Shimano SPD set-up advice...

adb1006
adb1006 Posts: 938
edited March 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
Hi chaps,

Just took the plunge and ordered some 520 SPD's and some M66 shoes. I have ridden SPD's before but this was over 10 years ago and i only managed a handful of rides before the bike was stolen, so i'm far from experienced on the subject.

Is there anything in particular i need to do to set them up or is it fairly self-explanatory? I assume i need the tension as low as possible so it's easy to bail out?
Rock Lobster Team Tig SL Custom

Comments

  • dav1
    dav1 Posts: 1,298
    get the cleats where they feel right on your foot and the tension right, then practice clipping in and out a few times.

    I did it leaning against the wall with one arm th set up, then rode on road for a while concentrating on clipping in and out correctly when starting and stopping to avoid a clipless comedy fall until it became more narutal.
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  • BobbyTrigger
    BobbyTrigger Posts: 377
    fit the cleats to your shoes where the ball of your foot would be - and dont fit the cleat too close to the inside of the shoe as i did and now have a rubbed crank arm!
  • teulk
    teulk Posts: 557
    I took the plunge a few days ago with some M520 pedals and Shimano M076 shoes. Still kind of trying to get them right but id say im pretty close now. I fitted the cleats in the middle of the recess and started from there. The main thing i notice is where as my left foot feels great my right foot wants to sort of roll out - not sure how i can sort that problem or if its just something i will have to get used to. I went out for a 15mile ride today and i have to say my legs ached less by the time i got home - dont know if its just psychological tho.
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  • adb1006
    adb1006 Posts: 938
    Cheers for the advice guys.

    It's something i've wanted to do for a while now. My thinking was that the shoes will be OK on platforms if i remove the cleats, so if i don't like the SPD's, i've only wasted £20 as i can keep on using the shoes!
    Rock Lobster Team Tig SL Custom
  • belugabob
    belugabob Posts: 158
    BobbyTrigger wrote:
    fit the cleats to your shoes where the ball of your foot would be - and dont fit the cleat too close to the inside of the shoe as i did and now have a rubbed crank arm!

    Don't you mean 'not too close to the outside of the shoe' ?
    If you didn't learn anything today, you weren't paying attention!
  • BobbyTrigger
    BobbyTrigger Posts: 377
    oops! yes - my bad!

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