Cleat Covers

[liberty]

Well, from reading another thread, I learned about cleat covers. So I called my bike shop today to see if they had any in stock. I use spd's with float. When I talked with the guy, he said that minor walking (ie, around the car to the bike or for just a few minutes) would take a long time to damage the cleats. That it would be better just to save the money and use it to buy other cycling items. He did have some in stock, so I don't think he was trying to brush me off. Anyway, so my inexperienced question is: do any of you other "spd with float" users have the cleat covers? Ideas on how long the cleats will last with just slight walking? Not planning on walking a couple of miles or anything. But you do have to put the feet on the ground to stop and so forth... I'd rather take good care of the cleats than replace them frequently due to improper use.

[aicabsolut]

I think most spd pedals are metal and are less likely to suffer serious wear very fast compared to the more plastic ones like Looks which get worn after just a few yards on the pavement. Just about every pair of those are now being packaged with covers included. I'm thinking your spds will be fine.

[bcipam]

The only cleats I know that offer cleat covers are Speedplay and Look.

Are there others? Isn't the point of using SPD is not needing a cleat cover?

[kiwi girl]

Even with large road cleats there is quite a big difference between how the cleats wear out. I had old style (not keo) look pedals on my old bike and would wear out cleats really quickly, even if the only walking I did was walking my bike up and down the path from the shed or popping into a convenience store and the ocassional triathlon transition. I have shimano road pedals on my new bike and they seem to stand up to a bit of casual walking around much better.

The shoes that I have spd cleats on all have recessed cleats so it isn't an issue, but I think even if not recessed, spd cleats would certainly stand up to quite a lot of walking about.

[KSH]

I bought cleat covers for my cleats that go with my Speedplays.

They were absolutely USELESS! All they did was fall off. So, I returned them.

Then the next cycling rally I went to... I took plastic grocery bags and tied them around my feet when I had to walk in mud.

Mud in Speedplay cleats is a KILLER... basically you will never get the mud out until you can get to clean them in a sink... and then you can't clip in.

So, even though I looked silly and people laughed at me... I didn't care... cause my cleats were clean after every rest stop!

[hsmpcycle]

KSH,

Very smart! I wouldn't have thought of that. Another good tip.

[tygab]

I march around on my SPDs all the time, with nary a second thought. They are fine and very durable.

The only ill effect of this has been during my big charity ride I lost a screw and had to hunt down the sag vans before they left on the 2nd morning (of course, this after looking at my husband funny for suggesting we pack extra cleats/cleat parts in our luggage - the universe does have a sense of humor). Now I know to tighten the screws and make sure they're not coming loose as part of my equipment check.

[indysteel]

I'm with Pam. I don't think they made cleat covers for SPDs. I have some covers for my Keos. I can't say that I use them all that often though. I'd bring them along for a breakfast or dinner ride though. For minor amounts of walking, I try to put the weight in my heels.

[telegirl]

Just adding a 'me too' - I use spds and never have a problem walking around with them. BikeHubby has Look, however, and is very careful walking in those - tries to avoid it at all cost- since they are plastic. I did have cleat covers for my old, old, old clipless (I even forget what they were), because they were so slickery to walk in and if I was stopping for breakfast/coffee/whatever, and walked into a place with tile, I had to really concentrate on keeping upright if I didn't have the covers in place.

[7rider]

I bought cleat covers for my cleats that go with my Speedplays.

They were absolutely USELESS! All they did was fall off. So, I returned them.

Mud in Speedplay cleats is a KILLER... basically you will never get the mud out until you can get to clean them in a sink... and then you can't clip in.

Really? My Speedplay covers have been GREAT and I recommend them as necessary equipment to anyone who has Speedplays. DId you get the right version for your cleats (the X vs. the Zeros)?? The covers came in very handy at the Seagull Century when I stopped at rest stops and everything was dirty, wet, muddy, and sandy. They didn't fall off ever (although I did find one on the ground that fell of of somebody's). Of course, now you got me knocking seriously on wood!

[bcipam]

When I used Speedplays I was a fanatic about using the covers. OK so they fell off once in a while but without them, I would get dirt or worse in the cleats and then the cleats were useless. I did almost a whole century (Tour De Tucson) not being able to engage my pedals because 1) I forgot my covers and 2) after the first "water" crossing (those that have done this ride know what I mean) the cleat got dirty and I getting engage the pedal. Talk about really sore feet after!

Speedplay folks - get covers. You will thank me later!

[CR400]

If you don't need the covers then don't get them. I like a few on here have speedplays. I have used them in various conditions with and without covers. But I prefer them especially if it is muddy. I actually had more trouble clipping in because I forgot to lube the cleat springs once then stepping in mud a few times.

[HillSlugger]

I have mtb shoes with spd cleats. When the cleats were brand new I'd hear them crunching on the pavement a little bit but it never did any damage more than create some scratches. Now, I just don't worry about it.

BTW I accidentally found that there are spd covers!

[DebW]

When I used Speedplays I was a fanatic about using the covers. OK so they fell off once in a while but without them, I would get dirt or worse in the cleats and then the cleats were useless. I did almost a whole century (Tour De Tucson) not being able to engage my pedals because 1) I forgot my covers and 2) after the first "water" crossing (those that have done this ride know what I mean) the cleat got dirty and I getting engage the pedal. Talk about really sore feet after!

Speedplay folks - get covers. You will thank me later!

Thanks for the advice, Pam. On several occassions, I've stopped on the road, taken my shoe off, and started beating it on the curb to get sand out of the cleat. That worked pretty well. Splashing in a water puddle didn't. Having to change a tire on the side of the road, especially in rain, always mucks up the cleats. Yup, I need covers.

[7rider]

I have mtb shoes with spd cleats. When the cleats were brand new I'd hear them crunching on the pavement a little bit but it never did any damage more than create some scratches. Now, I just don't worry about it.

BTW I accidentally found that there are spd covers!

Those are covers for the SPD-SL cleat - Shimano's road cleat -- a bit different than the common mountainbike cleat. It's actually more like a Look cleat.

I have mtb SPD's on my commuter and mtb. I don't bother worrying about covers for those (not that they're available anyway).