Duck feet, knee injury and clipless pedals..help..

[Lynn39]

I have had the spd mountain bike style cleats on my road bike for a week. Only fell once, so far..

I haven't gone too far with them yet, went out today and rode about 12 miles. My right knee is really hurting me. My knee wasn't bothering me too much while riding before I put on the clipless. I wasn't using cages either.

My right foot's natural position is splayed out. If I put my foot straight, it turns my knee in quite a bit. My left foot really doesn't do this. I'm thinking the pedal is holding my foot in a unnatural position for me?

Another issue with that knee is that I hurt my ACL in Nov. I didn't need surgery. It's not really 100% yet. I have to keep up on my exercises or it will bug me and feel weak.

I'm frustrated.. I really wanted to give clipless a try

Anyone else with duck feet or knee injures? Do you use clipless? Would a different style clipless help?

Thanks

[VeloVT]

Hopefully one of the PT ladies and/or someone with similar injuries will pipe in -- but, taking into account the fact that I don't fall into either category! -- it sounds like you would be a good candidate for pedals with lots of float, like Speedplays.

Good luck with your recovery!

ETA: it might also help to adjust your cleats differently, if they aren't already -- that is, adjust the cleat for your "normal" leg so it puts your foot in a neutral position, and adjust the cleat on your "splayed" foot such that it allows a comfortable angle. Again though, the PT folks may say that's a terrible idea that will cause other kinds of imbalances -- I just don't know.

OH! That makes me wonder -- have you had a bike fitting done by a PT? That might be really helpful...

[lph]

Another thing - I've read that you should adjust (twist) the cleats under your shoes to accomodate any turning out or in, so that your foot falls into a natural position. That may not be possible if you turn out a lot, I guess, but at least on mtb cleats there's a little leeway.

[emily_in_nc]

Hopefully one of the PT ladies and/or someone with similar injuries will pipe in -- but, taking into account the fact that I don't fall into either category! -- it sounds like you would be a good candidate for pedals with lots of float, like Speedplays.

+1

Since I fractured my pelvis on the right side in 2005, my right foot also naturally turns out a bit (I notice it most on the treadmill, if I watch my feet). I use Speedplay X-2's on my road bike, and Speedplay Frogs on my mtb, and they work great for this condition. No knee pain. I highly recommend you consider them since SPDs just don't allow much float. If you aren't able or willing to change pedals at the moment, you might be able to adjust your cleat on your right shoe to allow for toe-out.

Good luck!

Emily

[Lynn39]

+1

Since I fractured my pelvis on the right side in 2005, my right foot also naturally turns out a bit (I notice it most on the treadmill, if I watch my feet). I use Speedplay X-2's on my road bike, and Speedplay Frogs on my mtb, and they work great for this condition. No knee pain. I highly recommend you consider them since SPDs just don't allow much float. If you aren't able or willing to change pedals at the moment, you might be able to adjust your cleat on your right shoe to allow for toe-out.

Good luck!

Emily

Would I be able to use my present shoes (mtb style) with speedplays? I will try to adjust my cleats on the spd's first and see how it feels. Thanks for your help.

Thanks to Liza and LPH too

[F8th637]

Lynn, I have this same problem and I have adjusted my cleats for toe out as much as I can without my ankles hitting the crank. I just bought some Speedplay Frogs after reading this thread earlier and hope they help me as well. I'll keep you posted and you do the same.

[emily_in_nc]

Would I be able to use my present shoes (mtb style) with speedplays?

Yes, but you will need Speedplay Frogs -- they are the "mountain style" pedals for that type of shoes (recessed cleats). Other Speedplay pedals (X series, Zeros, Light action) are for road shoes and are not recessed.

Frogs are great; I suspect they'd work very well for your injury.

Emily

[Kathi]

In addition to getting your foot aligned properly you might need wedges.

http://www.bikefit.com/

I started having knee pain last fall. I had ridden all summer, use Speedplay Pedals and have cycling orthotics.

I skied all winter without issues but my ski boot fitter had put a wedge in my ski binding. However, when I used my bike trainer (different bike) my knee hurt.

Saturday I had wedges put between my cleat and shoe. Yesterday, I rode for 45 min. without pain. My forefoot feels natural in the shoe. It's hitting flat across the shoe instead of pressure on the ball of my foot.

Also, keep in mind that when you make changes "less is more". To adjust to the change I'm keeping my ride time to 45 min., no hills and riding every other day.

I also have Chrondomalicia which could be contributing to the knee pain.

When we were looking at my bike we could see where the side of my foot was rubbing my crank arm. With the wedges only one spot hit so we put washers between the spindle and the crankarm to my foot away from the crankarm.

[jehocu03]

I believe that your knee may be hurting because there is no "float" with SPD pedals. Try a clipless pedal system that offers about 15 degrees or unlimited float. That way, your knees aren't held in a specific position, so your body rides naturally and your pain may go away.

[sundial]

I know you will receive excellent advice from the TE pros, but I'll chime in with my 2 cents. I have a bad knee and I use Speedplay Frogs on my road bike and mtb. The Frogs (and other Speedplay pedals) will allow a greater degree of float than many other types of SPD's and I can easily unclip with them. I also use Wellgo platform pedals with pins on my mtb and it allows me to change my foot position easily. I use the platform pedals when I exercise the dogs on my mtb.

[Lynn39]

Thank you all for your help. Sounds like speedplays are the way to go

Lynn, I have this same problem and I have adjusted my cleats for toe out as much as I can without my ankles hitting the crank. I just bought some Speedplay Frogs after reading this thread earlier and hope they help me as well. I'll keep you posted and you do the same.

F8th637, please let me know how they work out for you. I'm going shopping! My LBS will probably groan when I walk in. I'll let you know how it goes.

[F8th637]

Thank you all for your help. Sounds like speedplays are the way to go





F8th637, please let me know how they work out for you. I'm going shopping! My LBS will probably groan when I walk in. I'll let you know how it goes.

Mine come tomorrow! Good luck!

[Bad JuJu]

+ another 1, for Speedplay Frogs.

I found out a couple of years ago--at the tender age of 53--that my kneecaps point ever so slightly outward, my left a little more than my right, and that was causing me to have pain in my left knee when riding with clipless pedals. I switched to Frogs, threw a Cho-Pat strap on the left knee, and I'm golden. The strap helps, but I couldn't use clipless pedals if it weren't for the generous float allowed by the Frog pedals.

[KnottedYet]

Speedplay Frogs!!!!

[spleened]

Hi, you could have a look at these pedals. http://www.flexiped.no Go to products then to Pedals... hope this helps.