Clipless system question

[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?