I want to buy cleats for my bike but need help!!?

Question

when bying cleats for a new bike,are you suppose to buy a pedal, and the cleat and the shoes? how do you find a cleat that matches the shoes?i have recently had a knee injury which was caused from running, as a result i can not run as much as i normally would,but have been told that cycling would greatly benifit my fittness +have been told by my phi, that if i want to cycle i will have to get cleats, as they have lateral movement so, the knee wont be strained, as the foot can move.this is fine, but i dont know the first thing about cleats! i know there are different degrees of floats, eg 9 degreesetc. but i dont know which one i should get.also i have heard that they have to be fitted properley does this mean that i have to get someone who works in a shop to fit them,and cant order them online.i am very confused and realy need to know which ones to get and how to go about buying them,so that i can atatch them to the bike.any helpgreatly appreciated!p.s i cant ask my phisio as hes away!

Answer 1

The appropriate cleat comes with the pedal, so you don't have to worry about matching them up.

Also, they're very easy to fit. All you need is an Allen/Hex key and you're sorted (same for the pedals - If they don't take an allen/hex key, a slim spanner will do)

Finding a good pair of shoes is a little trickier though. You can get lots of different types. Mountain Bike shoes are more rugged and take small cleats like SPDs. Road shoes are somewhat lighter and take larger cleats like SPD-SLs. MTB shoes are much easier to walk in and the cleat is usually receded so it doesn't come into contact with the ground when walking.

Answer 2

Since you are dealing with a knee injury (and know nothing about bike shoes/cleats), don't even attempt to do the installation and adjustment yourself.  There is a broad range of adjustment on the cleat; get it wrong and you can really s***w up a bad knee.

Find a bike shop that carries a good selection of shoes.  Bring your bike with you when you visit.  Tell the staff about your injury and what the Dr told you.  They'll help you find a proper pedal and shoe combination and install/adjust them for you.  Expect to pay something for this service, though they may not actually charge anything.

Answer 3

Definitely go to your local bike shop and get them to help you. You don't want to order shoes and pedals online. In general, if you were uninjured, you'd want to select shoes you like first. That would narrow your choices for cleats which fit the shoes and pedals which fit the cleats. But because of your knee injury, you will want to consult with a knowledgeable bike person who can advise you about lateral float. Many pedals are adjustable as to how much you can turn your foot before the cleat disengages from the pedal.

This is an important health decision for you, so don't skimp and don't buy blindly online. Go to a shop, try on several pairs of shoes, and let them educate you about pedals and cleats. Buy all 3 items together as a matched set. The shop will be happy to install the new pedals for you.