Description
xShimano SPD-SL road pedals and cleats are a popular choice among professional and amateur cyclists thanks to their stable platform, easy operation, and long-lasting performance. The wide, low-profile cleats distribute force evenly and allow for easy walkability without needing to carry special cleat covers for your mid-ride coffee stop.
There are three different models of Shimano SPD-SL cleats to choose from that are designated by three colors: yellow, red, and blue. Each of the cleats offers unique features, including different float ranges and pivot points, and are designed with varied rider biomechanics in mind.
What is Cleat Float?
The key differentiator between the three Shimano cleat options is the amount of float each allows. Float refers to the back-and-forth movement of the foot while you are clipped in and is essentially how much you can point your toes left or right while your shoe is attached to your pedal. Different levels of float help accommodate different riding styles or help with biomechanical issues such as lack-of-flexibility, past injuries, or knee pain. While float can help reduce stress on joints and make for a more comfortable pedaling movement, it can also result in a feeling of slightly less power transfer if your foot moves around too much.
Your neutral foot position is also important to understand before selecting and installing the right SPD-SL Cleat for you. The neutral position of the foot is defined as its most natural or efficient angle while pedaling. For some athletes, this means that both feet point perfectly straight forward. For others, the toes naturally point slightly inward or outward. If you’ve had an injury on one side of the body, your neutral position may differ between your left and right feet.
Red SPD-SL Cleats – 0 Degrees of Float
Red SPD-SL cleats have no float and are 100% fixed in position. This makes them great for sprinters, professional athletes, or people who value the most efficient power transfer possible and are not prone to knee pain. Note that red SPD-SL cleats require that you know your optimal cleat position precisely, and you are comfortable adjusting your cleats into that perfect position.
Blue SPD-SL Cleats – 2 Degrees of Float
Blue SPD-SL cleats are Shimano’s newest cleat option and they exist as a middle-ground between yellow and red. Blue cleats have two degrees of float (one degree in each direction), allowing for a small range of movement while still delivering a high amount of pedaling efficiency. The float pivot point is at the front of the cleat, which eliminates lateral sliding movement while allowing a small amount of angle change from the pivot point back towards the heel.
Yellow SPD-SL Cleats – 6 Degrees of Float
Yellow SPD-SL cleats are perhaps the most popular among casual fitness cyclists but are used by a wide range of athletes. They're characterized by a six-degree float range (three degrees in each direction), which allows for free movement and low joint stress. The float’s pivot point is in the center of the cleat, allowing the toes to point in a wide range of angles. This large float range also provides more room for error when setting up your cleats. If you're new to cycling, experience knee pain, lack flexibility, or simply don’t know where to start, Shimano’s yellow cleats are your best bet.
Customer Reviews
xShipping & Return
xReturns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.
Shipping
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.
When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
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