Squelching Cleats

D Hall said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals? After a few miles on
the bike, the cleats on my shoes start to make a very annoying sqeaking/squelching noise. The
noise occurs during the downstroke of the pedal and when my foot is in it's natural position. If I
move the position of my foot then it doesn't squeak however I don't want to have to keep doing
this as it'll bugger up my knees. I've tried the obvious stuff like putting a spot of grease on
the pedals but this only delays the inevitable.

You too? My right shoe does this as well. I've tried grease, tightening the cleat on the shoe and
adjusting cleat position (in case the squelching was caused by excessive floating of the cleat in
the pedal). No joy. One thing I haven't tried yet is adjusting the tension of the pedal up a notch
to hold the cleat "in place" a bit tighter.

Regards,

-david

"D Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals?

Quoted message said:

Any ideas? This is driving me round the bend.

Try spraying the cleat seating area with WD 40 before each ride.

Pete

D Hall said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals?

Yep. Thought it was a bearing at first but I'm beginning to think it's nothing to do with them. I
suspect it some dry metal-to-metal friction twixt cleat and pedal that causing the squelch.

Quoted message said:

After a few miles on the bike, the cleats on my shoes start to make a very annoying
sqeaking/squelching noise. The noise occurs during the downstroke of the pedal and when my foot is
in it's natural position. If I move the position of my foot then it doesn't squeak however I don't
want to have to keep doing this as it'll bugger up my knees. I've tried the obvious stuff like
putting a spot of grease on the pedals but this only delays the inevitable.

Any ideas? This is driving me round the bend.

Nope. Let me know when you find a cure.

Tim
--
Time for a new sig.

"D Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals? After a few miles on
the bike, the cleats on my shoes start to make a very annoying sqeaking/squelching noise. The
noise occurs during the downstroke of the pedal and when my foot is in it's natural position. If I
move the position of my foot then it doesn't squeak however I don't want to have to keep doing
this as it'll bugger up my knees. I've tried the obvious stuff like putting a spot of grease on
the pedals but this only delays the inevitable.

Any ideas? This is driving me round the bend.

Yep it stops if I cycle pigeon toed, took me ages to nail down what it was.

My solution was to pour all my different oils and greases on it and then then never clean them
finally it seemed to work.

I've never been entirely sure if this noise is due to the cleat in the pedal or to the pedal
bearings. My personal theory is that the viscosity of the grease in the bearings changes as it gets
warm during riding and so it gets thinner and doesn't function as well. I'm probably talking
complete rubbish though.

Rupert

In "]news:[email hidden], D Hall <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals? After a few miles on
the bike, the cleats on my shoes start to make a very annoying sqeaking/squelching noise. The
noise occurs during the downstroke of the pedal and when my foot is in it's natural position. If I
move the position of my foot then it doesn't squeak however I don't want to have to keep doing
this as it'll bugger up my knees. I've tried the obvious stuff like putting a spot of grease on
the pedals but this only delays the inevitable.

Any ideas? This is driving me round the bend.

You'll probably find its part of the sole rubber rubbing against the pedal body. Clip the shoes in
and have a look at what might be contacting. A bit of carving with a Stanley knife is the solution

Tony

--
"Reality is what refuses to go away when I stop believing in it. " Philip K. [censored]

"D Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals?

I had a similar sound once. Made hundreds of adjustments to the pedals and lubed everything in
sight. Turned out to be a crack in the sole of one of my shoes.

--
Rob

Please keep conversations in the newsgroup so that all may contribute and benefit.

Tony Raven said:

You'll probably find its part of the sole rubber rubbing against the pedal body. Clip the shoes in
and have a look at what might be contacting. A bit of carving with a Stanley knife is the solution

I'll have a look. Not to keen on the idea of slicing into my nice new shoes with a knife though, but
needs must I suppose. The irony was I was wishing the cleat recesses were deeper the other day due
to the difficulty of walking up steps without the cleats hitting the floor.

Regards,

-david

I get the same sound from my right foot but only when I'm really putting pressure on the pedal when
climbing etc. It sounds like the sole of the shoe rubbing on the pedal. I use Shimano MTB shoes off
and on road and they have more rubber on the sole than a road shoe. Its not really bad enough to get
me carving my soles up but I'm sure that's the solution.

David Nutter said:

D Hall said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals? After a few miles on
the bike, the cleats on my shoes start to make a very annoying sqeaking/squelching noise. The
noise occurs during the downstroke of the pedal and when my foot is in it's natural position. If
I move the position of my foot then it doesn't squeak however I don't want to have to keep doing
this as it'll bugger up my knees. I've tried the obvious stuff like putting a spot of grease on
the pedals but this only delays the inevitable.

You too? My right shoe does this as well. I've tried grease, tightening the cleat on the shoe and
adjusting cleat position (in case the squelching was caused by excessive floating of the cleat in
the pedal). No joy. One thing I haven't tried yet is adjusting the tension of the pedal up a notch
to hold the cleat "in place" a bit tighter.

Regards,

-david

And me, I bought a pair of double sided SPDs at Edinburgh bike Coop. The right pedal can generate a
squeak as described above, it does however stop if I turn the pedal over. The squeak can get so bad
that it produces an uncomfortable vibration in my foot.

If I get time this weekend I'm going to take it back.
--
Mark Road bike, Mountain bike and I'm getting something special built for me (I hope it will
arrive soon).

Peter B said:

Try spraying the cleat seating area with WD 40 before each ride.

I was about to suggest GT85 on both the pedals and the cleats. I find a squirt of GT85 will usually
solve the problem for at least a couple of weeks.

--
Danny Colyer (remove safety to reply) ( juggler.netdannyOpen ↗ ) Recumbent cycle page:
speedy5.freeserve.co.ukrecumbentsOpen ↗ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." -
Thomas Paine

(D Hall) said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals? After a few miles on the
bike, the cleats on my shoes start to make a very annoying sqUeaking/squelching noise. The noise
occurs during the downstroke of the pedal and when my foot is in it's natural position. If I move
the position of my foot then it doesn't squeak however I don't want to have to keep doing this as
it'll bugger up my knees. I've tried the obvious stuff like putting a spot of grease on the pedals
but this only delays the inevitable.

Any ideas? This is driving me round the bend.

Are your pedals quite old? I ask as the SPDs on my rigid MTBish bike make some strange noises
whereas those on my road bike do not. The MTB pedals are about four years old; the pedals on the
road bike are only one year old. In fact it's only the right side pedal on the MTB that squeaks, and
it's the right one I most often clip and unclip; it gets the most use.

GT85 does help a little but new pedals are what I really need.

BTW, I use the same pair of shoes on both bikes.

James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

(D Hall) of url='http://groups.google.com/'http://groups.google.com//url said:

Does anyone else have problems with spd cleats 'squelching' in the pedals? After a few miles on the
bike, the cleats on my shoes start to make a very annoying sqeaking/squelching noise. The noise
occurs during the downstroke of the pedal and when my foot is in it's natural position. If I move
the position of my foot then it doesn't squeak however I don't want to have to keep doing this as
it'll bugger up my knees. I've tried the obvious stuff like putting a spot of grease on the pedals
but this only delays the inevitable.

My Shimano sandals creak. It's definitely the sandals, because they creak on both my bikes, and
wearing my winter cycling shoes stops it. Doesn't seem to be doing the pedals or the sandals any
harm, so I just ignore it.
--
When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. - Eric Hoffer Steph
Peters delete invalid from [email hidden] Tatting, lace & stitching page
<sandbenders.demon.co.ukindex.htmOpen ↗

"David Nutter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tony Raven said:

You'll probably find its part of the sole rubber rubbing against the

pedal

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

body. Clip the shoes in and have a look at what might be contacting. A

bit

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of carving with a Stanley knife is the solution

I'll have a look. Not to keen on the idea of slicing into my nice new

shoes

Quoted message said:

with a knife though, but needs must I suppose. The irony was I was wishing the cleat recesses
were deeper the other day due to the difficulty of walking up steps without the cleats hitting
the floor.

Regards,

-david

=============
Try a little brake / clutch fluid on the rubber. It won't damage the rubber and it will probably
confirm your diagnosis.

Cic.

"Tim Downie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Yep. Thought it was a bearing at first but I'm beginning to think it's nothing to do with them. I
suspect it some dry metal-to-metal friction twixt cleat and pedal that causing the squelch.

I'm convinced it's a metal to metal thing, as it produces vibrations which feel like two hard
surfaces rubbing against each other. Although, as other people have said, it could be the shoe
rubbing on the pedal, but I haven't got a different set of pedals (or shoes) to test this.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any ideas? This is driving me round the bend.

Nope. Let me know when you find a cure.

Alas, I don't think I've found a cure, but I persevered with the grease (a small spot on the pedal
where the front of the cleat sits) on my weekend ride and it seemed to do the job, although I only
did 50 miles so I suspect it may come back.

Anyway, glad to hear I'm not the only one with this problem.

"D Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Tim Downie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yep. Thought it was a bearing at first but I'm beginning to think it's nothing to do with them.
I suspect it some dry metal-to-metal friction twixt cleat and pedal that causing the squelch.

I'm convinced it's a metal to metal thing, as it produces vibrations which feel like two hard
surfaces rubbing against each other. Although, as other people have said, it could be the shoe
rubbing on the pedal, but I haven't got a different set of pedals (or shoes) to test this.

I had not noticed any noises until yesterday (having seen earlier messages in this thread!) - using
the same pair of shoes (and legs!) :

I was riding a Specialized Hybrid in the morning fitted with Shimano M424 pedals (the ones with a
cage around the clip mechanism) - no noises.

In the afternoon rode the vintage Galaxy with Shimano M515 pedals (just the "banjo shaped"
clip thingy) and got some noises - but they were avoided by consciously pushing feet forward
on the pedals.

Both sets of pedals are almost new and set with minimum tension, shoes are almost new too - being an
SPD newbie.

Not sure what this proves, I would agree with the comment that any bare metal-to-metal contact is
going to create sound as the surfaces move against each other.

RG

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any ideas? This is driving me round the bend.

Nope. Let me know when you find a cure.

Alas, I don't think I've found a cure, but I persevered with the grease (a small spot on the pedal
where the front of the cleat sits) on my weekend ride and it seemed to do the job, although I only
did 50 miles so I suspect it may come back.

Anyway, glad to hear I'm not the only one with this problem.

D Hall said:

"Tim Downie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Yep. Thought it was a bearing at first but I'm beginning to think it's nothing to do with them. I
suspect it some dry metal-to-metal friction twixt cleat and pedal that causing the squelch.

I'm convinced it's a metal to metal thing, as it produces vibrations which feel like two hard
surfaces rubbing against each other. Although, as other people have said, it could be the shoe
rubbing on the pedal, but I haven't got a different set of pedals (or shoes) to test this.

Just been out again for a thrash and I'm beginning to think that it's possibly due to a slight
misalignment of the cleat on the shoe. By "misalignment" I mean that when one is applying power, the
"natural" angle that you foot wants to make with the pedal may be slightly different from the
alignment of the cleat. Obviously these cleats allow for a bit of rotation but I'm going to try a
bit of fiddling to see if that makes any difference.

At present my cleats are set up pointing pretty much straight ahead. I think I'll try angling them
slightly further away from my big toe (when looking at the sole of the shoe) as I've noticed that
the noise reduces/disappears when I swing my heel out slightly during the power stroke.

Tim

--
Time for a new sig.