Shimano SPD-SL Cleat Alignment Tool Bike Fitting Cycling

Misaligned cleats can cause discomfort or pain in the knees, hips, and ankles due to unnatural movements during pedaling, which can potentially lead to strain or overuse injuries. Correct alignment ensures your cleats are positioned to match your natural pedaling motion, which helps optimize power transfer and efficiency. 

The Shimano cleat alignment tool is particularly handy for replicating your existing cleat position when you’re replacing worn-out cleats. If you have multiple pairs of cycling shoes, the alignment tool allows you to maintain the same cleat position on each pair for a consistent riding experience. 

How it works:

• Marking the Cleat Location: Before removing the old cleats, mark your current position on the tool, including the fore-aft (forward and back) and side-to-side placement, as well as the angle (rotation)

• Reinstalling New Cleats: Once the old cleats are removed, you can use the markings you made on the tool to place the new cleats in precisely the same spot. Then repeat the process for the other shoe.

If you are installing cleats for the first time... Feel for the bone on the inside edge of your foot, where your big toe connects to the foot. Put a piece of tape over the area and draw a line over the exact spot with a marker. Now do the same on the outside edge of your foot, where your pinky toe connects to the foot. Then add a piece of tape to the back of your shoe and draw the centerline of the back of the shoe. 

Next you will want to do an assessment of how your feet naturally fall. Sit on the end of a high desk and dangle your feet off the edge at 90 degrees. Look down and see how your feet have naturally fallen. This is going to determine where to put the cleat on your shoe, so you are not forcing your foot into a position. 

Add a dab of grease to the bolt threads. Loosely mount the cleat on the shoe and place the cleat in the hole of the tool. Match up the lines on the side of the shoe with the lines next to the cleat hole to determine the fore and aft position. Then adjust the Q factor, which is the distance between your feet, by moving the shoe to the right or left, depending on how close you want your feet to the center of the bike. Finally, set the angle or rotation of the foot, as determined by your assessment of how your feet naturally fall. Once you are happy with the position of the shoe, you can move the tool to the edge of the table to tighten up the screws. Then repeat the process for the other shoe. 

Next you will want to confirm your position hoping on a static trainer or by leaning your bike against a wall. If your cleats feel like they are underneath your toes, then this could potentially lead to cramping. However, if it’s too far back, you will have less leverage and loose efficiency. If you tend to pedal up with your knees outwards at the top of the pedal stroke, you might want to consider having your feet closer to the bike. If you pedal with your knees inwards at the top of the pedal stroke, then you might want to do the opposite. Make little adjustments, until you are happy with your cleat position. 

• Get Consistency Across Shoes

• Time-Saving and Easy to Use

• 3D Printed in Texas with Rugged PETG Filament

• Fits Shimano SPD-SL Cleats

• Item Includes One Alignment Tool