Cleats provide the interface that connects your shoe to your clipless pedal.
Over time, under the strain of countless hours of use, they start to wear out and stop working as they should.
Read on to find out when to change your cleats to keep your clipless pedals performing at their best. How do you know when to change cleats?
It’s best to change your cleat before it fails. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
If you cycle with cleats , there are many factors that determine their lifespan. These include your mileage, riding conditions and how often you walk on your clipless cycling shoes .
As a cleat wears out and material gets worn away, its connection with the pedal degrades. This can make it harder to clip in (or out) because the cleat is no longer able to easily open the pedal’s locking mechanism for entry or exit.
In some cases, a worn cleat may also cause unexpected unclips while pedalling.However, sometimes these issues can occur without the cleat being excessively worn. In this case, a simple adjustment of the pedal’s spring mechanism should fix the issue.Adjusting your pedal can sometimes fix loose cleats. THE MERIDA EX ENDURO / Jon Woodhouse If the problem persists despite the spring adjustment, it’s likely time to replace your cleats.Some cleats, such as Shimano’s SPD-SL road offering, feature coloured wear indicators which, when worn away, signify the cleats should be replaced.While wear indicators can be helpful, we recommend you also pay attention to the cleats’ […]
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