In this article I will review the Crankbrothers Cleat Tool for Shimano SPD, Time ATAC and Crankbrothers Eggbeater cleats. It is a small tool that might be able to compete with the Ergon TP1 Cleat Tool for Shimano SPD. I will share my experiences and why I think it should be part of your travel toolbox.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key features Crankbrothers Cleat Tool for Shimano SPD, Time ATAC
On the product page of the Crankbrothers Cleat Tool you can read a well balanced product description:
Our new cleat tool is designed to simplify the cleat installation process, and is ideal for dialing in cleat placement for both left and right shoes (or across multiple pairs of shoes). The visual guides built into the tool allow the rider to consistently achieve their preferred lateral, fore/aft, and rotational cleat position, while the shape of the tool allows for increased leverage during installation to prevent accidental twisting. And, for Crankbrothers pedal users, the built-in tread depth gauge makes it easy to find the correct cleat shim thickness for an optimal shoe/pedal interface.
Features:
- Molded cleat position indicators for easy alignment
- Extra leverage to prevent cleats from twisting during installation
- For Crankbrothers pedal users, includes four tread depth gauges for quick cleat shim and pedal setup
- Crafted with 67% post-consumer recycled material
- Compatible with Crankbrothers, SPD, and Time ATAC cleats
The extra leverage on the Crankbrothers Cleat Tool is something you notice straight away when you clamp it between thumb and index finger. This is also applicable for the lids on the left and right. When you want to rotate slightly, this gives you some more leverage.
The indicators on the tool bother over the vertical y-axis allows adjustment of the foot stance (or Q-factor). The horizontal indicators over the x-axis allows adjustment of the Fore / Aft positioning of the Shimano SPD cleat.
In fact the same steps of cleat positioning are used as with Ergon TP1 Cleat Tool. I can get the Shimano S-SH51 SPD cleats for Shimano Deore XT PD-M8100 SPD pedals adjusted perfectly on my Sidi Drako 2 SRS Carbon Matt Mountain Bike Shoes.
The Crankbrothers Cleat Tool is compact and lightweight, which makes it perfect for your travel toolbox (in my case a BERA CLIC+ toolbox with Cocoon Grid-It Organizer. 😉
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
The price point of the Crankbrothers Cleat Tool for Shimano SPD, Time ATAC and Crankbrothers Eggbeater is € 6,00 which is super customer friendly.
Just like the CrankBrothers Shoe Shields for Sidi Drako 2 this is a relative small and cheap product that provides me with a lot of value. A Ergon TP1 alternative that allows you to tweak your Shimano SPD cleat position when you are out on a short trip, with sufficient guidance due to the cleverly integrated indicators.
- Do you use any tool to position your Shimano S-SH51 SPD cleats or Time ATAC cleats ? If so which tool?
- Do you use any other Crankbrothers products ?
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