Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Installing cleats...need help

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Installing cleats...need help

Old 04-06-04, 07:20 PM
  #1  
What?
Thread Starter
 
J-McKech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: N. Tx
Posts: 1,650

Bikes: Bianchi Brava(retired), Surly Instigator(retired)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Installing cleats...need help

I got my look-style pedals and they came with 2 types of cleats. Red and Black. Red ones seem to allow for 6 degrees of motion for knee problems, so im putting those on. My question is..in the middle of the cleat is a hole and in the hole there is this black square piece..do i take that out or leave it in? any other suggestions?
J-McKech is offline  
Old 04-06-04, 07:25 PM
  #2  
Nothing But Bianchi
 
bianchi_rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Gulf Coast, Florida
Posts: 817

Bikes: Bianchi Giro, Bianchi Funny Bike TT,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Hmmmmm, well i have both types of cleats... I left the black rubber in on my red because its there for some reason...
I was told that if you use those cleats on older style look pedals to remove the black rubber thing...
So honestly , I DONT KNOW !!!!!
bianchi_rider is offline  
Old 04-06-04, 07:26 PM
  #3  
Nothing But Bianchi
 
bianchi_rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Gulf Coast, Florida
Posts: 817

Bikes: Bianchi Giro, Bianchi Funny Bike TT,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bianchi_rider
Hmmmmm, well i have both types of cleats... I left the black rubber in on my red because its there for some reason...
I was told that if you use those cleats on older style look pedals to remove the black rubber thing...
So honestly , I DONT KNOW !!!!!
BUT.... I am sure someone will tell us .....
bianchi_rider is offline  
Old 04-06-04, 07:29 PM
  #4  
What?
Thread Starter
 
J-McKech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: N. Tx
Posts: 1,650

Bikes: Bianchi Brava(retired), Surly Instigator(retired)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i hope soon lol..i have shoes and stuff strun about my bed
J-McKech is offline  
Old 04-06-04, 07:30 PM
  #5  
Not so Senior Member
 
Eureka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 314

Bikes: Simoncini SS, Trek Al/CA, Jamis HT, Cannondale Rush 5Z

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by HammerTheHill
I got my look-style pedals and they came with 2 types of cleats. Red and Black. Red ones seem to allow for 6 degrees of motion for knee problems, so im putting those on. My question is..in the middle of the cleat is a hole and in the hole there is this black square piece..do i take that out or leave it in? any other suggestions?
I have had both and would never take them off. I thought of them as an anti-skid device. Doesn't work great.
Eureka is offline  
Old 04-07-04, 04:07 AM
  #6  
Wind Breaker
 
Bruco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: In the Dutch mountains
Posts: 802
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by HammerTheHill
My question is..in the middle of the cleat is a hole and in the hole there is this black square piece..do i take that out or leave it in? any other suggestions?
I was told that this black square piece of rubber serves as some sort of a wear indicator. When it no longer 'sticks out' of the plastic, your cleat is 'officially' gone. Somehow, I always replace cleats before they reach that point. Like fresh handlebar tape, new cleats are one of those nice cycling luxuries.
Bruco is offline  
Old 04-07-04, 06:02 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
james57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 217
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Since we are on the cleat subject .. how do you set its position (ie 1-5) I have made some adjustments but have never found a scientific approach ?
james57 is offline  
Old 04-07-04, 06:20 AM
  #8  
Wind Breaker
 
Bruco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: In the Dutch mountains
Posts: 802
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by james57
Since we are on the cleat subject .. how do you set its position (ie 1-5) I have made some adjustments but have never found a scientific approach ?
Do you mean the tension? Well, start with low tension (for easy unclipping) and as you gain experience in the pedals you gradually raise the tension (which makes for better riding).

If you mean the position of the cleat on the shoe sole, I can only suggest to trial and error (taking the appropriate screw driver with you on your test ride). You want the ball of your foot to be 'on the pedal axle'. At which angle, etc. exactly depends on your preferences, position, etc. When it feels right, it's probably right.
Bruco is offline  
Old 04-07-04, 06:56 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
james57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 217
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Yes I meant the position not the tension. I have tried different positions, 2 and 4 , and have found very little difference and can adapt to either. I understand that you will natuarally modify the angles but was curious about some kind of std approach to the subject .. Thks
james57 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.