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How to install new MTB (SPD system) cleats?
 


This ‘How to’ guide is for our MTB cleats CC-CLEAT03 (please see product image directly underneath).



MTB cleats have a tough and unrelenting existence. Regular clipping in and out of the pedal, being exposed to dirt and grit as well as normal riding motions have an impact on their wear. So, every so often, it will be necessary to replace your cleats. A new cleat that is properly installed will allow your clipless pedal system to work perfectly and give you the confidence that clipping in and out of your pedal will work flawlessly.

Before we go into the details of how to remove your existing cleat and how to install the new one, please keep in mind that we are not going to dive into the issue of the correct position in this how-to guide. If you have not already done it, we would recommend that you find out more about exactly where your cleat should sit for your riding style, for your natural shoe position and the specific anatomy of your foot. To do so, we would suggest getting further information from a dedicated bike fitter. Our how-to guide is based on the assumption that you have found the correct cleat position on your shoe and that you are replacing an SPD cleat with a compatible one.

NOTE: If you should have our road cleats (CC-CLEAT02 or CC-CLEAT04) see small image directly underneath, then please click here for the installation instructions.




What you need
To replace your cleat and to keep a position of the new cleat that is as similar as possible to the one you are removing, you will need the following items: new cleat set (CC-CLEAT03 - see exact contents below), including washers and bolts, an Allen key set, a sharp-edged tool (for example little screwdriver) and some grease. The cleats are not left or right specific.

Exact list of items included:
- 2 x cleats
- 2 x washers / washerplates
- 4 x bolts





Remove the old cleat
It often happens that dirt and grit gets into the Allen key head of the bolt (1). To prevent rounding off the bolt, or damage your Allen key set, we would suggest removing all dirt and grit from the head (2) with a sharp-edged tool, like for example a small screwdriver. Use a quality Allen key to remove the bolts. Make sure you don't round off the bolts in the process as that will also make the removing much more difficult. Turn the bolts anti-clockwise till they are all out and you can remove the old cleat.

Most likely, you need to leaver the cleat gently off the sole of the shoe. Once again use a sharp-edged tool like a screwdriver to do this. Repeat the same on your other shoe.









Prepare your new cleat
Clean the base of your shoe and make sure that no dirt gets into the bolt holes. To make it easier to fit the new cleat in the same position as the old one, please be careful when cleaning that the bolt plate (which sits inside the shoe (3)) moves. The old cleat will have left markings/indents (4) which will help to install the new cleat in the same position. Repeat the same on your other shoe.



Install your new cleat
Place the new cleat roughly in the position where the old one was, and over the bolt holes you are going to screw the bolts into. Make sure that the little arrow (5) points towards the front of the shoe. Place the washer/washerplate into the cleat. Make sure that the side with countersunk holes, which lets the bolts sit flush with the washer, points upwards (6). Give each bolt a thin coating of grease and feed the bolt through the washer into the bolt hole (7). Slightly tighten. Repeat on both holes. Repeat the same on your other shoe.





Check the position of the new cleat
Before tightening down, please check the markings your 'old' cleat left ( 8 ), so that the position of your new cleat is as similar to the 'old' one as possible. Adjust the position of the cleat till the markings confirm that the position is the same. Once in the right position, secure each bolt by turning it clockwise. It helps if you securely hold the cleat with one hand so that the process of tightening it down does not move the cleat. Don't fully tighten down one bolt, before you go to the next. Instead, incrementally tighten the bolts, going from one to the other, each time tightening the bolt a little bit further till they are all nice and tight. Please make sure you don't overtighten the bolts and potentially damage the cleat or your shoe. Repeat the same on your other shoe. Go for a short ride to check that the position of the cleat is as you would like it to be.




by Mikethebike     Tue May 19, 2020

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