Knee pain/changing pedals and cleats
OK...................let me start off by saying that my knees do not like side to side movement........no tennis and forget that step aerobics that was the thing ten or so years ago. Side to side motion gives me pain on the outside of the knee regardless of how careful I am.
Well, I decided to change my road bike pedals and shoe cleats from double sided MTB to a KEO LOOK pedal and 4.5 cleat thinking that the midrange of movement would be OK. Well, my LBS sold me the RACING KEO LOOK pedal that was very very light but unknown to me had a very tight spring for releasing the cleat. When I got them put on and tried them out I said that I had a hard time clipping in and out and if they could loosen the spring. Well, it was as loose as it could go. I struggled and thought that it was just that my ankle was not strong enough to push my foot out of the cleat. Each time I got out it was harder and harder. About a week after they were put on we were on a 85 mile ride that ended up having about 7000 feet of elevation gain........needless to say at about 65 miles my glutes and big muscles were feeling a bit tired and I started climing a bit just with my knees.............ouch!!!!!!! The knee did not like that...............I switched back to the tired muscles and they got me home but not without me having a few more knee pains. I was BESIDES MYSELF with worry as DH and I are doing a three day 225 mile ride in mid-September and I just don't want anything to get in the way of it..............
Well..........to cut this short, this AM went to my LBS that sold me the racing Look pedals, explained the problem and they were GREAT!!!! We changed out the racing pedals to one step down that was also $90 less and put different cleats on my shoes. I zipped around with the new pedals and cleats and clipped in and out NUMEROUS TIMES with no problems and with little effort. Then also the owner gave me a good idea which was when I clip out push my heal in instead of out.........................easier on the knees.
Anyway........just wanted to share me success story..................after many nights of worrying that I was needing surgery on my knee or something awful like that!!! I am happy with the results and plan a short 20 mile spin tomorrow and then some climbs on Thursday..............will let you know.:)
Jo Ann
