20
votes
Accepted
Connecting and disconnecting clipless bike shoes from Shimano pedals
You're not going to break them, and really, their advice is too complicated.
To clip in, just stomp your foot on the pedal in the right spot. If you don't get it right, try again. Pretty quickly it ...
- 28.5k
17
votes
Accepted
What type of cleat is this? Should I save it or get new cleats?
It's a Shimano SPD cleat. There are a few different models, but they are all cross compatible. You can reuse the old ones if you can unscrew it, but new pair should be under 20€, too.
EDIT: Looks ...
- 21.6k
17
votes
Accepted
Shoes supporting heel-mounted cleats
With the help of a bike fitter and mechanic, we found a very good solution that has served me well. I've put in about 2000 km this year and am heading to my first imperial century tomorrow.
...
- 551
15
votes
Waterproof overshoes: am I using them right?
I've got a couple of pairs, and have had similar experiences.
The best I can do is with my better pair (with a reasonably tight but comfortable ankle strap) underneath my splash - resistant leg ...
- 55.8k
15
votes
Accepted
How to detach a cleat with a warped screw
The simplest thing to do would be to buy new cleats.
If you're absolutely set on re-using this cleat, there is a tool called a screw extractor that lets you tap a small reverse-threaded hole in your ...
- 28.5k
13
votes
Is it easier to unclip using a shoe with higher stiffness index?
In my experience: No.
Cycling shoe soles are extremely rigid in the “sideways” direction. Even with soft and flexible running shoes there is very little movement in the heel if you hold them at the ...
- 25.8k
12
votes
Accepted
How tight should cycling shoes be?
In my experience you mainly want them to be comfortable.
But there are several considerations:
If the shoes are too short your toes will bump the ends, and this can become torturous 75 mile into a ...
- 53.2k
11
votes
Shoe covers (or other tricks) for commuting in shorts
if I wear the same clothes and just go for a walk/jog, then my feet stay dry for much longer
Do you have mudguards (fenders) on your bike? If not your feet are in the spray from the front wheel and ...
- 23.2k
11
votes
How to detach a cleat with a warped screw
Doing this with the other hole empty is hurting your cause. Using another fully lubricated bolt in good condition to relieve preload sometimes makes this situation go easy and is always helpful. You ...
- 80.1k
9
votes
Shoe covers (or other tricks) for commuting in shorts
The main thing that would determine whether or not a particular brand or style of shoe cover will help would be the closure around your ankle, above the top of the shoe.
A standard, non-cycling over-...
- 16.1k
9
votes
Accepted
Waterproofing leather bike shoes
I wouldn't use silicone spray to waterproof leather, I'd use a leather boot proofer like Nikwax (the original product, not the brand). The spray is unlikely to damage the shoes but isn't very ...
- 55.8k
9
votes
How tight should cycling shoes be?
IMO you want your shoes to be a "generously" large fit when at rest. Not so large they slide around on your feet but still biggish while remaining comfortable.
Why? Your feet will subtly swell ...
- 120k
9
votes
Recommendations on how to buy clipless bike shoes
You need shoes, cleats and pedals all to be compatible.
(There's also an implication that you have two feet, and nothing unusual there.)
Shoes have to fit your feet comfortably, with a close fit ...
- 120k
9
votes
Connecting and disconnecting clipless bike shoes from Shimano pedals
No, you cannot break the cleats nor the shoes or pedals with any reasonable movements. They are made to withstand even large forces directly pulling the cleats from the shoes and various forces that ...
- 15.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Are cleat backing plates for protecting carbon sole?
I've only used cleat backing plates to shim out the cleat away from my foot when the sole or lugs of the shoe were interfering with cleat engagement.
I've put carbon-soled shoes from a couple of ...
- 3,325
8
votes
How tight should cycling shoes be?
You control the angle of your skis through your ski boots. Any slack between your foot and the boots compromises your directional control. Therefore the boots need to be really close fitting. My toes ...
- 89
7
votes
Accepted
What kind of shoes can you use with Garmin Vector pedals?
You don't need to buy Look brand shoes to mount Look cleats on them. You do need shoes that have mounting holes that fit Look cleats. Look-compatible mounting holes are the dominant standard for road ...
- 13.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Shoes for commuting
Before I went for clipless pedals and shoes to suit I found there were 2 options:
sports sandals, ideally with some protection for your toes. These dry almost instantly, and all but the very cheapest ...
- 55.8k
7
votes
Performance Road Flat Shoe/Pedal combo
The shoes and pedals that are appropriate for road cycling are the ones you feel comfortable using.
Almost all MTB shoes come with a "plug" over the screw-hole recess that you could just leave in ...
- 28.5k
7
votes
Accepted
Can I use mountain biking cleats on a road shoe...?
Yes, this shoe also accepts the MTB-style two bolt cleats.
Three-bolt and two-bolt cleat pattern fits all major road and mountain
pedals.
(from https://www.specialized.com/jp/en/sport-road-shoes/p/...
- 15.4k
7
votes
Accepted
Specialized shoe Boa SV2 ratchet service?
Boa is a company that makes closure systems for cycling and other shoes. My understanding is that many, and possibly all, Boa dials are user replaceable. The dials house the ratchet mechanism and the ...
- 28.6k
7
votes
Accepted
What type of cleats to get for these mtn bike shoes
Based on the two pictures, the answer is quite straightforward: Shimano SPD cleats (not SPD SL, that is for road pedals). The Shimano references are SM-SH51 or SM-SH56. Some other brands are doing ...
- 16.2k
6
votes
Asymmetric pedaling?
Bilateral asymmetry in pedaling is well-known and long-studied. You can see the abstract of a review of what is known about bilateral asymmetry in running and cycling here. During cycling, bilateral ...
- 13.8k
6
votes
Does an SPD-SL AND SPD compatible pedal/shoe exist?
Here what you do. Contact Bodybike who makes bikes for spinning. Their pedals have SPD on one side and Look Delta on the other.Just run Look Delta cleats on your road shoes and Shimano SPD on your "...
- 61
6
votes
Waterproof overshoes: am I using them right?
Overshoes over the top of normal bicycling shoes with cleats are not "waterproof".
Water gets in through the cleat holes. And, as you've discovered, through the ankle holes.
All you can do ...
- 10.4k
6
votes
Recommendations on how to buy clipless bike shoes
One minor thing may be worth mentioning: different brands tend to make shoes that fit differently. From your other footwear, you may have got the sense that your feet are relatively wide or narrow, or ...
- 28.6k
6
votes
Mtb vs Road Pedal Stack Height
In general stack height is larger for MTB pedals. It's not so much the pedal itself, but the cleat that goes on top of the pedal and the walkable sole, compared to road cleat that goes inside the ...
- 21.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Winter boots or neoprene covers?
For pure road-riding: Neoprene covers over normal road-shoes are the best as long as you don't have to put a foot down too often. The cleats are prone to clogging in snowy conditions. But then you ...
- 8,251
5
votes
Accepted
Rain Booties that go over Cleats
Shoe covers/booties will help keep your feet dry, but there's really no such thing as "waterproof" shoe covers/booties. The best of them merely delay your shoes filling with water for maybe 20 or 30 ...
- 10.4k
5
votes
Recommendations on how to buy clipless bike shoes
Your shoes should fit quite snug. That means that the heel should not move up and down when you are trying it. Later when riding you will want to pull the pedal with your foot.
On the other hand it ...
- 15.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible