Cycling UK Forum

I'm new to clipless and would like to know roughly how long standard Shimano SH51 cleats tend to last.

Usage: I'll be wearing them daily for a number of months on tour. The shoes are cleat recessed, so they shouldn't wear out with walking (should they?).

What do you guys reckon: a couple of months, a year?

Thanks.

I reckon you should with continuous wear get six months out of a pair of cleats at least,you could take a spare pair with you on tour thats what we do.
If not then at least carry spare bolts as it has been known for folks to loose one.

I don't think the problem is one of walking, although if you were to walk on unprotected SPD cleats, they would suffer. SPD cleats work effectively because they have nice hard clear cut edges to open the pedal clamping system. If you generally get on your bike and then ride they might never wear out. If you are on and off every two minutes then they are more likely to wear. For shopping rides and similar I use tradistional rubber block pedals, so my SPD riding has tended to be longer rides with not much getting on and off. I don't think I've ever replaced any cleats because of wear.

As it happens I am just about to put some new cleats on my shoes, as they have worn out and are now very loose. Actually it is just the left one that has worn out, as it has probably done 3 or 4 times as many unclips as the right, as I always put that foot down first.

They've lasted about 18 months and 9,000 miles, of which probably 7,000 has been commuting, with, maybe an unclip every 2 miles, and the rest day rides and tours, where it might have been say every 4 miles.

I don't think you need worry about taking spares for your trip!

.

I have had trouble releasing with worn out cleats, one time on the tandem when on tour we just fell over at a stop,Mrs R2 wasn't too pleased as she caught her knee on the handlebar in the fall,so its best not to wear out cleats to badly,since that incident we always carry spares.

I've just replaced mine now. The main wear is at the front where the lip at the very front which is about 1mm deep has worn to a point on the left one, and about half as much on the right.

I'm sure the new ones will last until the shoes are worn out.

reohn2 wrote:I have had trouble releasing with worn out cleats, one time on the tandem when on tour we just fell over at a stop,Mrs R2 wasn't too pleased as she caught her knee on the handlebar in the fall,so its best not to wear out cleats to badly,since that incident we always carry spares.

Nasty! My experience with them as they wore was that release got easier and easier. By the end I could just lift my left foot out by moving it backwards, without having to twist. The challenge was keeping my foot attached. I have my pedal release set loosely - maybe that is why it was different? Whatever the reason a fall on a solo is bad enough but on a tandem it is well worth avoiding!

PS just thought about my numbers in the post above - I reckon I would unclip more than that when commuting - maybe once every half mile. Touring might be once every two miles.

I quite like worn cleats because they give loads of smooth float. Not too worn as they wobble in ways they shouldn't. I find, however, that my pedals wear too; so if you have worn out a few pairs of cleats your pedals may need looking at.

Thanks for replies, this gives me some numbers to work on.

Frong.

You must have a tight budget if you're worrying about cleat life?

The pedals wear too.

£15!?

When you say 'pedals wear' are you talking about the bearings or the SPD mechanism? If the latter, would you expect this to wear before the cleats - in the case of a Shimano M520 SPD pedal?

I find M520's quite a durable bit of kit if you by the special service tool at £5(?) they can be serviced quite quickly and last very well definately outlasting atleast three sets of cleats,the problem is a pair of M520's cost £20 and a pair of cleats cost £12 its a no brainer.

gaz wrote:Back when I was riding significant mileages I would wear out shoes before wearing out the cleats attached to them.

That's my experience too - over 10 years at around 6000m p.a. spread over 5 pairs of shoes/boots/sandals, I've only replaced 1 set of cleats

So to answer the OP, between 5-10,000 miles would be my guess.

Thanks again for the replies.

Frong.