How to change the cleats in road cycling shoes
Changing cleats on your road cycling shoes is a simple yet complex operation. The real problem is knowing how to correctly position the cleat on three different axes: forward, lateral movement and tilt.
Most people trace the outline of the cleat with a marker pen on the sole of the shoe, but if you use a marker pen with a tip that is too large, the alignment will not be perfect.
Let’s take a look at a quick and safer method, which however, can only be used if the cleats are replaced with other cleats of the same make and model.What tools do you need?
A sheet of paper, marker pen, screws, Allen key and new cleats , of course.
1. Sheet placement
An A4 sheet is perfect. Place it on the table and fix it in position. A part of the sheet must rest on the outer edge, in order to be able to take the position of the cleat.
It is important to fix it well so that it does not move around.
2. Taking the position of the cleat
Place the shoe on the table, on top of the paper, with the back of the cleat on the edge of the table.
Then mark the position with a marker pen on both sides.
Mark the position of the back limit of the shoe, so that it is set back.
This will be the result.
3. Swap the cleat
Remove the cleat, taking care to mark the profile of the old one with a felt-tip pen. This will serve as a rough guide for the placement of the new cleats.
Place the new cleat, being careful not to overtighten the screws: they should be able to move quite a bit.
4. Setting the position
Place the shoes back on top of the sheet of paper. While holding the shoe steady, match the cleat to the marks made on the edge to achieve the same lateral movement.
Then, while holding the cleat in your hand, move the shoe forward or backward to match the back edge with the mark.
5. Complete the assembly
Now you have the cleat correctly positioned, at this point complete the fastening by tightening the screws with the Allen key.
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Stefano Francescutti
