Bike maintenance for dummies.

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Dec 2014
11:39pm, 1 Dec 2014
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Chris the Fish
Just a quick bit of advice needed if poss

I currently use yellow cleats on my shoes (Spd sl), and I'm due to get a new set as they are a bit battered. I'm thinking if getting red ones instead of the yellow, which I believe have less float. Are they that different? I've never liked the slidey feeling of the yellows, but then again I've been told that they stop numerous alignment issues with the side-play in them.

Modes anyone have advice on either or pref. both?

Cheers in adv.

CtF
Dec 2014
8:31am, 2 Dec 2014
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Hertford Tiger
I asked my LBS this very same question and was told to stick with Yellow unless track cycling as you do need a little bit of float to avoid knee problems especially cycling on uneven roads.
Dec 2014
9:00am, 2 Dec 2014
887 posts
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JustDistracted
I got blue ones sort of by accident as I had been using red and didn't realise there was something to the colours. Think they are in between red and yellow and I've found them better than the red.
Dec 2014
9:44am, 2 Dec 2014
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Chris the Fish
Didnt know there were blue, this may be the way forward if they split the difference.

cheers guys
Dec 2014
9:51am, 2 Dec 2014
2,899 posts
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Winded
If you don't like the feel of what you have there isn't much to lose by trying something else. Especially as a set of cleats is quite cheap.

Having said that they sell yellow cleats with most SPD SL pedals because for ordinary road cyclists Shimano think they will be the right ones & they know quite a lot about pedals. If what you have now works for you I'd be cautious with any experiment and prepared to swap back. Float can make a difference to knee pain i.e. the lack of float can cause it.

If you are going to try less float you don't need to go for the red ones, that are fixed in position with no float at all but alternatives between red & yellow are available. Shimano pedals are yellow = 6 degrees of float, blue= 2 degrees and red = no float but other cleats that will fit offer alternatives. Lifeline (wiggle brand) sell compatible ones with 4.5 degrees of float and I think that a few others are available if you look.
Dec 2014
9:51am, 2 Dec 2014
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Winded
Xpost
Dec 2014
10:02am, 2 Dec 2014
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Chris the Fish
cheers winded, i didnt realise there were other branded products that would work with shimano cleats. Ill have a look at the blue ones, at 2deg that seems a viable solution.
Feb 2015
11:12pm, 16 Feb 2015
1,276 posts
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jacdaw
I need some more advice...

Went out on the bike today for the second time this year, after quite a long time without cycling. I got on, clipped in, then couldn't turn the pedals. Assumed the chain had come off, so got off to have a look. It turns out the rear mech (rear derailleur if you prefer) had come away from its mounting, and on further investigation, it seems the bolt had sheared.

I removed the two bits of bolt with no problem, so if I could get a replacement, it would solve the problem in a couple of minutes... but I can't find a bolt anywhere. The LBS said I had no chance and should just buy a new mech. Google fails to find anything, and searches of all the obvious bike shop sites bring up nothing.

So the question is, do I really have to buy a £50 part because a (quite shoddy or possibly designed-to-fail) bolt has sheared?

It's a Campagnolo Veloce 10-speed, by the way.
Feb 2015
8:48am, 17 Feb 2015
18,352 posts
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Stepford Wife
Pretty much, yes.

How is your mech hanger? If your mech bolt has snapped it'll be worth having a good look at the hanger which is the bit designed to fail.
Feb 2015
9:01am, 17 Feb 2015
3,239 posts
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Pou Pou LePhÔõk
Is it out of the 3 yr warranty?

About This Thread

Maintained by DeeGee
A thread for your questions about fixing common bike problems.

Need help naming a part? jimlangley.net

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