Vintage Schwinn Pedal Cleat

youmagine

These old rubber cleats were a hazard waiting to happen - they'd hardened and spun too easily around the bolt, causing my foot to slip off at the worst possible times. They may have looked nice, but safety was clearly not their top priority. Even soaking them in rubber re-grip didn't make them worth keeping. I recently replaced them with new cleats that are specifically designed to fit snugly around the center axle and bolts. This design helps distribute the load evenly and eliminates rattling. The thick walls provide extra strength, which is essential when you're dealing with long bolts and nuts like my pedals have. Many similar pedals feature rivets instead of bolts and nuts, making it all too easy for them to be drilled out and replaced. Now's a great opportunity to give the bearings a good cleaning and lube job while I'm at it. The cleats themselves are split in two because the bearing retainers tend to be stamped and not removable.