SPD Pedals for Dummies

One of our staffers was reading a Facebook group for a local gym, and ran across this from another member: "At SoulCycle we had to wear special shoes that they give riders because your foot gets locked into the pedal." Ummm, yeah, lady, those are called "cleats." Someone nicely set her straight on the notion that the shoes are "special," since they're just Look Deltas...  Apparently, however, the idea of "special shoes" is confusing to many a soccer mom trying out her first spin class, confusion evident in the Janet Renee post "How to Use SPD-SL Cycling Cleats,"¹ now up at SportsRec.com.

For those of you unfamiliar with cycling cleats, they are metal or plastic devices that mount on the bottom of stiff-soled shoes. The purpose is to maximize the transfer of a cyclist's leg power to the pedal. Without cleats, cyclists can't pull up on a pedal stroke unless they're using toeclips, which lose some power due to their flexibility. SPD-SL pedals and cleats are a design made by cycling component company Shimano.

Renee sort of got that information across in her introduction:

"SPD-SL cycling cleats, which are made by Shimano, are designed to transfer more power from your body to the bike. The bottom of the shoe is made of carbon fiber, which is very tough, yet light. SPD-SL cleats must be used with the Shimano series of bike pedals, which are designed so that the cleats fit into the pedal like a lock and key. This allows you to cycle powerfully while your foot remains securely attached to the pedal."

Why she needed to talk about the construction of the shoes is confusing, but what the heck. The "locked" and "power transfer" stuff is essentially correct. Where Janet failed her readers is in neglecting to mention that SPD-SL pedal/cleat systems are a road bike standard...

...which manifested itself immediately in Renee's first step:

"... if you have a mountain bike, then you need the SPD-SL mountain bike cleats."

No, Janet, there is no such thing as "SPD-SL mountain bike cleats" – the SPD-SL is a three-hole nylon cleat similar to the Look Keo and Delta cleats. For mountain bikes, Shimano makes SPD cleats that are two-hole metal cleats (the same cleats used on most spin bikes).

Janet's unfamiliarity with the use of cleats extends further. For instance, she simply says to,

"Turn your shoe over and align the holes in the shoe with the holes on your cleat. Use the tightening tool to secure the cleat to the shoe."

No "tightening tool" is included with the cleats, which attach to the shoe with Allen-head bolts. Most cyclists have the correct-size Allen wrench on their multitool. Renee then plunges into putting on the shoes:

"Put your shoes on with the cleats attached and tie them, so they fit snugly."

Wait, what? none of our cyclists has seen a pair of cycling shoes with laces in twenty years or so... but that pales alongside how Janet says to release the cleat once it's locked into the pedal:

"When you're done, simply pull up with your foot to unlock the cleat from the pedal..." A prime reason for using cleats, idiot, is to allow the cyclist to pull up on a pedal stroke. To release from any cycling cleats, SPD or SPD-SL, you pivot the heel – not "pull up"! It's readily apparent that this particular dietitian knows next to nothing about cycling, whether in a gym or outdoors. Janet's probably competent when it comes to explaining nutrition, but when it comes to cycling and cleats, she's our Dumbass of the Day.

¹ The original has been deleted by Leaf Group and was never saved by archive.org. Oh, well, no loss...   

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