Cleat & Pedal System Maintenance: Cleaning and Adjusting SPD, SPD-SL, Look, and Time

Clipping in feels great. Not being able to clip out is a disaster.

If you’ve ever had the experience of stopping at a red light, failing to unclip in time, and toppling over in slow motion, you already know how important clipless pedal system maintenance is.

Common Clipless Systems Compared

Cleat Maintenance

Checking for Wear

Cleats are a consumable part. They wear down every time you clip in and out.

Cleaning Cleats

• Use an old toothbrush to clean mud and debris out of the cleat grooves once a month
• Clean especially thoroughly after riding in the rain
• Check that the mounting bolts haven’t come loose

Pedal Maintenance

Spring Tension Adjustment

Most clipless pedals have a spring tension adjustment screw:

If you feel you release too easily (e.g., popping out while sprinting out of the saddle), turn the screw clockwise to tighten. If it’s hard to release, turn it counter-clockwise to loosen.

Pedal Bearings

• Check every 5,000 km or once a year
• The pedal should spin smoothly with no resistance
• If you feel grittiness or hear unusual noise, the bearings need to be disassembled, cleaned, and re-greased
• Some pedals (such as Shimano SPD-SL) can be serviced by opening them up; others are sealed units that must be replaced as a whole

Pedal Threads

• Always apply grease or anti-seize compound to the threads whenever you install or remove pedals
• Watch the direction: the right pedal has a standard right-hand thread (loosens counter-clockwise), while the left pedal has a reverse (left-hand) thread (loosens clockwise)
• Installation torque is approximately 35-40 Nm

Cycling Shoe Maintenance

Common Problems

Why Cleat Angle Matters

Cleat angle directly affects the tracking of your knee. An incorrect angle can cause pain on the inside or outside of the knee.

If you develop knee discomfort after replacing your cleats:

1. First return the cleats to their previous position (it’s a good habit to photograph the old position before removing the cleats)
2. If you’re unsure, get a professional bike fit done
3. Yellow cleats (Shimano) offer 6 degrees of float, which suits most riders

A well-maintained clipless pedal system doesn’t just make your riding more efficient — it also lets you unclip gracefully at every red light, instead of putting on a slow-motion tumbling show.

Related Reading

• The Complete Guide to Cycling Shoes and Pedal Systems: Choosing Between SPD-SL, Look, and Speedplay
• Choosing Cycling Shoes and Pedal Systems: SPD, SPD-SL, Look, or Time?
• Road Bike Pedal System Comparison: Look vs Shimano SPD-SL vs TIME
• Cleat Cleaning and Torque Calibration: Key Maintenance for Safe Pedaling