first crash... do I need to replace my shoes?

I had my first accident on the road bike today. I won't bore you with details, but I was stupid. Anyhow, I'm fine, but my cleats didn't do so well.

Basically, the cleat was ripped off my shoe and left on the pedal. Most of the spacer part remained attached to my shoe. I stopped at the bike shop and replaced the cleats on my way home. I mentioned to the guy that I hoped the shoes weren't damaged and he said they were okay aside from a small tear on the back part where the logo is, but they are showing wear (I've only had them since April). I've looked fairly closely and don't see anything that looks more like regular wear and tear.

It's been suggested by a friend that given the situation, the integrity of the sole of my shoe might be compromised and I should replace them.

Anybody else have experience with this kind of issue? I'd rather not have to replace the shoes because they were quite expensive and I got a really good deal on them.

The shoes are Sidi Genius 5 Pro Carbon.
The pedals are Speedplay Zero.

Does it feel like the sole of your shoe flexes more when you pedal with them? If yes, and you like a stiff shoe, then maybe you want to replace them.

I'm not certain how catastrophic it is if the integrity of your shoe sole fails when you're on the bike - but I really can't imagine it being all that bad - so I don't see a problem with using the shoe until it actually does fail if it's integrity has been compromised.

I'm not quite getting how the cleat could have separated from the shoe without damaging the sole. Were the bolts loose? How does the LBS think it happened?

Is it possible that the cleat coming off caused the crash, and not the other way around? Sudden separation under load (which could happen if the shoe failed) could easily cause a fall. I've seen a shoe fail before (it was just starting from a stop and he didn't fall), so it does happen, but I really don't know what kind of stress the rider might have put on the shoe before it failed. Might it be a warranty issue?

My goodness!!! Are you okay and how does your ankle feel? I can't imagine the force it would take to rip the cleat out of your shoe and not hurt your leg, ankle or foot!

I wonder if the threads got stripped out of the bottom of your shoe when the cleat was torn loose?

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Originally Posted by Cataboo

Does it feel like the sole of your shoe flexes more when you pedal with them? If yes, and you like a stiff shoe, then maybe you want to replace them.

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I didn't really notice much difference in the ride back to my car, aside from not being clipped in.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I'm not quite getting how the cleat could have separated from the shoe without damaging the sole. Were the bolts loose? How does the LBS think it happened?

Is it possible that the cleat coming off caused the crash, and not the other way around? Sudden separation under load (which could happen if the shoe failed) could easily cause a fall. I've seen a shoe fail before (it was just starting from a stop and he didn't fall), so it does happen, but I really don't know what kind of stress the rider might have put on the shoe before it failed. Might it be a warranty issue?

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Originally, that's what I was thinking. However, those aren't the screws that screw into the bottom of the shoe. The screws that attach the cleat to the shoe were still firmly in place. As you can see in the picture, some black plastic is attached around the screws. That's part of the Speedplay cleats that broke, which caused the cleat to come off the shoe. Parts of the cleat were still attached to the shoe.

Pretty sure it was my stupidity that caused the crash. I was trying to turn around and not actually pedalling at the time. I lost my balance and fell at a pretty low speed.

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Originally Posted by Bike Chick

My goodness!!! Are you okay and how does your ankle feel? I can't imagine the force it would take to rip the cleat out of your shoe and not hurt your leg, ankle or foot!

I wonder if the threads got stripped out of the bottom of your shoe when the cleat was torn loose?

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I'm more or less okay. I taped up my knee before the ride and the RockTape actually prevented road rash. Only minor scratches. I must have put my hand down because my thumb hurts a little bit, but nothing serious.

It is possible that not all of the screws were in tightly or something.

The guy at the LBS said my shoes & cleats showed higher than average wear considering I've only had them since April. They have just under 1000km of use.

Maybe I'm confusing skiing with cycling, but I think your cleat should separate from your pedals (not your shoe) when you wreck. That could cause injury.

When was the last time you had tightened your cleats? Mine need to be adjusted occasionally.

I wouldn't be worried about your shoes, but I would be worried about the set up on your pedals.

It sounds to me like her cleat just crumbled and broke around the screws on the shoes - which may mean that the release setting on her pedal is a bit high - or something was wrong with the cleat. I don't think I'd be worried about the shoe though and am glad that she's not too badly injured.

Glad you are ok.

Go ahead and ride with your shoes a while. Shoes aren't protective in the same way as a helmet, so there isn't the same issue with replacement after a crash.

I think you'll be able to tell if your shoes are wrecked. They won't feel right any more.

I have never heard of shoes being compromised because of a wreck, except maybe the stiffness of the sole. Or maybe the bolt holes would be stripped but it doesn't sound like the screws/bolts that attach to your shoes were even part of the issue.

Did you install the cleats or the LBS? If you did maybe they can go over what might of caused it. If it was the LBS I would personally make sure another employee did it. Not that people can't have a bad day but I would keep wondering on my new cleats! Glad you're okay, that is the important part. :)

The only thing I can think of is that you stripped the threads. Since the cleat was screwed into a separate plate, then I'd think the only thing you could have stripped would be the threads in the screw holes on that plate. (BTW if you damage the ones in your shoes, they are likely replaceable). Unless you had some kind of impact to a non-replaceable part of the shoe (such as breaking a carbon sole), then the shoes should be fine.

I'm the most concerned with why your cleat didn't release before being ripped off the plate. It's not that uncommon to break a composite cleat with the right kind of fall, but I've never seen Speedplays do what yours did.

Thanks for all of the input on this issue.

I need to play with the float on the new cleats before I can get out and ride again. I didn't realize until late this afternoon that I don't have a tiny screwdriver and didn't think to ask while at the shop.

I'm eager to get back out though. I have a ride in less than 2 weeks and it's really important that I'm prepared to hold onto the group for more than a few seconds.