Tips for setting up cleats

'68 Fastback · 13-10-2008 8:16am #1

Hi everybody.
I just got a new pair of shoes and cleats. I thought I copied the position from my other shoes pretty closely when I installed the cleats but my left foot seems to be too close to the crank. The cleat is as far in as it will go but it still feels like I'm always pushing out against the binding and now my knee is starting to get grumpy.
Does anyone have a method for setting up and aligning cleats? I've been using spds for years but now I'm using KEOs.

Cheers

Raam · 13-10-2008 8:48am

'68 wrote:

Hi everybody.
I just got a new pair of shoes and cleats. I thought I copied the position from my other shoes pretty closely when I installed the cleats but my left foot seems to be too close to the crank. The cleat is as far in as it will go but it still feels like I'm always pushing out against the binding and now my knee is starting to get grumpy.
Does anyone have a method for setting up and aligning cleats? I've been using spds for years but now I'm using KEOs.

Cheers

You can try moving the cleat forward or back.

'68 Fastback · 13-10-2008 10:38am

Cheers. Should the centre of the cleat be in line with the ball of the foot?

Raam · 13-10-2008 11:09am

'68 wrote:

Cheers. Should the centre of the cleat be in line with the ball of the foot?

Best have a search around t'interweb. Experiment with the position until it fits right. Make small adjustments.
There is a little line on the edge of the cleat, I have that in line with the ball of my foot. Everyone is different so that might not work for you.

http://fitwerx.com/bike_fitting/proper-cleat-adjustment/

Lumen · 13-10-2008 11:16am

Raam wrote: »

http://fitwerx.com/bike_fitting/proper-cleat-adjustment/

Nice article.

I was following it up to the point of:

"The width between the bony protrusions at the front of the pelvis (Anterior Superior Iliac Spine) are often good indicators of natural stance. The goal is to set the width between the rider’s left and right second toe rays to a similar width during riding."

What is a second toe ray?

Raam · 13-10-2008 11:17am

Lumen wrote: »

Nice article.

I was following it up to the point of:

"The width between the bony protrusions at the front of the pelvis (Anterior Superior Iliac Spine) are often good indicators of natural stance. The goal is to set the width between the rider’s left and right second toe rays to a similar width during riding."

What is a second toe ray?

Hands up, I just stuck in the first link I found and didn't read the article

'68 Fastback · 13-10-2008 12:14pm

Raam wrote: »

Hands up, I just stuck in the first link I found and didn't read the article

And I thank you for it:)
I thought there might be an exact method but I'm probably being lazy! I'll get my experimenting hat on.

Junior · 13-10-2008 3:34pm

Have you a turbo trainer ?

'68 Fastback · 13-10-2008 3:45pm

Junior wrote: »

Have you a turbo trainer ?

No turbo trainer, so it's the back pedal method to get the cleats into the rough area and then spin around the block...adjust...spin around the block...adjust method to fine tune!

Junior · 13-10-2008 4:01pm

Yeah, what I was going to suggest was that you loosen them slightly and just ride on the trainer for a bit and see where your feet settle and then try get out of the shoes ...

studiorat · 13-10-2008 5:45pm

It's been a while, but don't you take off the cleats,, go for a spin and then match up to the mark on the sole when you get back?

72hundred · 13-10-2008 6:15pm

On a slightly related topic:

I can't despite huge effort and strain get the pedals of my Trek 1.5. I've got some clipless pedals I want to attach but for the life of me I can't get the old ones off. I'm sure I'm trying to un-screw correcting, taking the thread on the new pedals as a guide.

Any tips on how to get troublesome pedals off?

scottreynolds · 13-10-2008 6:39pm

72hundred wrote: »

On a slightly related topic:

I can't despite huge effort and strain get the pedals of my Trek 1.5. I've got some clipless pedals I want to attach but for the life of me I can't get the old ones off. I'm sure I'm trying to un-screw correcting, taking the thread on the new pedals as a guide.

Any tips on how to get troublesome pedals off?

wd40 (and to stop be flamed make sure you sclean it off afterwards to stop any corrosion)

72hundred · 13-10-2008 6:49pm

scottreynolds wrote: »

wd40 (and to stop be flamed make sure you sclean it off afterwards to stop any corrosion)

I'll try that. It could be there's a little rust in the threads as both pedals were submerged during the summer rains!

stopped_clock · 13-10-2008 10:12pm

Are you remembering the thread is reversed on the left side?

A buddy of mine didn't know that... He had great fun getting the pedal off having tightened the bejebus out of it!

wd40 (and to stop be flamed make sure you sclean it off afterwards to stop any corrosion)

WD40 - great stuff - chain lubricant, tyre cleaner... Is there anything it can't do?

Raam · 14-10-2008 8:19am

stopped_clock wrote: »

WD40 - great stuff - chain lubricant, tyre cleaner... Is there anything it can't do?

Chain lubricant? I don't think so

I hope you were just kidding.

'68 Fastback · 14-10-2008 12:56pm

If his chain is lubed with it and his tyres are cleaned with it I don't think we'll have to worry if he's joking or not!

stopped_clock · 14-10-2008 7:12pm

Raam wrote: »

Chain lubricant? I don't think so

I hope you were just kidding.

Kidding indeed. Something happened to my smiley though. It does seem to be one of those nerve-touching issues!

I used to spray it onto the chain - an admission I expect to haunt me if I ever make it out on a boards spin - until the all-knowing internet (and this forum) educated me.

Tips for setting up cleats

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