Setting Road Cleats without KOPS

Setting road cleats without KOPS

Setting road cleats is another component that affects the fit of your bicycle. If the cleats are not properly set, your saddle fore aft will be compromised.

Set your cleats with the center of the cleat lined up with the center of the ball of your foot. Mark the center of the ball of your foot, which is best measured with the bone on the large toe of your foot and mark the area on the shoe.

Use this mark to align the center of the cleat. The cleats on both shoes should be set in the same position for most riders. There are exceptions that require a slight variation between each foot where there are substantial leg length discrepancies.

I do not bother with KOPS method of setting road cleats, because it is not scientific. If after setting your cleat position you happen to have your knee over the pedal axle, it is simply by chance. My knee is 2cm behind the pedal axle and very few of my clients have their knee over the pedal axle once they are dialed in.