Shimano Cleats--Float?

Question

I'm looking to purchase replacement cleats for the cycling shoes, but there are two types out there--floating and fixed.

What do these terms mean? Does the float mean that there is some room for the cleats to move, whereas fixed gives no way at all? Thanks for your suggestions.

Answer 1

You're correct, floating cleats give you a certain degree of rotation on the pedal, while fixed cleats are just that-fixed. It is generally believed that floating cleats are better for your knees.

Answer 2

Cleat Float

Answer 3

Shimano SPD cleats (not SD-R, that's another story!) do not come in "float" and "no float" they come in regular and multi-release. Multi-release cleats have an M stamped onto them. both of these cleats allow 3-6 degrees of float. The difference is that the multi-release cleats only require 6 degrees of turn to pop the pedals open and the regular ones require up to 9 degrees to pop the pedals open. They are made this way to compensate for different sizes of feet. the shorter the foot the shorter the lever to pop open the cleat. Multi-release cleats are best for small feeted folks and folks who have a hard time twisting their feet far enough to pop open the pedal.



Cleats never move on the shoe. It is important that the screws be very snug at all times.



But shoes/cleats do twist and turn in the pedal a bit. By reducing the tension on the springs in the pedals more or less "float" is allowed. Tight spring tension will have 3 degrees of float, loose pedal tension psrings will have up to 6 degrees of float



other makes of pedals (time for example) have more float in their pedal/cleat interaction.

Answer 4

Borrowed from the late great Sheldon Brown.

Float is a property of a clipless pedal system that allows the rider to rotate the foot within limits, as opposed to a fixed cleat which holds the shoe at a fixed angle in the yaw axis.

Pedals with float allow you to rotate your heel inward or outward to some extent before disengaging the cleat.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_e-f.html#float