cleats with float, or no float

[Catrin]

I am wondering if my legs need cleats with more float than my SPDs, and if this was one of the contributing factors to my injuries last fall. Considering my injuries came within two weeks of moving to clipless pedals I have to ask the question - though it may simply have been a final straw for my leg.

Is there a way to tell this without going to the expense of new shoes/pedals/cleats? I really do like clipping in for the hills, and for the feeling of extra stability in a cross-wind, but I am leery of returning to my SPD pedals...

[ny biker]

My knees are much better since I switched from SPDs to Speedplay frogs, which have more float.

[indysteel]

Have you talked to Jonathan and/or your PT about whether your injuries had anything to do with your SPD pedals? Your knees didn't give you any issue last fall if I recall, so I'm not sure of the connection, but it's something you should talk to them about. You've been clipping in in spin class without incident this winter, right?

I tend to think you'd be better off putting your SPD pedals on now when your mileage and average ride is still pretty low/short than to decide in the middle of summer that you want to go back to them. T But I wasn't as convinced as you were that your pedals were the real culprit last summer. They may have contributed to the extent you suddenly started engaging your muscles in a new way AND riding over 150 miles a week, but that's why it might make more sense to begin using them now when your riding volume is still pretty low. Give you muscles a chance to acclimate, but take them off at the FIRST sign of any problem.

Has Jonathan ever suggested Andy Pruitt's book The Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists? You might want to get a copy of it for reference.

[Catrin]

hmmmm, I have also thought about that point IndySteel... it is true that none of my injuries were related to my knee - that I know of. My recent knee problem had nothing to do with the bike

I am still working on a more consistent starting technique, and when I am happy with that I will make the change. The seat post is getting raised every few rides now so I don't want to introduce something new until I am more comfortable with the new way of doing things.

Some of that is probably nerves - and it isn't about clipping in/put - it is the whole injury association. I will also discuss this with Jonathan and see what he thinks about the wisdom of moving to another kind of pedal..

[OakLeaf]

For a contrary perspective ... my knees need things to be "just right," and because of that, I do better with no float. It might take me a couple of tweaks when I get a new pair of shoes, to get the cleats aligned exactly right. But once I get it right, that's where my knees like to be, and float just means slop, to me. I can handle the 4.5° grey cleats that come with new Look pedals, but when I replace them, I get the black zero float cleats if the store has them.

+1 on talking to your fitter and your PT.

[indysteel]

I think there are a number of bike fit experts who would agree with you, Oak. I did a fair amount of research on float some time ago when my knee was bothering me, and consistently came across those who think it's far better to use a fixed cleat that is set up "just so" than a cleat with float. My knee issue was ultimately related to Q factor so I didn't up changing out my grey Look cleats, but I've also used SPDs without problem--so long as I tweak them a bit to get them just right.

[Artista]

+1 on the Speedplay Frogs.

My bike fitter has a variety of clipless systems to try out during fittings. I was able to try his Frog "tester set" on my bike on a trainer before committing to them. Once we figured out that the Frogs worked, he took the testers off my bike & installed a new pair. I was very pleased that I didn't have to spend a lot of money before I knew whether they would work or not. Maybe your LBS & fitter have a similar testing system.