Cleat Float
11-04-20, 02:26 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Cleat Float
This might be a dumb question but here goes anyway - Shimano SPD-SL cleats come in three colors , red, blue , & yellow with respective float of 0, 2 , & 6 degrees of float - since the cleats are attached firmly to the shoes , are the cleats themselves shaped differently so that they provide different degrees of float given that the pedals themselves are identically shaped ?
11-04-20, 02:29 PM
#2
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So how it was explained to me the cleats are the same size shape but where the cleat engages the pedal is "fuller" in material not allowing the floating feeling you get. If you take a red vs. yellow with a calipers you can measure the difference. I once broke a cleat, LBS only had a blue set, I use yellow. The mech took a grinder to them and put the float back in, enough anyways where it was like the yellow. I replaced it as soon as I could be yeah that is how I understand it.
I am sure somebody can give you a much better explanation.
I am sure somebody can give you a much better explanation.
11-04-20, 02:39 PM
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https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/infor...t-for-you.html
Shimano's official explanation is that the pivot point is changed between the yellow and blue, I've never checked but there must be a small difference in the contact surface of the two models. I bought a set of blue once because no yellow (that I normally used) were available at the shop. I rode them just fine until they wore out and I changed back to my normal yellow. I do scribe the position of my cleat onto my shoe sole, to allow precise positioning when I replace the cleats.
Shimano's official explanation is that the pivot point is changed between the yellow and blue, I've never checked but there must be a small difference in the contact surface of the two models. I bought a set of blue once because no yellow (that I normally used) were available at the shop. I rode them just fine until they wore out and I changed back to my normal yellow. I do scribe the position of my cleat onto my shoe sole, to allow precise positioning when I replace the cleats.
11-04-20, 02:41 PM
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So how it was explained to me the cleats are the same size shape but where the cleat engages the pedal is "fuller" in material not allowing the floating feeling you get. If you take a red vs. yellow with a calipers you can measure the difference. I once broke a cleat, LBS only had a blue set, I use yellow. The mech took a grinder to them and put the float back in, enough anyways where it was like the yellow. I replaced it as soon as I could be yeah that is how I understand it.
I am sure somebody can give you a much better explanation.
I am sure somebody can give you a much better explanation.
11-04-20, 03:41 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
Cleat Float
All great answers and very helpful for my understanding , thanks everyone for your time - I'd like to ask one additional question - what method do you use to mount new cleats on your shoes if they're the first cleats on the shoes and so don't have stenciled outline of your old cleats .
11-04-20, 03:51 PM
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I put the cleats on. in the best guess I can make, tighten them, put my foot in the pedal and look. Is the ball of my foot right vs the pedal spindle? Distances of ball of foot and heel to crank right? If not, try again. Ride, take notes and tweak.
With some cleat systems, you can access the cleat bolts with the shoe on the pedal. I loosen the straps and step out of the cleated shoe, loosen the bolts a little, get back in and ride, Twist foot till it feels right. Stop, step out, tighten, then remove shoe from pedal.
Edit: typos
With some cleat systems, you can access the cleat bolts with the shoe on the pedal. I loosen the straps and step out of the cleated shoe, loosen the bolts a little, get back in and ride, Twist foot till it feels right. Stop, step out, tighten, then remove shoe from pedal.
Edit: typos
11-04-20, 03:54 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
I put the cleats on. in the best guess I can make, tighten them, put my foot in the pedal and look. Is the ball of my foot right vs the pedal spindle? Distances of ball of foot and heel to crank right? If not, try again. Ride, take notes and tweak.
With some cleat systems, you can access the cleat bolts with the shoe on the pedal. I loosen the straps and step out of the cleated shoe, loosen the bolts a little, get back in and ride, Twist foot till it feels right. Stop, step out, tighten, then remove shoe from pedal.
Edit: typos
With some cleat systems, you can access the cleat bolts with the shoe on the pedal. I loosen the straps and step out of the cleated shoe, loosen the bolts a little, get back in and ride, Twist foot till it feels right. Stop, step out, tighten, then remove shoe from pedal.
Edit: typos
11-04-20, 04:01 PM
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11-04-20, 05:10 PM
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Hey OP - Watch this:
11-04-20, 05:21 PM
#10
Senior Member
The nose of the SPD-SL cleats is slightly different to allow for the differences in float. You can see the differences clearly here: https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/infor...t-for-you.html
11-05-20, 05:29 PM
#11
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I use a cleat placing type template made by ERGO, its pretty neat. Once you find your perfect placement you can mark it if on a new pair of shoes. But a getting it close and then just getting comfortable works great too.
https://www.amazon.com/Ergon-TP1-Shi.../dp/B0039TJYO2
I paid like $10 on ebay for mine.
https://www.amazon.com/Ergon-TP1-Shi.../dp/B0039TJYO2
I paid like $10 on ebay for mine.
