How To Install SPD Cleats on Bike Shoes?

You want to install SPD cleats on your bike shoes ? However, there are different types of cycling shoes, and each one has a different way to get installed in SPD cleats.

In this article, we’ll cover how to install SPD cleats on cycling shoes, Shimano, mountain bike shoes, etcetera. 

We will give a step by step guide for each type of bike shoes, so make sure to stick till the end with us.

How to Install Shimano SPD Cleats?

There are two types of cleats that work for Shimano; SPD and SPD-SL. Let’s see how you can install Shimano SPD cleats first, then move on to SPD-SL cleats.

The two cleats only differ in the number of holes. SPD have only two holes, that’s why they are known as “Two-bolt cleats”.

While SPD-SL cleats have three holes and they are also called the “Three-bolt cleats”. 

How To Install Shimano SPD Cleats?

Here is how you can install Shimano SPD cleats by yourself. Let’s get right into it;

Step 1 : Put the cleat before the cleat adapter on the sole of the shoe

Step 2 : Tighten them with the cleat mounting bolts using a 4 mm hexagon wrench 

Step 3 : Loosen the bolts a little so you can adjust your cleat position

Step 4 : Adjust the cleat position by moving it a little bit left and right or forward and backward ( you may not find the perfect placement that easy) 

Step 5 : After finding that sweet spot, re-use the 4 mm hexagon wrench to tighten the bolts.

In case you had a difficult time following this pattern, you can watch this video where you will see how things are done.

How To Install Shimano SPD-SL Cleats? 

To install SPD-SL cleats on Shimano shoes, you will need a 4 mm Allen wrench. Let’s go over the step by step guide :

Step 1 : In case you had another cleats before, unscrew the screws to detach the cleat

Step 2 :  Make sure to clean the area, then position the washers in the cleats holes facing the flat side up

Step 3 : Put the three screws in place and use the 4 mm Allen wrench to tighten them

Step 4 : Before you tighten the screws all the way, make sure that the cleats are both lined up

Step 5 : Start tightening the screws again till they are totally tight. This helps you have great rides and not lose any screw while riding.

You can watch this video right here, if you want to know more in depth how things are done.

 

Now that you know how to install shimano cleats, let’s see how you can install those cleats on different bikes.

How To Install SPD Cleats On Mountain Bike Shoes?

There are a lot of mountain bike shoes. However, we will make it through each one of them separately then move on to other cycling shoes.

How To Install SPD Cleats On Giro Shoes?

To install SPD cleats on Giro shoes, you will have to follow this pattern to do it right and clean.

First, you will have to clean the shoes and the bolt holes so things can run smoothly. Then just position the cleats in the right place.

Once the cleats are well positioned and lined up, turn the screws counterclockwise till they are all tight. 

Then you can go for a test ride to see if there are any adjustments that you need to make.

How To Install SPD Cleats On Garneau Shoes?

Garneau is a well known Canadian company that has been manufacturing cycling shoes since 1988.

Let’s see how you can install SPD cleats on Garneau shoes. Before you install SPD cleats, wipe the holes of the bolts and the shoe sole.

After that you can start the installation process by putting all the pieces in place and make sure they are all lined up.

Therefore, start turning the screws one by one anticlockwise, keep repeating this step until they are all tight.

How To Install SPD Cleats On Pearl Izumi?

To Install SPD cleats on Pearl Izumi do as mentioned in this step by step guide;

Step 1 : Line up the cleats with the bolts holes on the sole of the shoe

Step 2 : Put the screw through the bracket into the bolt holes

Step 3 : Screw in the bolts using a 4 mm hex key, just a little do not screw them tight

Step 4 : Adjust the cleats to your desired sweet spot, make sure they are aligned.

Step 5 : Once they are aligned, tighten the bolts one by one till they are tight.

How To Install SPD Cleats On Specialized Shoes?

For these types of shoes, you will have to locate the metatarsal, also known as the knuckle of feet, locating that helps us know where the cleats are going to be.

Once you locate the metatarsal on both feet. We will have to make sure that the cleats are placed right behind the third metatarsal so your feet don’t go numb while riding. 

As you will see in this video below; Here is how you can locate metatarsal before you install the spd cleats.

In the end, you will just have to adjust it based on how you would like things to be and enjoy the rides after.

How To Install SPD Cleats On Indoor Cycling Shoes/ Spin Shoes?

To install SPD cleats on indoor cycling shoes, also called spin shoes, it is very easy and simple.

All you have to do is implement the same tips that we mentioned above, the steps that specialized shoes go through.

Or you can check this article where they show you in depth tips to attach the cleats yourself.

How to Install SPD Cleats On Road Bike Shoes?

We will close this article by showing you how to install spd cleats. So let’s get right into it.

Here are the steps you will have to follow to install spd cleats on road bike shoes;

Step 1 : Take out the insert of your shoe to get access to the plate inside

Step 2 : Place that plate face down, line up in the cut up holes

Step 3 : Put the cleat on the plate from the other side of the shoe

Step 4 : Then use a 4 mm Allen wrench to tighten up the screws, but leave it a little loose so you can adjust the cleats

Step 5 : Find that spot wherever you like to put your cleats, then tighten the screws separately till the cleats can’t budge.