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Thread: Cleat position

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    5,316

    Cleat position

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    I don't know where this belongs but i'll ask here.

    I have a nice new pair of shoes & can't get my left cleat into the right position. ( I can't remember how i had them on my old shoes..) I don't know if last night was just a bad night for cycling but the left side of my left knee hurt so much that I had to take the train Right leg is fine..

    I am picking up my new saddle tomorrow and am wondering if I should see the same person who set up my bike to help me out..

    I'll keep playing with the cleat position whilst doing some spin stuff on my bike inside..

    Thoughts?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    WA, Australia
    Posts
    3,292
    Quote Originally Posted by crazycanuck View Post
    I am picking up my new saddle tomorrow and am wondering if I should see the same person who set up my bike to help me out..


    Thoughts?
    Getting your cleat position right is important (as you can tell from the pain that has appeared). I would get your bike fitter to check it out for you.
    The most effective way to do it, is to do it.
    Amelia Earhart

    2005 Trek 5000 road/Avocet 02 40W
    2006 Colnago C50 road/SSM Atola
    2005 SC Juliana SL mtb/WTB Laser V

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    865
    I tried to adjust mine on a long ride because I'm having a problem with hotfoot and numbness. I had to eventually go with having the cleat in the middle, just under the ball of the foot. Even though it still hurt my foot, it was a better position for my left knee.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    4,516
    You have to watch front to back alignment and the angle at which the cleat puts your foot on the pedal. You want your foot to be pointed forward, not in a direction that would stress your knee. I concur - if you have someone who can watch you pedal on a trainer, it may help. Good luck!!
    Most days in life don't stand out, But life's about those days that will...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Bogota
    Posts
    294
    It really should be well fitted or the injuries will become chronic. My coach tightened my cleat recently for velodrome practices and locked it into "correct" position, but it started to hurt and then on the street I couldn't get out quick enough and fell over at the light (actually this happens to me a lot, I can't quite figure it out, have been using them for 7 mos and still falling over). A friend loosened it for me and told me to leave it "floating" so that my foot would naturally choose its best position instead of locking foot, knee and thigh/hip into place. The knee pain went away right away and I am conscious about concentrating on my positions.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    1

    Cleats

    Hey crazycanuck: I'm not quite sure what type of cleats you have. Do you have the "Ritchey"(small & narrow) type cleats? or the "Look" wide/with 3 screws-type of cleats?
    If it's the small "Ritchey" type you may be limited as to how far forward or backward you can move these types of cleats.

    If you have the wider platform cleats, start out by;
    1. Loosen all the screws, move the cleat to the center. Tighten your screws back up. Go for a ride or use your trainer to pedal for a while.
    Move your cleat forward or backwards until your pain goes away.

    A: Note: Since your left leg is the only thing hurting your seat may be too low.
    In my case, my right leg is shorter than my left leg so I made this neoprene rubber spacer about 1/8" thick and placed it under my right cleat. This helped me out, I stopped rocking in my seat.
    I wrote about cleats verses straps on my blog:

    http://wwwspinngblogsandgear-spinnerrater.blogspot.com/

    Hope this helps.

    Best regards,

    Greg

    Quote Originally Posted by crazycanuck View Post
    I don't know where this belongs but i'll ask here.

    I have a nice new pair of shoes & can't get my left cleat into the right position. ( I can't remember how i had them on my old shoes..) I don't know if last night was just a bad night for cycling but the left side of my left knee hurt so much that I had to take the train Right leg is fine..

    I am picking up my new saddle tomorrow and am wondering if I should see the same person who set up my bike to help me out..

    I'll keep playing with the cleat position whilst doing some spin stuff on my bike inside..

    Thoughts?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    5,316

    old

    Ummm..tis a bit late to reply 7 months later!!! I figured it out on my own thanks.

    If we're rehashing old threads, have a look at the date!!!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Central NJ
    Posts
    866
    Sit up on something high and let your legs dangle naturally. You want to mimic this position. I had a professional fitting done and he caught things like my left leg swinging out and corrected it by moving my cleat over. It really helps to have a second pair of eyes. Also, Andy Pruitt's book is great for explaining cleat placement.
    Girl meets bike. Bike leads girl to a life of grime: http://mudandmanoloscycling.com/

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Bendemonium
    Posts
    9,673
    Maybe this will do the trick.

    Quote Originally Posted by crazycanuck View Post
    Ummm..tis a bit late to reply 7 months later!!! I figured it out on my own thanks.

    If we're rehashing old threads, have a look at the date!!!
    Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    5,316

    eyes

    Ta SK

 

 

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