How To Know When To Replace Your Cleats | GCN's Cycling Tips

Worn cleats can affect your pedalling style, power, and, ultimately cause injury. Here's how to replace them and make sure you get them in the right position.

Replacing your pedal's cleats can be a tricky process. This video aims to make it simple; Simon shows you how to judge when you should replace your cleats, how to get your new cleats in the same place as the old one (the most difficult part of it, we reckon), and, finally, how to fit your new cleats.

Got any questions on this one? Let us know down in the comments and feel free to share and like this video!

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[johnlatta]

Thanks for making this. I'm very new to cycling. I've walked on the shoes too much already. The small yellow pads on the Shimano cleats have worn off relatively early as I didn't pay attention . I took them to a bike store and the worker said I needed new ones already. Watching this video, I know it's not the case.

[varjavandcontractor]

I just got my first bike on Sunday, and this is just the perfect timing, as I was just wondering when I would beed to change cleats.

In general, thank you, GCN. You guys are the reason I went from MTB to Road Bike.

[Frank_Lucker]

I found this quite informative but my eye is constantly drawn to that really small apple on the counter behind you.

[jordywilliams]

coloured parts on the shimano cleats usually break off after about an hour

[mizzorian]

Shimano recommends in its documents that when the coloured rubber parts wear out, you should replace the cleats.

For me, I walked a lot on asphalt with them which led to the fading of the coloured bits, which led to quickly wearing the plastic (the main body). In the video he is saying that it is not the coloured bits to worry about, and he is somewhat true, but under the coloured bits are the actual mounting points which are the most important, not the centre like he is pointing out.

[charlesmansplaining]

The way I mark my shoes is spray some PAM cooking grease lightly around the cleat then sprinkle talc powder. Remove the old clear and you have a perfect imprint to place the new cleats on. Then just rinse with a sponge, don't worry about getting it totally clean, the rest will wear off quickly. And you're done.

[wbpschannel]

Thanks for the tips Gcn I love this show Thanks Si! You, dan, and matt have inspired me to start racing again and better.

[keithbreaux]

Thanks for video! Just replaced my cleats, your tips were spot on. I had no difficulties.

[NeoPayneHK]

i use the same method to replacing a new cleat in the past
it works great.
and thanks for advising to measure the place for new cleat on new shoe

[stigter]

Thanks for the video on using tape the switch over was perfect! No adjust required.

[teton]

If only you posted this a few days earlier! I recently crashed out of my race because my cleat was so worn, when I was sprinting for a downhill attack, my cleat popped out and I fell at 64km/h. Oh well...

[robertdore]

This guy's a very good presenter; very natural.

[derf]

I get a marker pen and just draw around the cleat, decades ago LOOK would supply a sticky sheet that you stuck on the sole with a cut out to make sure your new one lines up.

[WowRixter]

I like to dab good old White Out in 4 spots on the existing cleat to mark its location. Then on new cleat dab in the same spots then line up and reattach

[mnovo]

Agreed. This is often the most overlooked part required service. Cleat replacement often is a must. Why bother with all that expensive tech for speed and risk injury? A pair of cleats is cheaper than knee surgery!

[Bungle]

I subscribed to GCN and it shaved a full minute off my favorite hill climb!

[earthstick]

Grease on the bolt threads is essential to stop them rusting into the nuts. Great tip.

[netfischer]

Glad to see I am not the only one being so OCD about changing the cleats. :D

[ianbrown_]

All helps, liked the soul interjection at the end :-)

[ImmortalBlueable]

A great tip for ensuring that the cleat goes in the right place, is to mask off the fabric of the shoe, then give the cleat a light dusting with an airbrush/ can of spray paint. Then, remove the cleat, and simply put the new one back in the outline :)