Are your Cycling Cleats ready for replacement.

Over the last few weeks my cycling cleats have started to wear to a point that it was time to replace them. I checked out my wife’s at the same time and discovered these at the bottom of her shoes....


Jodie's old cleats. Yep, bordering on being a little past their use by date. I didn't want to ask her how her cleats got like this… I choose the safer option of suggesting instead that I'd replace them before her next ride.

It's a good idea to check your cleats regularly for wear and replace when required. Worn cleats are dangerous. You can pull your foot out of your shoe when riding on worn cleats, usually when you are riding hard. Examples are when you are sprinting in a race or climbing a hill while standing. Pulling your foot off the pedal in these instances can have dire consequences to you as well as any riders around you. You'll be lucky to keep yourself upright when you unintentionally pull your foot out of your pedal.

Another good reason to replace you cleats is that as they wear you'll start to find some sloppiness (play) creep in between your cycling shoe and your pedal. Your foot then will become unstable on the pedal. This can cause strain on your knees leading to possible riding discomfort and pain.

Replacing cycling cleats is a relatively easy task. Here are two important things about cleat replacement.

• Firstly, ensure that you purchase the correct cleats. Your local bike shop can help you out with this one.
• Secondly, that you mark the position of your existing cleats before you replace them. That way you'll ensure that your replacement cleats are positioned in the same place as the old ones. Check out this article for information on how to do this.

Jodie's shoe fitted with a new cleat. Good for a few more km's of riding. I gave her the cleats with the nice shiny Shimano bolts.


Here is my new cleat fitted with the standard black bolts. Notice the white marks on the shoe to help me relocate the new cleat in the same position as the old one. Also notice the yellow wedge under the cleat to help correct a slight 5 degree varus of my left foot.