ERGON TP1 Shimano SPD - SL Cleat Tool Review
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Total Rating
Summary
Ergon makes grips, gloves, saddles, seat posts, backpack, bike/cleat fit tool and insoles.
MSRP: $ (view here)
Products Available (5):
- SPD-SL(tested)
- SPD
- Look KeO
- Speedplay
- Crank Brothers
Source: Ergon website, Bike Shops, Amazon
Supplied By: Ergon Bike
Pros
- Materials Used – Heavy duty polypropylene
- 5 different ‘Sizes’ that cover most cleats (SPD, SPD-SL, Look KeO, Crank Brothers and Speedplay)
- Holds cleats firmly
- open bottom allows access for wasy loosening/tightening of cleats.
- Detailed Instructional Booklet
- Great tool for bike filters and DIYers who have already have a precision bike/cleat fit.
Cons
- This tool might get you somewhat close to an OK cleat position, but the only guarantee is to visit a bike fitter who has education in performing pedal/cleat adjustments. In my opinion, this tool is best used AFTER having your cleats fit by a qualified bike fitter.
- Detailed Instructional Booklet – lacks key information for a DIY cleat fit.
User Review
( votes)ADJUSTMENT TOOL FOR CLEATS
BACKGROUND
ERGON TP1 Pedal Cleat Tool
I like to stay up on top of what’s new in the market – especially when it comes to bike fitting equipment. 
So, I got excited when I saw Ergon’s TP1 DIY Cleat-Fitting tool. Having been trained in correct cleat placement and having fit hundreds of cyclists, this review is based on what I have experienced over many years of bike fitting.
INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKLET INCLUDED
A free 80 page detailed and easy to follow instructional booklet is provided with each TP1. This booklet is divided into multiple sections with each section in a different language. The 23-page English section includes a picture on one page and text instructions on the other. Each text description is an easy to understand set of why’s and how-to’s. The chapters are;
- Ergonomics for Cyclists
- Introduction
- Basic Biometrics
- Fore/Aft cleat position
- Q-Factor – width of stance
- Angle of foot (rotation)
- Symmetry of the feet
- Quick installation guide
- Fine adjustments
- Glossary
- Measurement tables
- Maintenance/Warranty
Things missing? Yes, we’ll discuss below.
THE GOOD
- DETAILED INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKLET (INCLUDED) – Easy to follow along and lots of great tips to help get the average cyclist A LOT closer to optimal than by just having your bike shop mechanic slap on your newly purchased cleats.
- IT’S EASY TO SETUP YOUR CLEATS USING THIS TOOL – With grid patterns and rulers on the top, rulers on the side and easy access to the cleat screws via underneath, the TP1 makes it easy to adjust the cleats quickly and accurately.
- PRICING – For less than the price of a new pair of cleats, this is a smart purchase.
- GREAT EDUCATION FOR THE FIRST-TIMER – A high level learning experience of how to adjust your cleats.
- RECEOMMENDED PURCHASE – A highly-recommended tool for the professional bike fitter, AND, the cyclist who has previously had a bike/cleat fit from a certified bike/cleat fitter.
- For the cyclists, this tool makes sense to use as a template so that when getting a set of new cleats, they can refer back to the original markings and easily reproduce the cleat fit.
THE ‘NOT SO GOOD’
The following items is where the TP1 lost points.
- DETAILED INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKLET– There were some blatant errors and omissions in the booklet. For example,
- BASIC BIOMECHANICS – Correctly mentioned are (a) Fore/Aft Position, (b) Q-Factor, (c) Angle of the Foot (rotation) but, missing is (d) determining Valgus or Varus of the foot.
- ADJUSTMENT OF THE FOOT ANGLE (ROTATION) – “The basic position of the feet should be parallel to each other.” This is wrong. Since every human body is Asymmetric, some people’s feet are heel in, others are heel out while others are a mix of each. You need to take all of this into consideration when adjusting cleats.
- SYMMETRY OF THE FEET – “A symmetrical positioning of the cleats is important for equal power transfer and a balanced loading of the muscles.” Again, incorrect. Everyone’s body is asymmetric. If people were symmetric, there would be no need for bike fitting since you would be placing a symmetric machine (human body) onto another symmetric machine (the bicycle).
- COMPEX PROCESS – Correctly setting up cleats is not only the foundation of the overall bike fitting process, but, correct cleat placement is the foundation of your attachment to the bicycle. Fitting cleats correctly is a complicated and involved process. There are numerous things to consider when setting up cleats. Not only can incorrect cleat placement rob the cyclist of power, it can also cause major injuries.
- RECOMMENDED PURCHASE – Due to these issues, I do not recommend this tool for the first time do-it-yourselfer.
RATING
I scored this product in 2 different categories.
- Consumer DIY Tool: 3/5 Stars
- Why? There are not only cleat adjustment steps missing, but also, some of what is said in the booklet is wrong.
- Professional Bike Fitter Tool: 5/5 Stars
- Why? I have not only gone through the BikeFit.com Pedal/Cleat/Foot course but also taken the Trek Level 2 course from Cyclologic where we spent considerable time going through correct cleat placement. For those bike fitters who understand the how-to’s, this tool actually helps with getting the initial cleat placement exact.
- RECOMMENDED PURCHASE – I place the IP3 on my ‘RECOMMENDED BUY’ list for the professional bike fitter.
Ergon’s TP1 tool comes in 5 different cleat patterns including SPD, SPD-SL, Crank brothers, LOOK KéO and Speedplay.
Side view of TP1 showing ruler used to adjust cleats to the 5th metatarsal.
Aligning the cleat & Metatarsals over the pedal axle. Detailed view of fore/aft adjustment ruler.
Rear view of TP1 showing grid pattern and rear ruler used to adjust and/or check the cleat’s rotation or angle adjustment. Also of note is the ruler (in green in top center of photo) that is used in setting/checking Q-factor, or side-to-side adjustment.
I have always enjoyed bicycling and, through a series of coincidences, became a Bicycle Industry Consultant and Product Tester. I test prototype products for companies and have published only off the shelf production products on biketestreviews.com.
