Toying with the idea of trying clipless pedals

[Hi Ho Silver]

I second the call to Eric Moen.

How much is your LLD? If it is a biggie (more than an inch of true LLD) you might do best with a drop-pedal system.

I am a bit intrigued by your description of your short leg having the foot externally rotated. That's something we usually see on the LONG leg. Or else on the leg of an internally rotated (weak butt) hip. Rotation to unclip comes from the hip joint (the knee really doesn't rotate, it just slews around with the leg as a whole) which again makes me wonder about that right leg and weak butt muscles.

Do you have a PT who can work with you?

Wow, you say rotation to unclip comes from the hip? Then my limited ability to rotate my right foot sorta makes sense: Ages ago I had an anterior spinal fusion (L5) and they took the bone to be fused to the vertebrae from my right hip. If I lay down on my back and relax, the whole right leg tends to flop outward.

I don't recall my LLD, but I'm sure it isn't an inch. When I was in college I did wear orthopedic shoes with a lift in the right, but it seems to me it was a pretty small lift (just guessing, maybe 1/4" at most).

Given the problems I mentioned, should I avoid clipless pedals unless I can find a PT/ bike fitter that can work with me?

Thanks for your insights!