I was trying to clip my right foot in after stopping for a break this
afternoon, but couldn't get any purchase with the cleat. I reckoned it
must be clogged so I felt the sole of the shoe, only to find no cleat at
all. As I quite regularly check the cleats for tightness, this was
worrying! Investigation showed that there had been a catastrophic
failure of the cleat bolt anchor plate in the shoe. The threaded
sections had sheared off completely on both sides. Luckily I found the
cleat when I retraced my steps and there was one screw with it.
Also luckily, the anchor plate was of the four position type, so I was
able to turn the plate around and secure the cleat with the one
remaining screw to get me home.
My seat bag has various spares in it, mostly arising from previous
disasters on the road, which naturally never recur once you've decided
to carry the spare. I have a seat pin bolt, rack bolts, a schraeder
valve or two, chain connectors, a seat clamp and so on. Now I've added a
spare anchor plate and a couple of cleat screws.
I wonder if I'll ever reach the end of the list before the bike
collapses under the weight of spare parts?
--
Brian G