This is for those of you who use SPD style MTB pedals, and have to do significant walking. I'm not too worried about the click/grind per se, but I am concerned about the longevity of my cleats.

I ride to a metro (subway) and take the train the rest of the way as a general rule. This means walking from the bike rack to the platform, and from the station to the office, and back. I change shoes once I'm at work, so generally no walking around during the day. All told, I probably walk a few hundred yards most days, and certainly far less than a half mile.

How much should I worry about damaging or breaking cleats walking on standard sidewalks? Escalators? Any surfaces to particularly watch out for? I'm okay with the 'slippery' factor, and I tilt my foot to avoid clicking on the marble when I walk into the building (don't want the guard to decide I'm damaging the floor) but my cleats grind pretty horribly on the concrete sidewalks, and I can't see walking on the outsides of my feet all the time.

I'm sure there might be shoes which would /protect/ the cleats a little better, but I have two pair, and both click/grind about the same. Pair #1 are relatively inexpensive Shimano MTB shoes, and pair #2 are some old AXO MTB shoes.

Am I worrying for nothing?

They'd probably wear out from use on your bike well before the wear from walking would make a significant difference.

SPD cleats are pretty stout. I've been walking around on concrete with mine for years and they still work fine.

ditto ive had the same set of cleats for years also and i do a bit of walking with em only thing ive had a problem with is the screws.

I've only got something like six months of experience, but I did get a pair of used shoes with cleats already in 'em ... they look and function like new.

The cleats are fairly cheap, too. If you wind up spending $20 to replace them after a few years of use, that's not a terrible fate.

my cleats are still going strong after 3 years, and this is with SIGNIFICANT walking everyday.

besisdes, when i bought SPD clipless pedals for my 3 bikes, they all came with cleats. and when i bought my SPD mountain bike shoes, they came with cleats. i'm still on my first pair of cleats, but i already have 3 pairs of cleats on reserve. the shoes will wear long before i can exhaust my stash of cleats.

+1 to the reasoning: cheap enough to replace when it becomes an issue, carry on.

I'm surprised you're making as much clicking / crunching as you seem to be describing. I'm using Sidi Dominators with Crank Bros cleats and it's not very noticeable. There are lots of different treads, cleat heights, and even shims out there. If this is to the point where you're changing your gait, you may want to investigate. Particularly since slipping and going down hard is a distinct possibility.

It may be that his shoes are worn to the point that the cleats are hitting the floor much easier now.

I too use SPDs and find the cleats to not be an issue. I don't know if I would pirouette on a nice wooden floor with my cleats on, but otherwise I find them to be no problem.

I wear out shoes faster than I wear out cleats.

Thanks guys. That's reassuring.

Believe it or not, the Shimano shoes are nearly new. But they definitely click more than the AXOs. I think it is just the profile of the sole. And the clicking is only really bad on sidewalks or other rough concrete. On smooth floors, I can ignore it, but I try to be cautious in my building, as the guard knows I ride, and has mentioned my shoes a couple of times.

I think I'll stop worrying :-)

MTB SPDs are great. They have thicker under shoe threads that accommodate walking without the awkward clickity-clack. I am not worried that wearing down the cleats. Keep 'em lubed/greased to ensure smooth clip-ins/clip-outs. That said, the M505 that I recently acquired came with 2 sets of cleats. So they will be my reserves.