How to Adjust SPD-SL Cleats

Shimano SPD-SL cleats are part of a clip-and-retention package designed to keep your bike shoe clipped into your pedal while biking. This pedal system increases performance by transferring more force from the cranking cycle to the drive chain when you are pedaling. To optimize performance, you need to do some fine tuning when your first mount the cleat to your bike shoe. Unlike older SPD cleats, SPD-SL cleats have three posts for attaching the cleat to the shoe. Attach SPD-SL cleats only to shoes designed for these three-post cleats.

Things You'll Need

  • SPD-SL compatible bike shoes
  • SPD-SL cleats
  • 4 mm Allen wrench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Loosely attach the cleat to the bottom of the shoes by lining up the three holes in the cleat with the three holes in the shoe. Use only the provided hardware that came with the cleats. Using other hardware may damage the shoe or cleat.

    • 2

      Use the 4 mm Allen wrench to tighten the cleats to the shoe to prevent any displacement when testing. Don't overtighten the cleats because more adjustments may be warranted.

    • 3

      Practice engaging and disengaging the shoe from the pedal. Perform this test with each shoe on the corresponding pedal.

    • 4

      Test the shoe and pedal to determine the best position on the pedal. Readjust the cleat position by slightly loosening and then retightening the cleats using the 4 mm Allen wrench.

    • 5

      Tighten the bolts fully to 43 to 52 in. lbs. using the Allen wrench, once you have found the best cleat position.