knee pain, larger platform pedals

[lattae]

I've had knee pain off and on and currently using the frog mtn bike pedals. My bike fitter has recommended using a larger platform pedal such as the shimano ultegra or the look elle pedals.... I'd have to purchase road bike shoes to be compatible also. Has anyone had any experience going from a smaller platform pedal to larger one and does this really have any influence on the knee issues? I've noticed that I have more pain during the fall/winter possibly related to wearing tights/capri's over the knees. Earlier this year I was treated for IT band issues and it seems like I've noticed year after year with the change in the temps and wearing tights that the pain has increased.. I'm suspecting that the patella tracking is possibly different?? Is this possible??

Does anyone have any recommendations on the pedals? If anyone has any positive or negative remarks about the pedals I have mentioned please let me know. I am seriously thinking of switching over. Thanks for any replies

[Cataboo]

I have patellafemoral syndrome in one knee - and I can definitely tell that if I have tights or capris across my knee, it does give me tracking issues while riding and causes pain.

Can you manage with maybe leg warmers & bike shorts instead of capris or longer tights? I tend to wear bike shorts with looser pants over them or say wool tights which give a bit more.

I use speedplay frogs because they have a lot of float, which makes them easy on my knees - I don't have any knee pain using them. I have heard some people say that in some ways frogs having that much float makes them a bit more of an unstable platform which can lead to problems.

It sounds like you're already working with a fitter, so you probably have already addressed all of this - but your seat too high or too low can contribute to knee pain, as well as cranks that are too long.

[OakLeaf]

+1 - anything too tight across my kneecaps aggravates mine, too. I think, even without wearing tights, colder temperatures make the fascia tighten up. It feels that way to me, anyhow.

I've always ridden Look-style pedals (well, ever since clipless was invented ;)) and I have the Keo Classic now. I think the Elle pedals just have a lighter release? Classics are a pretty light release, and they're all adjustable.

I've never heard of the platform size contributing to knee pain. Foot pain, yeah.

I don't know much about two-bolt cleats, but I think some cleat/shoe combinations make it easier to rotate the cleats, where others only let you move it front to back? I might be completely wrong about that. Look cleats give you a fair amount of choice as to how to position them, which is important if you have funky knees.

[Cataboo]

I was trying to remember what I wore the other day which bothered my knee tracking and I finally did- I put on some neoprene pants to go kayaking in. Like 5 seconds after putting them on, my knees hurt. I spent some time trying to pull the neoprene around to make sure it wasn't changing the tracking of my knees, and then decided I was sitting down in the kayak and it shouldn't matter too much.

[lattae]

I've seen some reviews for the shimano ultegra pedals and they are not complimentary so thought I'd investigate the Look elle pedals to see if they would be better... my fear is that if I'd get the wider pedal will my knee pain still persist. For some reason my bike fitter doesn't care for the speedplay brand of pedals.

[SLash]

I have a problem with one of my knees and have always used Looks with no problem. Right now I use the Look Keo pedals and really like them.

On another bike I have spd pedals and for longish rides (20+ miles) on that bike my knee sometimes bothers me. Could be because I am more used to Looks or maybe because of my particular knee issue, I'm not sure, but I do prefer the Looks, overall I just find them more comfortable.