Yesterday, while tidying up the storage room, I came across a pair of red SHIMANO cleats.
I held them in my hands for a while before suddenly remembering that I had bought them several years ago, when I first started wearing clipless shoes.
Back then, I followed a fellow cyclist’s advice: “If you’re a beginner, just get the red 0° cleats. They offer the most stable connection.”
So, without thinking much, I bought a pair and installed them.
I didn’t experience the classic first-time clipless pedal crash, but the riding experience wasn’t nearly as good as I had expected.
Once my feet were locked in place, something always felt uncomfortable. After a short while, my feet would start to go numb, and pedaling felt nowhere near as effortless as people claimed. Instead, I felt like my feet were constantly trying to adapt to that fixed position.
At the time, I was new to clipless shoes and didn’t know much about cleats. I only knew that cleats could be adjusted forward and backward, without realizing that their rotational float could also affect riding comfort.
Later, after learning more about clipless shoes, I discovered that SHIMANO road cleats actually come in more than one option.
So I bought another pair of yellow cleats. I left their position unchanged and simply switched to a different float angle.
The very first time I rode with them, I immediately noticed a significant improvement in comfort.
It turned out that the problem wasn’t necessarily the shoes themselves. I simply hadn’t chosen the right little component under my feet.
What Is the Difference Between Cleat Colors?
Many cyclists who are new to clipless shoes assume that cleats simply hold their shoes onto the pedals.
In reality, cleats also determine how much room your feet have to move and adjust while riding.
SHIMANO road cleats commonly come in three types:
① Red Cleats: 0° Float
Red cleats are fixed cleats.
Once installed, they allow virtually no side-to-side rotational movement of the feet.
Their advantage is a stable pedaling position and a direct feeling when applying power.
However, for riders who are new to clipless pedals, this also means that the body must adapt completely to the fixed angle.
If your leg movement, foot orientation, and cleat angle do not align, you may experience numbness in the feet, knee discomfort, or an unnatural pedaling sensation while riding.
② Yellow Cleats: 6° Float
Yellow cleats are a more accessible choice for many recreational cyclists.
They allow the feet to move slightly from side to side within a certain range.
This amount of movement may seem small, but it is very important while riding.
That’s because human legs do not move straight up and down like mechanical components.
During pedaling, the knees, ankles, and hip joints all move naturally.
A little rotational float gives your body some room to move according to its natural movement patterns.
For beginners who are just starting to wear clipless shoes, this provides a greater margin for error.
③ Blue Cleats: 2° Float
Blue cleats sit between red and yellow cleats.
They provide a more secure, fixed feeling than yellow cleats while retaining some room for movement.
They can be a suitable choice for riders who have already adapted to clipless shoes and want to improve pedaling stability.
Why Do Many Beginners Feel More Tired After Switching to Clipless Pedals?
Because clipless shoes change more than just your equipment.
When riding in ordinary shoes, your feet can adjust their position at any time.
If a particular part of your foot starts to feel tired, you can slightly change its angle.
But once you switch to clipless shoes, your feet are largely fixed in position.
If the cleat angle is unsuitable, your body will constantly try to adapt to that fixed position.
That is why many people experience the following when they first start using clipless shoes: “I don't feel much faster, but I'm actually more tired.”
In fact, this is a very common experience.
Beginners: Don't Focus Only on Cleat Position
When adjusting their clipless shoes, many people first think:
Are my cleats installed too far forward? Should I move them backward?
These factors are certainly important.
But in addition to fore-aft position, the rotational angle is equally worth considering.
Especially when you first start wearing clipless shoes, if you use fixed-angle cleats and experience numbness in your feet, noticeable pressure on your knees, or leg discomfort after longer rides, you can try cleats with a greater degree of float first.
In many cases, a simple adjustment can turn clipless shoes from “uncomfortable” into something you can comfortably get used to.
Installing Clipless Pedals Is Only the Beginning
The greatest value of clipless shoes isn't that they immediately make you several kilometers per hour faster.
Rather, they help you establish a new way of pedaling.
This process requires both adjustment and adaptation.
Saddle height, cleat position, and cleat angle all affect the final riding experience.
So, if you're new to clipless shoes and experience discomfort, don't rush to conclude that you're “not suited to clipless shoes.”
Take some time to find the setup that works for you.
After all, a truly comfortable clipless shoe experience doesn't come from the equipment alone, but from how well the equipment matches your body.
