Constantly switching cleats?
 

So, as most people on here I assume, I have multiple bikes. Mostly fixed gear/track bikes, with a road and mountain bike thrown in the mix. I just recently decided to switch over to clipless pedals, and ordered my first shoe. I went with a road shoe, for aesthetics. The Bontrager Spectre shoe. It has the ability to take both a 2-bolt SPD cleat, as well as a 3 bolt road cleat.

Now here's my question...if I were to get different pedals for my bikes, some road & some mountain...what negative consequences would there be to constantly switch between the cleat styles depending on which bike I ride? I bought some Look Keo Classics, but don't want to be limited to ONLY using Look pedals.

Would it be better in the long run to just buy a second pair of shoes? Or can I go from SPD to Look and back depending on my mood?

Thanks!

The only concern I can think if is whether you can get it in the right position every time, plus it sounds like a hassle to be honest.

Sounds like a hassle tangled up with a nuisance. Imagine getting ready to go for a ride while your buddies wait: "let me just get my shoes... oops we're taking the mountan bikes so I have to change cleats... it shouldn't take longer than ten minutes... maybe fifteen if I want the cleats to be properly aligned." It would be easier (but almost as ridiculous) to only own one pair of pedals that is swapped between bikes.

Also, having only road shoes is generally a bad decision - as decisions that take aesthetics before function often are. A quick run to the store for bread and smokes becomes a choice between riding with street shoes on the most uncomfortable possible pedals, or enjoying the ride but dealing with a sidewalk or tiled floor like it is a skating rink.

edit: I should also mention that the threads in cycling shoes don't last forever, and every time you remove and re-tighten the bolts, they get a little closer to failing. SPD cleat threads are more prone to this, although they are often easily replaceable, but it is easier still to avoid tempting fate and get a second pair of shoes for mtbing and errands.

Bad ideal all around.

I've chosen to go with the same type of cleats with all my bikes. A couple of different brands/styles of pedals, but all SPD compatible.

Aesthetics? If someone else has a problem with my bike build, they can deal with it. I also have shifters that are about 10 years newer than the frame. I now have single sided SPD pedals on one bike, but I'm not sure if I really like them. Still experimenting.

I did get to the point where a couple of pairs of cycling shoes seemed appropriate. So I now have "summer shoes" and "winter shoes". Also "summer and winter" bikes.

You may eventually deem that different types of cycling shoes may have benefits for different situations.

It would be a bigger hassle the first time you unpack your bike and shoes from the back of the car, 50 miles down the road... only to realize the cleats to match your pedals are sitting back home.

Or the first time you get to the 20 mile point in your ride and realize that your cleat was misaligned and you are crippled and need a knee replacement.

I have two pairs of shoes and keep both pairs in my vehicle, to prevent having the wrong shoes when I get to the ride.

I took it one step further. All Cleats/pedals on all my family bikes are SPD compatible (at least those that use clipless). Thus, when my son joined a mountain biking team and some of the team members use Crank brothers pedals, I told him he would be getting SPD pedals, since we already own multiple sets of SPD pedals. And when the time to buy new arose, we bought SPD for his new mountain bike since he already has shoes with SPD cleats. (and his old pedals can be an emergency backup).

As others have pointed out, having multiple sets of bikes and shoes that are mutually incompatible makes no sense. Additionally, for example, if my son damaged the pedals on his mountain bike on the day of a big race, it is at least possible to take the pedals off one of our other bikes as an emergency measure.

Also, from time to time, I will have to make minor adjustments on the family bikes, and it is easier for me to test ride the bikes if they all use the same type clipless I use.

Find a cleat/shoe design you like and stick with it on all your bikes.

I'll admit, the reason for thinking about going with different setups is purely aesthetics and design. I have yet to even ride clipless, but I scored a pair of the Keo's for real cheap.

But on one of my bikes, a 90's steel frame track bike, I'm building it up with polished silver everything. Seatpost, stem, headset, wheels, hubs, crankset, etc. And LOOK doesn't have any silver pedals. I feel like it would totally clash to have silver EVERYTHING, then a pair of black pedals on the bike.

Am I being too superficial?

Also, I don't usually walk around on rides. I either commute to work, which I'll have a separate pair of shoes anyway, or I'm riding around town for fun, stopping for coffee at most. So having a smaller & recessed cleat doesn't matter much to me.

Yes

Changing cleats often would be a real pain. And I wouldn't want to add another 15 minutes to my ride prep. Not to mention always getting the set up properly.

Having used several brands through the years, I currently ride with Shamino ultegra pd-6800 on my road bikes and Shamino spd pedals on my cyclocross and Bike Friday. The PD's are nicer for long rides, but with a mountain bike shoe or sandals I walk better off the bike in the spd's. I tour, vacation and ride with the grandchildren with the cyclocross and BF.

Yes, requires more than one pair of shoes, but through the years I have accumulated about six, including sandals. (Granted some are pretty worn but still worthy of wearing in bad weather.) I have never traveled to a ride with the wrong shoes--yet.

I would worry about stripping the hardware, either the screw heads or the threads in the shoes. The cleats need to be mounted tight enough not to slip or fall off.

I solved the problem by buying a second pair of shoes.

If you are that confident as an urban cyclist that you will never need to walk in your cycling shoes, then road shoes are the thing for you.

I mean, I'm on of those types. I ride a brakeless fixed gear bike in cutoff jeans shorts and t-shirts. I always ride with a big Chrome bag on my back. I'm not a typical spandex, helmet, road bike type commuter. If I ever need shoes, I'll probably have them in my bag next to my huge chain lock.

Is clipless another way of saying platforms?

If you need different cleats for different bikes, then you need different shoes for each type of cleat.

I had a couple of different true platform pedals a number of years ago that were designed for use only with toe clips. Those platform pedals were not clipless pedals.

Ridiculously superficial. So much so that it almost smells like trollbait, no offense