Ergon TP1 adjustment aid: Pedal plate adjustment made easy

If you are wearing new cycling shoes or suddenly feel pain in your feet or knees, you should definitely check your pedal plates. Just a few millimetres of deviation can change the entire leg axis - with consequences for comfort, efficiency and long-term health. Correctly adjusted cleats, on the other hand, ensure natural movement and efficient power transmission.

Three decisive steps

Finding the right position is not rocket science, but it does require some care. Three steps are crucial: the correct longitudinal position under the ball of the foot, the correct lateral alignment and the right angle of rotation so that the knees and hips can work in a relaxed manner. If you do this properly, you will ride noticeably smoother and with less discomfort.

Many cyclists ask themselves whether they can do this themselves. The answer is yes. It takes a lot of patience to align the feet with the pedal arms, as this requires frequent tightening and loosening of the bolts until both "knuckles" are optimally aligned. It is a little quicker with a Adjustment aid like the Ergon TP1, which makes positioning much easier and reproducible. This makes cleat adjustment possible even without a bike fitting appointment.

Step by step

1. The right tool: 4-millimetre hex key, a centimetre ruler, the adjustment aid
2. Have old shoes ready: For a new pair of shoes, use the old pair with the plates fitted as a template by fitting them into the adjustment aid, marking a fixed point on the heel and transferring this to the grid of the adjustment aid. Only then remove the cleats
3. Pre-assemble the cleats: Fit the cleats to the new shoes, tightening the screws only slightly so that the cleats can still be turned and moved with slight resistance in relation to the outsole. The appropriate tightening torque for the screws also depends on the surface quality of the sole. If the sole is smooth, the screws must be tightened more firmly than if the surface is rough
4. Align new shoes: Mark a fixed point on the heel of each new shoe and align it with the mark on the adjustment aid. For the necessary precision, use a centimetre ruler to measure the position in length and angle to the millimetre. Ideally, both shoes should be a mirror image of each other in terms of length and angle.
5. Fix position: If the position is correct, the pedal plate screws can now be tightened so firmly that the plates under the shoes can no longer be moved
6. Practical check: During the practical check, click into the pedals with the shoes tightened and check the position when pedalling lightly. Only tighten the screws correctly to the required torque when this is correct

Our conclusion

The method for positioning the cleats works easily with a little practice - even without much previous knowledge. If you don't have old shoes as a template, you will need a little more time for the initial basic adjustment. If you feel unsure, you can always contact a specialist dealer or a bike fitter.

However, if you experience repeated pain in your feet or knees or are unable to pedal smoothly, you should definitely consult an orthopaedist. An incorrectly adjusted pedal plate may be the cause, especially for people with a pelvic obliquity or legs of different lengths.

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