Beware of worn cleats...

[WindingRoad]

I thought I would post this little story of mine to help others avoid getting hurt. I have Eggbeater C's on my commuter, mountain bike and recently on one of my road bikes. Not realizing how quickly the cleats would wear out I had not changed them in apparently what is considered a long time. In case you ride on Eggbeaters these cleats are a relatively soft brass so you need to change them out more frequently than SPD or LOOK. I had these same cleats for about 2 years and I commute pretty regular. Today I took my first spill on a road bike, unfortunately is was in a busy intersection. I had been stopped and went to take off and when I pulled up my cleat popped loose and down I went I had my backpack full of books so I dropped everything like a ton of bricks. The good news is I did NOT scratch my new bike, or get ran over by a car whew However, my badly bruised ankles did not fare so well. I busted my finger up, my elbow is missing a chunk, got bruises on my inner thigh and rear end and two recently green ankles. The bike is new to me so I was convinced something was wrong with the chain. I thought the chain jumped a ring. Once I got home and bandaged myself up I thought to check the cleats on my shoes. They were about half the thickness they are supposed to be. So..... if you haven't checked your cleats lately I suggest that you do so. I seriously didn't even think about it even though I was noticing more play in my pedals. I assumed it was just the pedals getting old. Not the case. I'm just glad I was not standing and climbing or it could have been a lot uglier.

Humor me and everyone do a cleat check.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Yikes GF! Will do! Thanks for the reminder!

I too have "fallen" victim to a worn cleat incident. Actually, in my case it was a missing screw and loose second of three that got me in trouble. All the same, a simple CLEAT CHECK could have saved me some agony (knee issues that came about) Thanks again!

Sorry you got kinda banged up...but glad the bike's okay!!

[cyclechick2008]

I sure hope you recover soon. I am really glad you are not more injured.

I didn't really think about the cleats wearing out. Lucky for me, my hubby bought me new pedals for christmas and I had to buy new shoes for them.
I will however check them regularly as I add miles this season.

Kim

[RolliePollie]

Oh no! I'm sorry you crashed...but I'm glad you didn't hurt your bike or get hit by a car! Sounds like you're pretty banged up though

Thank you so much for posting this. I'm going to check my cleats before my next ride. I have Crankbrothers Quattros, which are kind of like eggbeaters imbedded in a road pedal platform. I probably have 4,500 miles on them and I keep thinking I should check them. I have a new set of cleats waiting in the wings and I bet it's time to switch them out.

I hope your bumps and bruises heal quickly!

[sundial]

I had my backpack full of books so I dropped everything like a ton of bricks. The good news is I did NOT scratch my new bike, or get ran over by a car whew

It made me hurt just reading this! OUCH!! Glad you took the fall for your bike.

Maybe we can start checking our cleats on DST.

[Red Rock]

I myself have had cleat issues too. They are no fun. Yes, I agree with sundial about every time we change clocks around here to check cleats at the same time.

I have the SPDs and LOOKs. My SPDs seem to get more use, especially on the side I clip out of all of the time. So I have been looking at it and wondering if I should switch the cleat to the other shoe so they both get "worn-in" so to speak.

Red Rock

[OakLeaf]

I myself have had cleat issues too. They are no fun. Yes, I agree with sundial about every time we change clocks around here to check cleats at the same time.

I have the SPDs and LOOKs. My SPDs seem to get more use, especially on the side I clip out of all of the time. So I have been looking at it and wondering if I should switch the cleat to the other shoe so they both get "worn-in" so to speak.

Red Rock

I just decided I'd only replace the one that's worn. I don't know if I'd "rotate" them.

Look cleats have a wear indicator (which I usually ignore ), do the SPDs as well?

Anyway, hope you feel better soon Winding!