How do cleats work on bikes

It depends on your type of cycling commuting, racing, mountain biking, touring, etc. Your local bike shop will be able to advise. There are two main types of cleat system: recessed, where the cleat is smaller and recessed in the shoe secured to the shoe by two bolts ; and non-recessed, where the cleat stands proud of the shoe usually three bolts.

Recessed cleats are a good starting point. They let you use shoes with flatter soles you can walk in easily — good for general cycling, commuting and touring. They can also be a little easier to unclip, and some allow more movement of the foot on the pedal when clipped in.

Pedals often have mechanism on both sides, making it easier to clip in. Non-recessed cleats are more typically used by road cyclists. The large cleat allows for an even better connection with the pedal, and when used with stiff-soled shoes, allows for more power transfer.

The pedals also have less float, so your feet are held in a more rigid position. This can cause issues with comfort and even other problems if your riding position is not set up correctly, and they are also harder to walk in. Some Shimano pedals are quite small. Some offer a larger platform around the clip mechanism.

The cleat can be fixed to the shoes in various positions. Try a few short rides and adjust as necessary. Start in a neutral position with the cleat below the ball of your foot.

Take a look at where your feet naturally sit when on the pedals — you may need to rotate the cleat to accommodate. Plenty of riders in their 60s and even 70s switch to clipless happily. For some less robust physiques that could be an issue. For the great majority, yes. You can read more about the different kinds of cleats and how they attach to your cycling shoes and pedals below. There are many other types of cleat and pedal systems out on the market. Check with your local facility to see what pedal system is on their indoor cycling bikes.

It is built into each cleat or pedal and is measured by how many degrees your feet can rotate left and right. Float allows your feet to rotate a few degrees from side-to-side while being securely connected to the pedals. This creates a safer, more natural pedal stroke while riding the bike both in the seated and standing positions. So double check and make sure those cleats do not rotate when they are screwed into your shoe.

Consult with the staff of your local bike shop if you would like to learn more about float. Three Key Parts Using cycling shoes involves three key parts: the pedals, the shoes and the cleats. Finding the Right Shoe There are three simple steps to determining the right cycling shoes for you: Determine which pedal system is on your indoor cycling bikes.

Be sure to check with your facility to see what pedal system is on their indoor cycling bikes. Find the cycling shoe that fits you best. Read below for even more info on shoes, cleats and pedals, and how they all work together. Look carefully at the product description on the cycling shoes product page to ensure your pedals and cleats are compatible with your shoes.

Note: Shimano does make a cleat adapter plate , though we would recommend using the correct cleats for your cycling shoes' sole. Speedplay road pedals use a four bolt system for their cleats; but this is not really an issue, as their pedals and cleats come with adaptors for most three bolt shoes. Shop Speedplay at Wiggle. The exception to this rule is there are now some two-bolt systems created with cross-brand compatibility, namely from brands like Ritchey and Wellgo.

That said, be sure to double check the compatibility on the product pages before you buy. Some manufacturers such as Look and Shimano colour code their three-bolt road cleats. This is to indicate the amount of 'float' the cleat facilitates. Float refers to the small amount of lateral rotation available once the cleat is clipped into the pedal. Without a few degrees of float, your feet will be fixed into place, which if misaligned can lead to knee injuries.

If you're a mountain biker, you're looking at two-bolt clipless pedal systems. At Wiggle, we stock clipless two-bolt systems from the following brands:. If you're a mountain biker and you think that sometimes you might prefer to clip in, but other times you would be happier with flats, DMR have come up with a perfect solution. If you're a road cyclist, you are more likely to need a three-bolt clipless pedal. At Wiggle, we stock three-bolt systems from the following brands:.

Cycling pedals and cleats buying guide. Posted in Cycle. James has sumarised the whole subject in this video, and it's well worth a look. Are you a Road Cyclist?