Clipless system question

[Catrin]

I only have experience with SPD pedals, and sometime over the next month my SPD platform pedals are going back on my bike. As some may recall, I returned to BMX pedals last fall due to over-use injuries.

I do have an issue with one knee, and my fitter tells me that my knee would probably prefer a pedal with more float than SPD, but that I would find any other system far more difficult to get in/out of. He has adjusted the tension on my SPD pedals such that I only have to THINK about clipping in/out. I can't even fall over when forgetting I've clipped in because it is THAT easy and quick to get out of them. If the tension were any lighter I would wind up unclipping accidently when climbing hills. I love them!

However, I am concerned that this might aggravate my knee. My fitter has yet to steer me wrong, he has done not much less than the miraculous in making it possible for my to ride my LHT all day long. I wouldn't see another fitter as long as he is in business - unless Knotted were to suddenly move to Indiana.

Given how easy it is to get in/out of my SPD pedals, would it indeed be more difficult to use other clipless systems?

[roadie gal]

There are a number of low tension, higher float systems out there that are definitely worth a try.

Because of a wonky knee, I use Speedplays (the X2's). They have 25 degrees of float. There is almost no tension in the system. They're very easy to get in and out of but you do have to turn your foot more than with the SPDs. Since using them I haven't had any knee problems.

They take some getting used to, since there's so much float. When you first use them you feel like you're standing on an ice cube. But you get used to that very quickly.

If you need lots of float I would recommend trying Speedplays.

[KnottedYet]

Speedplay Frogs have a ton of float, too.

Extremely easy to get in and out, no tension at all (passive release). No tension means no torque at the knee.

Maybe he hasn't suggested them to you because they are popular with mountain bikers, and they are off his radar?

Lots of TE'ers have them, once in a while they come up for sale on the forum.

Speedplay Frogs: http://speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog

[ny biker]

Speedplay Frogs have a ton of float, too.

Extremely easy to get in and out, no tension at all (passive release). No tension means no torsion at the knee.

Maybe he hasn't suggested them to you because they are popular with mountain bikers, and they are off his radar?

Lots of TE'ers have them, once in a while they come up for sale on the forum.

I switched to Speedplay Frogs last year when I got my new bike. I had been having problems with my right knee with the SPDs on the old bike, and the problem got worse with the new bike, probably due to different cranks and switching from a triple to a double. Since getting the Speedplays, my knees are fine.

Due to scar tissue in my ankle I had clipped out of the SPDs by turning my right heel inward with the foot at 12:00. With the Speedplays you have to turn your ankle outward with your foot at 6:00 to unclip, so I had to unlearn a habit that had become instinct after 6 years. But I had no trouble making the adjustment. And it does not hurt at all to turn my right ankle outward with the Speedplays, even though it was painful with the SPDs.

[OakLeaf]

I might have a set of Frogs with barely used cleats ... if you want them PM me and I'll run it by DH, who's already taken them off his bike.

[Catrin]

My fitter is an avid mountain biker so I am sure he knows about Speedplay cleats. I am going to run this past him and see if there is some reason he hasn't suggested them - I don't want to go to the expense of new shoes if there is some good reason not to try them. I seem to remember him saying that he thought I would run into a problem rotating my foot that much, but he may have been referring to some other pedal.

I do have ankle flexibility problems due to surgery and assorted injuries related to birth-related issues.

[ny biker]

Why would you need new shoes?

[Catrin]

Why would you need new shoes?

I looked on the website for Speedplay and they don't appear to list my shoes as being compatible - or am I wrong about that being a concern?

[radacrider]

I tend to be outside the normal consensus, I guess, as I do use Shimano SPD pedals and cleats. You might also ask your LBS about different SPD cleats.

I have standard float (SH51) cleat on my carbon soled shoes but have a higher float (SH56) cleat on my daily commuter shoes. With my pedal tension very low I sometimes actually accidentally unclip. The key I found is to make sure the cleat is positioned within the center of your foot movement.

For me, I found that with the higher float and centering the base position, this allows for the more natural rotational movement of my knees during pedaling. The only time I have knee issues is if I push a bit too hard.

Good luck.

[TsPoet]

IMHO, your choices are Frogs or Eggbeaters. Now that I think of it, that sounds like a dangerous new drink - "would you like a Frog Eggbeater with or without the extra vodka?"
I really like my eggbeaters. I've heard good things about frogs.
I've only ever heard one incidence when the shoes didn't fit a different kind of cleat, and a knife fixed that problem. You shouldn't need new shoes.

[OakLeaf]

These days, a lot of shoes fit either two bolts or three, not both.

Knife wouldn't fix it, because you'd need the threaded holes.

[macski]

I have Speedplay light action pedals that have about a 15 degree float and are super easy to get out of. They are very well suited to road bikes.

I only have to think about unclipping and it happens.

I have SPDs on another bike and the Speedplays are much more friendly on my knees.

My partner had a knee reconstruction several years ago and he also switched to Speedplays because he was getting some knee pain when cycling. He uses the zeros and his knee pain is gone. But for you Catrin, the light action ones would be better (the zeros are just a little bit harder to get out of)

[Catrin]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I will follow up with my fitter. I've also noted knee pain on my BMX pedals occasionally - probably when my legs/feet are in the wrong position. Interestingly enough, it is the OTHER knee that seems to be giving me problems recently, but it passes when I change position - and once I get warmed up that is the end of it.

I think part of it is "spring knee". Kind of like "spring butt". :o

[Catrin]

I had a lengthy conversation with my fitter about the different clipless pedal systems available. I do have significant issues with my feet, and as the back half of my left foot has been almost completely re-build, I do have flexibility problems with my left foot.

As it turns out, the reason he had not suggested Speedplay pedals is he thinks that "I" would have far more problems clipping/unclipping - especially unclipping - due to having to move the ankle further. My SPD pedals are adjusted so loosely that it seems all I have to do is to think about it and they fall off.

I've also been paying more attention to the spinning bike in class - I still go once a week until mid-May when I will drop the remaining class for the season. There has been some pain in my left knee on the spinning bike which has been mysterious - but I finally realized last night that the crank on the bike is so constructed that my left leg is further away from the bike than my right leg. I do have a small "Q-factor?" issue, so I suspect that it is more related to that. It is even worse on the spinning bike when I am not clipped in.

My fitter expressed the strong opinion that properly adjusted SPD pedals is best for me. He suspects that Time pedals would also work for me...

Fast forward to my return to clipless on Sunday - neither knee complained :) Hamstring scar tissue did flare a bit, but it faded. Will build mileage properly with the return to clipless. Last summer I waited until August - and my second ride on them was a metric century :eek: :cool: While I suspect I was already injured at that point, just not to the level that I noticed it yet, that was probably a too aggressive change.

Am considering moving to Time Atac Z platform/clipless combination pedals. My feet really do like the combination of clipping in on either side with the added support of a platform. The Atacs look better designed for this - at least the pictures for the assorted Shimano versions of this make it appear like the platform could get in the way of clipping in. Will also post this under a separate thread - but does anyone have experience with these pedals?