The Complete Handbook of Bicycle Cleats

I run a bike shop and have been fitting cleats for fifteen years, mostly by feel and customer feedback. This handbook finally gave me the technical language and reasoning for what I was doing right and where I was guessing. Chapter 1 alone—the explanation of how cleat position affects knee tracking and power—changed how I talk to customers about fitting. Worth buying for any shop that wants to move from intuition to repeatable, defensible methods.

Excellent reference for someone like me who's serious about cycling but doesn't want marketing fluff. The chapter on types and specs is clear and detailed. My only complaint is that Chapter 2 could have included a comparison table of the major systems side by side—I still had to cross-reference with manufacturer PDFs to make my decision. Still, far better than anything I found online.

I've spent years dealing with foot pain and tried everything—orthotics, different shoes, physical therapy. This book explained cleat positioning, float, and release mechanism in a way that actually made sense of my problem. Followed the installation guide, adjusted my cleats 4mm rearward, and the improvement was dramatic. This is exactly the kind of practical, no-nonsense information that should exist for cyclists.

Solid technical reference, especially if you're buying cleats for the first time or managing a fleet. The maintenance chapter is useful. But I found some sections assumed more mechanical knowledge than I have—the release tension discussion, for example, would have benefited from more real-world examples of what 'too loose' or 'too tight' actually feels like in riding. Still informative overall.

Good information, but I expected more on the injury side. The book mentions knee pain and alignment but doesn't go deep into plantar fasciitis, hot spots, or chronic issues. I understand it's a technical guide, not medical, but more case examples would have helped me understand which cleat choices matter for which problems. Still useful for general knowledge.

I'm evaluating cleats for a rental fleet I'm starting, and this handbook answered most of my questions about durability, compatibility across shoe brands, and maintenance burden. However, the business chapter felt a bit thin on the rental side specifically—would have liked more on cleat replacement schedules and cost modeling. Useful overall for someone new to the category.

Finally, a cycling handbook that doesn't read like marketing copy. The author clearly understands both the mechanics and the real decisions riders face. I'm an experienced cyclist and found new information; I also handed it to my mechanic and she found it immediately useful for customer conversations. Well organized and actually readable.