Replacing cleats: singly or as a pair?

[OakLeaf]

I guess I should roll through more stop signs and stop at fewer of them. J/K

One of my cleats has a big bite out of it, the other one isn't even down to the wear indicators yet. What do you all do?

PS - this isn't the first time I've replaced them! It's just that in the past I've worn them out more evenly and done them both at the same time.

[maillotpois]

I don't see any reason why you would need to do both - like tires. You don't replace both if they're not both worn out (at least I don't). Replace the one that is worn out.

[alpinerabbit]

I guess I just swap both because they come in pairs. never thought of it. But I don't think I'll change my ways.

[smilingcat]

replace both together since the remaining "good" is pretty well worn out.

Doesn't speedplay have a left side and a right side??

[HillSlugger]

They have wear indicators?!?

I would replace them in pairs.

[aicabsolut]

I can go through several pairs of cleats on the stopping foot (left) before I need to change the other one (right), so I just change the left. There's no need to toss a perfectly good right cleat when I can use the other cleat in the package in a few months on the left shoe again.

[HillSlugger]

How do you know when a cleat needs replacing?

[OakLeaf]

How do you know when a cleat needs replacing?

Well it's a pretty good clue when there's a big chunk out of the little lip that's supposed to clip in to the front of the pedal. The last pair, I let go until I was having trouble clipping in with the one I use more. Keo cleats have wear indicators that I usually ignore, don't the others?

[derailed]

I'd replace them both, and keep the old ones as emergency backup. It seems likely to easier to get used to one being stiffer from new-ness if both are.

[aicabsolut]

Depends on the cleat. I use KEOs and they have wear indicators, but I usually have to replace them a little bit early. I wear out one corner a bit faster and it does something that pisses off my knee before the cleat gets to the increased risk of breaking thinness.

[smilingcat]

X series of speed play doesn't have wear indicators.

First time I broke one, the spring gave out and my feet didn't stay clipped in. Every time on the up cycle, my foot/shoes/cleets would pop off the pedal. Most annoying. So when it starts getting thin or looking pretty beat, I replace the cleets. Replace once a year maybe?

The amount of money I save by waiting till it breaks just isn't worth it. I have very little patience for worn and breaking equipment. Besides, when its amortized over time, I think cleets are pretty cheap.

smilingcat

[Miranda]

I wouldn't lose the hardware, but I voted do both at once.

I think it makes it easier to just know that both cleats are new and when. I'd save the half way good one though in case you needed it for something. I'm a pack-rat.

I bought a pair of Look Keo pedals/cleats, but haven't started riding them yet with the snow. They are still in the box with the original cleats. They are my first pair of Looks...

Is the Keo "wear indicator" that raised oval piece in the center of the cleat?

[OakLeaf]

Is the Keo "wear indicator" that raised oval piece in the center of the cleat?

No, it's the two white dots on the front lip that appear when the "regular" part is worn down. You'd know that if you read the instructions.

Although I still haven't read enough of the instructions to find out what that oval cover in the center is for.

[SadieKate]

A nod to non-slip walking. Just a nod, mind you.

[aicabsolut]

No, it's the two white dots on the front lip that appear when the "regular" part is worn down. You'd know that if you read the instructions.

Although I still haven't read enough of the instructions to find out what that oval cover in the center is for.

The center piece can be screwed into some shoes (like Sidis) that have another screw hole. It helps you remember the placement of the cleat. You just snap the new cleat onto the old center piece. Eventually, those can get worn down too. For those without a way to bolt that into the shoe, it's kind of a useless piece of rubber.