How to Put Shoes on Clipless Pedals

Special shoes are needed for clipless pedals. These shoes have a special cleat that is attached to a plate inside the shoe that transfers power through your foot to the pedal. There is a spring-loaded mechanism on clipless pedals that opens when you put pressure on the pedal with the shoe. The mechanism on the pedal closes on the cleat, locking your shoe into the pedal. You must have clipless shoes to use clipless pedals.

Instructions

    • 1

      Get on the bike and sit on the seat. Start the bike moving by shoving off with one foot. Put your feet on the pedals and begin pedaling slowly.

    • 2

      Push down on the pedal with the ball of your foot. Try to feel the metal of the cleat against the metal jaws of the pedal.

    • 3

      Rub your foot around on the pedal when you feel metal to metal contact. You will find one spot on the pedal, a small divot where it feels like the cleat gets caught.

    • 4

      Push down hard on the pedal with your shoe at the bottom of the pedal stroke as you are coasting forward on the bike. You will hear and feel a satisfying "click" when the shoe locks into the pedal. If you don't hear a click, rub your foot around in a circle on the pedal, try to find the divot and push again until you hear the click.

    • 5

      Bring the clipped-in shoe up to the top of the pedal stroke and find the divot on the other pedal with your other foot. Listen for the click and you are clipped in.