SI joint and SPD's

[Kathi]

For years I have used Speedplay pedals on both my road bike and my mtn bike. Last summer my fitter made some adjustments to my mtn bike and didn't like my heel hitting my crankarm so he put me in Shimano SPD's.

I don't ride my mtn bike often but recently rode 15 miles on a dirt road which involved some climbing but nothing serious. While the pedals didn't seem to bother my left knee they set off my left SI joint and my right side, hip, knee, foot. I also disliked the fact that I couldn't adjust my right foot to a comfortable position.

I tend to have right knee pain on the mtn bike which is probably why I don't ride it much, the Q angle of the crankarms is very wide for me. Since my SI joint issue was discovered last year I had very little knee pain, road biking, hiking, skiing, etc.

In Sept we are planning a 109 mile ride in S.Dakota on gravel trails and I plan to ride my mtn bike and am thinking of going back to my Frogs. Do I need more time and shorter rides to get used to the spd's or am I better off with the Frogs? My fitter adjusted my cleats to "what we thought" was the correct position for my foot so why am I hurting with these pedals?

Should I see a PT for this as I don't understand what foot position has to do with the issues I had? I doubt if my fitter will have answers for me, he's great but not a medical person.