Arguably the most important piece of equipment you wear during a soccer match or bike ride is on your feet. Cleats for both soccer and bike riding must provide a precise fit to help you optimize your performance. Anything less would not only impact your activity but could also lead to discomfort and even injury. Because soccer is played with the feet, a correct cleat fitting is essential, which should be done by someone who can determine the right cleat for you.
Soccer Cleats
The type and level of soccer you play can, to a certain extent, determine the style of soccer cleats you should wear. For outdoor competitive soccer, molded or detachable cleats are most common. Certain leagues don't allow detachable cleats or have regulations for cleat sizes. Be sure you are familiar with this information before you purchase a pair. There are also indoor style soccer shoes as well as turf shoes. These two styles typically don't have cleats but may feature a certain tread style that complements the playing surface. Soccer cleats are made out of either leather or synthetic material.
Soccer Cleat Fitting
Soccer cleats are sized much like regular shoes but typically feature a more narrow upper. This difference in design allows you to get a better feel for the ball when dribbling. Accurate cleat fitting can be tricky. You want the shoes to be snug on your feet but not too snug. If the shoe is too tight, it can cause blisters and discomfort when playing. Overall, however, soccer cleats should be slightly tighter against your feet than other athletic shoes. Just make sure your toes are not pressed together too tightly in the front, which can be painful when kicking a ball and could lead to ingrown toenails.
Bicycle Cleats
Bicycle cleats serve the specific purpose of physically attaching you to your bike. This allows you to generate more power when pedaling, as opposed to athletic shoes on a platform pedal, which loosely hold your feet in place through a strap system. The cleats clip onto the bikes pedals and are released through a outward twisting motion of your ankle when you need to stop and plant your foot on the ground. Bike cleats are not designed for walking and can wear out over time if used improperly too often. Most bicycle cleat shoes are made from synthetic materials or hard plastic. The cleats themselves are generally made of metal.
Bicycle Cleat Fitting
As with any athletic shoe, your bicycle cleats should fit snug around your feet. Because your feet are in constant motion when pedaling, the heel should not be able to lift out of the shoe during the back portion of a stroke. This could lead to blisters and irritation on the Achilles heel. Your toes and front portion of your feet should be held securely in place by the cleats. According to JimLangley.net, the optimal spot for the cleats on the pedals is to position the balls of your feet directly over the axles of the pedals. This is the point where you can generate the most pedaling power.
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