Road Cycling - CLIPLESS newb.... questions re. cleats...

Just bought a set of cheapo Forte' pedals and shoes from Performance and I really really like riding with them so far. Just have a few questions...

1. Are all Look/SPD style cleats made of plastic? The ones that came with my cheap Forte' pedals are plastic. Doesn't seem like they will last long before they get all mangled up.

2. Is it ok to put a little grease/oil/vaseline/whatever on the back of the cleat? Seems like it would make it a little easier to click out.

3. Does this sound like a good idea? My cleats look just like the ones in the pic below. They have slots in the metal plates where the screws go so you can adjust them front to back. I have them where I want them but they seem to still move around a bit from clipping out. So I have to keep adjusting them every couple of rides. Now that I know where I want them, I was thinking about making some new metal inserts/plates that only have one small hole for the screw, instead of the slot. That way they could not slide back and forth. What do you think?

http://www.cobr.co.uk/acatalog/look_red.jpg

1. Are all Look/SPD style cleats made of plastic? The ones that came with my cheap Forte' pedals are plastic. Doesn't seem like they will last long before they get all mangled up.

I believe they are all made of plastic.


2. Is it ok to put a little grease/oil/vaseline/whatever on the back of the cleat? Seems like it would make it a little easier to click out.

That may make it marginally easier to clip out until and shouldn't do much harm as long as it doesn't pick up too much grit and grind away at the cleats. Most pedals have a tension screw you can turn to change that though. I'm not familiar with your particular pedals, but I'd guess they do.


3. Does this sound like a good idea? My cleats look just like the ones in the pic below. They have slots in the metal plates where the screws go so you can adjust them front to back. I have them where I want them but they seem to still move around a bit from clipping out. So I have to keep adjusting them every couple of rides. Now that I know where I want them, I was thinking about making some new metal inserts/plates that only have one small hole for the screw, instead of the slot. That way they could not slide back and forth. What do you think?

Seems like a good idea to me. Just make sure you make the new plate the same thickness as the old one or you may not like the new position

SPD and Look are two completely different cleats. I have both. My mtb shoes have SPD and they're metal. Look is plastic on my road shoes.

I'd sooner adjust the tension on the pedals before using a lube.

Your cleats should NOT move around. If you've tightened 'em enough and they still move, take 'em to the shop and ask 'em what's wrong.

LOOK cleats are made from Nylon. They have 3 small holes at the points of the triangle that are wear indicators. When the hole is no longer there, it is time for a new set. I have a set of Kool Kovers that I keep in my jersey pocket in case I need to get off the bike for any reason (rest stop, flat tire, damsel in distress, etc). I also rotate my cleats to make them last a little longer- since I always clip out with my left foot, my left cleat wears faster from contact with the road. In terms of release tension and lubrication, keep the tension light and tighten it as you get more accustomed to riding with the pedals. I occasionally spray some Finish Line dry formula chain lube on a rag and rub the inside of the pedal. You don't want to get a lot on there, since it can gunk up the spring, and it makes the already slippery cleats even more so when you step onto a smooth surface. As for the cleats slipping, you need to REALLY snug down the screws as tight as you can. I also use blue Loctite to keep them from coming loose. Don't forget to use a paint marker to mark wher the cleat goes on the sole of your shoe so when you replace the cleats they wind up in exactly the same spot. I have had the same set of LOOK pedals since 1989. They still work flawlessly and have needed very little maintenance.

Thanks for the replies so far. OK I guess mine are the LOOK design then. I thought SPD were a similar design.

I've cranked the screws down so tight that I'm afraid I'm gonna strip the threads in the shoe or break the cleat. May have something to do with them being a cheap brand but they still move around slightly. Yes, the tension is adjustable and I have it set as light as possible. Just seems like they catch sometimes and are hard to release. Havn't had a real problem but it would be nice if they released a little easier.

There are the SPD-SL cleats that look very similar to the Look cleats, that may have been what you are talking about

There are the SPD-SL cleats that look very similar to the Look cleats, that may have been what you are talking about


I also use blue Loctite to keep them from coming loose.

I have Wellgo brand pedals but they are the "Look" style and my cleat looks just like the one you have pictured. I would not worry to much about stripping the threads, be careful you do not strip the head of the screws though, makes it a pain to remove or adjust if you do that.

This info may not apply since you say you bought cheap shoes…
If your new shoes have a smooth sole, such as many of the composite soled shoes, they usually come with a small friction pad that's designed to go between the cleat and the sole of the shoe. It looks like sand paper on one side with a self adhesive backing on the other. You're supposed to stick the adhesive side to the back of your cleat before you mount the cleat to the shoe. This is designed to help keep the cleat from moving on the smooth sole which will also loosen the screws. Just a thought.

This info may not apply since you say you bought cheap shoes…
If your new shoes have a smooth sole, such as many of the composite soled shoes, they usually come with a small friction pad that's designed to go between the cleat and the sole of the shoe. It looks like sand paper on one side with a self adhesive backing on the other. You're supposed to stick the adhesive side to the back of your cleat before you mount the cleat to the shoe. This is designed to help keep the cleat from moving on the smooth sole which will also loosen the screws. Just a thought.

AHA!! Good idea! Yes the shoes have a nylon/fiberglass sole and are very smooth on the bottom. This little trick might just help. Thanks rudenoiz. :)

I only bought this cheap shoe/pedal combo (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile_combo.cfm?SKU=17370&estore_ID=&subcategory_ID=&CFID=13003500&CFTOKEN=60684645) to see if I would like clipless. Now that I know I'm gonna like it I will prolly be buying a better set of pedals and shoes in the near future. Christmas present material...hehe ;) I have no problems at all with this cheap junk(other than being a little hard to clip out) for now, so I'll use it until I can get something better. I only paid $80 for the combo(including shipping) so what the heck. :D