Clipless system question

[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".

[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 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?