How to Adjust Cleats

To prevent their feet from slipping off their pedals, mountain bikers and road racers often wear specially equipped shoes that fasten to an adjustable cleat on the top of each pedal. The cleats are designed to keep the balls of the feet centered on the pedal until the cyclist intentionally removes the shoe. The cyclist must adjust the tension of the cleat to balance holding the shoe firmly in place while still allowing quick removal of the foot from the pedal.

Things You'll Need

  • Cycling shoes
  • Hex head key
  • Thread sealer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit normally on the bicycle and with one foot touching the ground, insert the peg of the shoe on the opposite foot into the cleat on the pedal on the corresponding side of the bike.

    • 2

      Slide your foot, forcefully, back-to-front and side-to-side against the inside the cleat. If the shoe feels sloppy, you will need to increase the tension of the cleat.

    • 3

      Insert the hex key into the tension adjustment screw, usually located on the rear of the cleat. Turn the hex key to the right to increase the tension on the cleat. Tighten the tension on the cleat a 1/2-turn at time and retest the fit of the shoe in the cleat. Continue adjusting the cleat in 1/2-turn increments with the hex key until the peg of the shoe will no longer fit into the cleat.

    • 4

      Back the adjustment screw off a 1/2-turn to the left and retest the fit of the shoe peg. The shoe should fit snugly, but still allow you to pull your foot easily free of the pedal. Make any needed final micro-adjustments in tension to the cleat with 1/4 turns of the hex key.

    • 5

      Apply two drops of thread sealer to the head of the tension adjustment screw to keep the screw locked in place. This way, it won't move out of adjustment from road vibrations.

    • 6

      Repeat the adjustment for the cleat on the opposite pedal.