last winter, and liked them so well I never took them off. Once you get used to them you'll be able to climb just fine. You may lose a tiny bit of efficiency, but unless you race that's no biggie. And being able to get out and off anytime is a real help in certain conditions...

Tim

[EVIL BOTA]

I think alot of us are afraid to go to platform pedals ,because they wouldn't be able to hop around like they do now. I am guilty of this. I can't "bunny hop" if you will, well without my times pedals.
I sure If I put the time in I could get use to it,but I like my time's and Don't plan on switchin up.

[knucklebuste]

Heres what you need dude. Shinburgers

[Big Game]

I think alot of us are afraid to go to platform pedals ,because they wouldn't be able to hop around like they do now. I am guilty of this. I can't "bunny hop" if you will, well without my times pedals.
I sure If I put the time in I could get use to it,but I like my time's and Don't plan on switchin up.


Evil, I am about to tell you something that everyone already knows:

You are perfect just the way you are. Don't you dare feel guilty about being something you are not. You, just like everyone else, is infused and created by divinity (yes, you too knuckles). And that can never change.

I shared those feelings you have. You know, these shadowy dudes saying "if you really want to learn how to bunny hop, switch to platforms." Well I'm not going to do it. I too, like my times. They rock. You rock. We all rock.

I may however, switch to platforms so I will have a less painful time learning how to manual (there's a lot of a$$-breaking in store, I imagine). The manual is very cool. I've been having dreams about manualing across the country. Meeting new people, encoutering strange new worlds which I have never seen, nor could imagine. I'm not sure if I should follow this dream or simply lay off the Nyquil before I go to bed.

Your Pal,

Big Game

[hogboy]

dude
ride for a few months with no clips no straps. get shinburgers or plain old flat pedals. see how your foot holds up first. you want easy escape, can't do better than no clip or strap. then when you prove to yourself you can ride and apply pressure, move up

Here's to a complete and speedy recovery. I too went thru the same process with the screws. Had the cast on for about 6-8 weeks but kept riding and doing lots of easy weight training on the affected leg. I would suggest not riding for a couple of weeks since the possibility of having to put your foot down while riding off road is a strong possibility and you may cause more damage. Or stay on dirt roads or something. I would either ditch the clips or try them on the lightest setting. Good luck.

MIke

[SloMoJo]

Like Evil said, I had some recovery period last year. I tore my ACL, playing hoops and had to have it replaced in March. After 2 months of PT, I started riding the bike with platforms with power straps. Rode that way thru the summer. By Sept, I was anxious to get back into cleats, but felt the knee strain when getting out of the clips.

Grinding some of the inside rear of the Time cleats has made them so much easier to work with. I still stay in tight, but slip out with ease. Much better. Time pedals are great. I'll show you a pic if interested.

Ankle injury may be slightly diff deal, but I understand what you're saying. I hope you don't push it too early. Good luck.
-MoJo

[Richie Rich]

I love my Shimanos. Do you think I can file the cleat down the same as the Times? I'd like to see a picture of what you're talking about.

[EVIL BOTA]

Rich, If you haven't tried times.. Give em a shot..You will give up ur shimanos. Every person that I have talked to that has swtched .Never went back! Good luck!

[Big Game]

I love my Shimanos. Do you think I can file the cleat down the same as the Times? I'd like to see a picture of what you're talking about.


You only think you love your Shimanos. Listen to Evil. Deep down, you know he's right.

I really don't think you can file the cleat down a' la Time. You make your tension adjustments with the screws.

I've tried riding in snow with SPD's. It is very frustrating. Hats off to anyone who could do it. Times are much better in the snow (but even they too will clog if the snow is allowed to melt and refreeze around your cleat)

[Jisch]

I just got Shimano 959s, vast improvement in the snow over 747s or 858s. They allow more snow to fall through and don't get all blocked up like the 858 or 747s. I have been on many frustrating rides on 747s. Of course I'm saying this without ever having tried Times. But this is the internet, I can do that.

John

[Richie Rich]

:o Give up my SPD's? But...but...I love them!

I can't discredit Times. I've never tried them. I bought Shimanos and figured why fix what ain't broke?

What about in nice weather? I don't think I'll be on the mtb this winter and if I do I'll probably go without clipless anyway. Do the Tmes work better (or easier) in warmer weather?

[Big Game]

Do Times work better in warm weather?

Yes, yes they do.

I resisted the change for a long time. I spent way too much money on some SPD's and I was determine to ride them until they failed. But the little bastages wouldn't break, which I suppose is a plus. Finally, when I bought a new bike, I put Times on. I've been a convert ever since.

A big advantage of Times that isn't mentioned much is that you feel much more connected to your pedals, hence your bike. Sometimes on SPDs I would wonder if I was really in. And I sometimes I wasn't. Things got bad when the pedal whipped around and nailed my shin. Or worse, I'd go to hop, and I'd only have one pedal. The landing becomes very painful.

But with Time you know your in. You feel it. There is little doubt. This is helpful, especially when you are about to attempt something you probably really shouldn't and the last thing you need is a little voice of saying "something isn't right."

Lastly, how many people do you know that switched from Time to SPD? It is very rare. SPD is popular because it comes stock.

And nooo, I am do not receive any sort of benefit from Time for these words. Although it would be helpful.

Good luck

Your Pal,

Big Game

[AA]

Just wanted to put my .02 in regarding Time pedals. I decided to try Time pedal 5 or 6 years ago for cyclocross. The design sheds mud and snow much better that SPD's so I gave it a shot. I rode those pedals consistently for almost 2 months and I just plain didnt like them. I have tried extended tests 2 more times since then (a year ago being the latest) and never felt comfortable with the pedals. Yes I know I am the only one who hasnt loved them. Too much float, no way to tighten the mechanism , and too easy a release were my biggest beefs.

All that being said if I had a bum knee or ankle I would think that they would be the way to go, they are just not for me.

AA

[Big Game]

Too much float, no way to tighten the mechanism , and too easy a release were my biggest beefs.




I put a new set of Time cleats on my shoes last summer. They were terrible. Too much float and too easy to get out of. Shimamos would have been an improvement.

Apparently, Time has different types of cleats. The ones that I mistakenly got were for a lot of float/ease of exit. I got the kind I had before and viola, the pedals were back to being top-notch.

I'm just wondering if that is why some people have had negative epxeriences with Times.

[NEMBA_bkr-dude]

I am a strong believer in Shimano PD-M545's. They keep you locked in real well but release real easy when you want them to.

[SloMoJo]

That's interesting to read the fan mail on the Time's. I just picked them off the shelf without knowing better, and lucked out. Liked the simple design.

Rich, glad to hear your planning to shelf the clipless pedals for a while anyway. Only thing worse than injury is reinjury. Of course, anything you love, you stick with. Like you read, no need to grind em when already adjustable.

Good luck on the physical therapy. It really sucks..in a good way. :-\ I lucked out and had a real cute PT gal. May the Gods equally smile on you. ;)
-MoJo