Cleats are components that attach to the bottom of shoes, designed to connect the shoe securely to a specific surface or pedal, commonly used in sports like cycling, soccer, and track and field.
Understanding How Cycling Cleats Engage
In cycling, cleats are part of a clipless pedal system (despite the name, these pedals actually "clip in"). They provide a solid link between your foot and the pedal, improving pedaling efficiency and control.
Based on the process described, here's how cycling cleats typically work to connect your shoe to the pedal:
- Cleat Attachment: A cleat is first fixed to the bottom of your cycling shoe. These shoes have specific hole patterns (e.g., 2-hole, 3-hole, 4-hole) that match the design of the cleat.
- Sliding into the Pedal: To engage, the front part of the cleat is slid into the front of the pedal. Cycling pedals designed for cleats have a specific mechanism or jaw at the front.
- Engaging the Mechanism: As the cleat is pushed down or the foot is angled and pressed onto the pedal, the rear part of the cleat engages with a spring-loaded mechanism in the back of the pedal. This secures the shoe firmly to the pedal.
Once engaged, your foot is connected to the pedal throughout the entire 360-degree rotation, allowing you to push down on the pedal and also pull up, contributing to a more powerful and smooth pedaling stroke compared to traditional flat pedals.
Think of it like clicking into a ski binding, but on a bike pedal. The cleat on your shoe locks into the corresponding mechanism on the pedal.
In summary: Cleats work by creating a fixed connection point between your shoe and a pedal (or the ground surface in other sports), typically involving a cleat attached to the shoe that locks into a specific receptor on the pedal or surface. For cycling, this involves sliding the cleat's front into the pedal's front and engaging the rear mechanism.
