Cleats
Cleats are the part of the Clipless pedal system that attaches to the sole of your cycling shoes enabling you to “click into” your pedals. The cleat keeps the cyclist’s feet attached to the pedals; a system that dramatically improves pedaling efficiency and is generally considered to be safer as your feet cannot slip off the pedals. Disengaging the cleat from the pedals is a simple matter of twisting your foot to the side and unclipping your shoe.
Cleats for road bike shoes attach to the outside of the sole making them easy to engage with the pedals. Because they attach to the bottom of your shoes you should not make a habit of walking around in your shoes for extended distances, if you do the surface of the cleat will wear down quickly and the connection with your Clipless pedals will become loose and often noisy. Shimano road cleats have wear indicators that allow you to visually check for wear and know when it is time to replace your worn cleats. Always wipe your cleat before clipping into your pedals to ensure no dirt or rocks are embedded in the bottom of the cleat as this may damage your pedals and become noisy. Road bike cleats are generally made of a nylon type material; the nylon reduces friction and is very light.
Mountain bike and recreational style cleats recess into the rubber sole of the shoe, attaching to the hard base underneath; this enables the rider to walk in around their cycling shoes without damaging the surface of the metal cleat. Because they are recessed, dirt, rocks and other foreign materials are less likely to get lodged in the cleat ensuring they function and click in securely. Generally this type of cleat requires a bit more practice to become proficient at as the surface area of the cleat in a smaller than most road cleats.
Cleats designs vary. When replacing your cleats make sure you select the ones that are suitable for your specific model of Clipless pedal. Using incompatible cleats is dangerous, they can become stuck in the pedal or pull out unexpectedly. All major Clipless pedal manufacturers including Shimano, Look, VP and Time supply replacement cleats identical to your original ones.
Replacing existing cleats is relatively easy and generally only requires a screwdriver or Allen key to get the job done. When you remove the cleat their will be marks left in the sole of your shoe where the cleat was positioned and you simply have to match the new cleats to these marks. If you are fitting cleats to new shoes and have not done this before it is recommended you take them to your local shop to have this done for you and if necessary, be re-fitted to your bike. A helpful hint when fitting the new cleats is to put grease on the threads of the screws; this will make it easier to remove them when they are due for replacement.
