How to Turn Tennis Shoes into Bike Cleats

Tennis shoes actually make good bike cleats. They are cool, and inexpensive when compared to factory-made bike cleats. The tennis shoe must have a stiff sole -- preferably one that is thicker than usual. Power is transferred through the sole to the pedal, thus more stress is placed on the sole. You can buy spare cleats at any bike shop or sporting-goods store, and with a few tools, convert any pair of tennis shoes into bike cleats.

Things You'll Need

  • Bike cleats
  • Cordless drill
  • Drill bit, 1/16 inch
  • Mounting plate
  • Hex wrench, 3 millimeter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Go to a bike shop and purchase two bike cleats. If the cleats do not come with mounting plates, buy those too.

    • 2

      Pull the rubbery foam innersole out of the tennis shoes. Turn the tennis shoes upside down. Place the cleat on the center of the tennis shoe where the ball of you foot is. The arrow point of the cleat should be facing forward.

    • 3

      Insert the drill bit into the holes in the cleat. Drill up through the sole using a cordless drill. Use the holes in the cleat for a guide.

    • 4

      Insert screws that came with the cleats into the holes in the cleats. The screws will pass through the cleat and sole into the inside of the shoe.

    • 5

      Reach into the shoe, find the screws and place the mounting plate on the screws. Using a 3mm hex wrench, screw the screws up through the cleats, through the sole, and into the mounting plates from the bottom of the shoe.

      Put the foam innersole back in the shoes.