I bought some new shoes for the first time in ~15 years and am a little confused. The bolt pattern seems to be different than my old ones, and I wanted to know if there were cleats for the shoes that matched my pedals. REI was less help than I had wanted, so I’m turning to your knowledge base.
Did I get the wrong shoes? Can I still find cleats for these pedals?
Thanks!
by bigbadanimaldad
8 Comments
Speed play makes a 3 hole clear mounting solution. Nbd
Search for “3 hole speed play adapter”, bobs your uncle
If you disassemble the old cleats, I think there is a bottom plate that goes on first, with 3 screw setup, and then the upper plate is secured on top of it with the 4 screws in your picture.
Try disassembling your old cleats and see if it makes more sense then.
This is fine. Speedplay are still attached with a three bolt pattern but you have that top plate that goes over that with the four bolts. Just take off that four bolt plate and then you’ll be able to see the three bolts. You can kind of see them sticking through.
Aha, I do see that now. Thanks guys. I will look for matching cleats.
You have speedplay cleats and pedals. The cleat on your old shoe uses 4 bolts that attach it to an adapter plate that uses the standard 3 bolt pattern that your new shoe also has. Both easy and normal tension cleats from wahoo will include everything you need.
You’ll have to get an adapter to fit speedplay cleats in a three-hole shoe, they exist, but your current cleats won’t fit in your new shoes as is.
Some tips. The Snap-on Ratcheting T-handled screwdriver is the best tool EVER for those screws worn to the bone. Not a cheap date, but with that tool you can apply the torque you need without slipping/stripping. Right tool for the job! ( I also use it on snowboard mounts!)
Whatever you use be sure to put a fresh #2 Phillips bit in it, not a bent or worn one. Most “bite.”
Remove the easy ones first.
You can take a Dremel and cut a slot in the worst ones to put a slotted screwdriver in. That’s easier/safer than drilling off the heads, leaving with you with a nub you have to grab with Vise-Grips.
Applly BLUE not RED locktite to the new screws, all 7 of them
Before removing, MARK the position of the cleat on your old shoes with a Sharpie so you can measure it and duplicate it on the new shoes. Or you may need a little forward/back adjustment if the shoes are slightly larger/smaller, etc. Or if you have one leg longer than the other, etc.
You can probably continue using those a cleats a while, but if I’m gonna invest all that effort, I’m putting new ones on.
I use white-lightning on Speedplay pedals to keep them clean and lubed and to minimize wear. I apply before each ride.
The other thing I do is carry a pair of Aquasox or whatever in my kit so I don’t have to walk on cleats as much. Busted my ass enough times!
HTH.
If you look closely under the cleat the old shoe also has 3 holes in that same pattern. I’m guessing this thing is like an adapter and you’ll find 3 screws under the 4 you can see