Is there a decent guide to adjusting cleats out there?

[Kermit power]

Afternoon all,

I've been trying to figure out my cleat adjustment, but am finding a fair bit to be somewhat counter-intuitive, so was wondering if there's a guide out there on the web somewhere that people could recommend?

As an example, I've been getting a bit of pins and needles on the outside edge of my left foot towards the toes. I'd assumed, therefore, that I'd want to move the cleat further in to shift the shoe further out on the pedal, but the cleat was already as far in as it could come. the cleat on my right shoe, on the other hand, was about half way out, so whilst I couldn't see it working, I tried shifting the cleat out on the left foot and it improved matters a lot.

Obviously I know how to actually adjust a cleat (these are MTB SPDs, so all of two bolts to loosen and tighten!), but ideally I'd like a guide that says "if you're getting this sort of discomfort, move your cleats like this...".

[ChrisMCoupe]

Are you sure it's the cleat and not overtight shoes?

Regarding cleat adjustment, when I had a cleat fit a few years ago, I seem to remember dangling my legs off the edge of a table and the fitter then working out the best angle for the cleats due to the natural fall of my feet.

[Matt_N]

ChrisMCoupe said:

Are you sure it's the cleat and not overtight shoes?

Regarding cleat adjustment, when I had a cleat fit a few years ago, I seem to remember dangling my legs off the edge of a table and the fitter then working out the best angle for the cleats due to the natural fall of my feet.

Yep that's one element.

To the OP take a look through this page, it covers just about every element of bike fitting and cleat position:

http://www.bikefit.com/s-13-road-bikes.aspx

Sounds like you have a similar issue to me and FWIW I have just order some cleat wedges to try.

[Kermit power]

Matt_N said:

Yep that's one element.

To the OP take a look through this page, it covers just about every element of bike fitting and cleat position:

http://www.bikefit.com/s-13-road-bikes.aspx

Sounds like you have a similar issue to me and FWIW I have just order some cleat wedges to try.

Cheers for that. Googling a bit more on Varus wedges unearthed a bit of advice, which was to take a look at a worn pair of normal shoes. If they wear unevenly, then there's a good chance you have an issue which might be fixed by wedges.

Looking at mine, I think it's safe to say that they're wearing unevenly!!!

[Kermit power]

swerni said:

what ones are you using mate?

Shimano MTB SPDs on both road and mountain bikes.

Not seen you for ages! Fancy a trundle out on the bikes at some point, either on or off tarmac?

[jodypress]

First off get yourself down to a proper bike shop and have a cleat fiting. It's amazing the difference it makes, not just the wedges, but you might also need arch support.

Of all the upgrades I've done over the years a bikefit and cleat setup was best money ever spent.

[Kermit power]

jodypress said:

First off get yourself down to a proper bike shop and have a cleat fiting. It's amazing the difference it makes, not just the wedges, but you might also need arch support.

Of all the upgrades I've done over the years a bikefit and cleat setup was best money ever spent.

I'm just booking some time with the chap who did my bike fits in the first place.

We did spend some time on the cleats, but it has actually been the decision to move from flats to SPDs on my MTB which has really got me to revisit it, as whilst I knew they weren't quite right on the road bikes, they'd been OK for my commute (a 30 mile round trip a couple of days per week), but even on much shorter distances, the increased movement on the bike with the MTB has made it much more pronounced.

He's got wedges and inserts and the like, so I'm sure we'll get to where we need to, but in the meantime I was interested in learning a bit more about it myself so that I can give more sensible feedback when we're working on it.

[Kermit power]

swerni said:

Love to.
Thing with SPD's is they do have an awful lot of float, so I'd be surprised if it was cleat positioning.
You could move them backwards and foreword a bit.
Else had been mentioned, could be shoe's too tight.
I have to use special insoles in mine as my feet are screwed and they have dropped in the centre.

How does this loop grab you? Ignore the bit at the start where Strava seems to think I was airdropped into Epsom from a helicopter, but we could agree a decent pub somewhere along the route to start from, then finish up with a late lunch?

Anyone else in/near Surrey is welcome to come out as well, btw, so long as you don't mind waiting for me at the top of anything with a gradient!!!