I am new to the forum but look forward to reading and posting a lot! I have a question to start things out.
I just recently upgraded my road bike from crappy basket pedals to Shimano SPD clipless pedals. I put the cleats on the shoes and took a couple practice rides (about 30 miles so far) and am just now feeling an ever so slight soreness on the inside of my knees. Also I am noticing my toes pointing down a bit (heels up) when I ride.
Also I am noticing my toes pointing down a bit (heels up) when I ride.
How should I adjust my cleats?
That's probably not a cleat issue. Sometimes when you switch from one type of pedal/shoe combination, the distance between your foot and the pedal spindle changes. It sounds like your new setup has moved your feet closer to the center of the spindle, which is a good thing. This also increased your effective saddle height. You should be able to bring your heels back down to where they were by dropping your saddle a few mm.
I am new to the forum but look forward to reading and posting a lot! I have a question to start things out.
I just recently upgraded my road bike from crappy basket pedals to Shimano SPD clipless pedals. I put the cleats on the shoes and took a couple practice rides (about 30 miles so far) and am just now feeling an ever so slight soreness on the inside of my knees. Also I am noticing my toes pointing down a bit (heels up) when I ride.
How should I adjust my cleats?
Thanks a bunch for any help you all can provide!
Sean <>< Fitzgerald, GA
Before you go much further you should consider getting your cleats fit by a professional in a bike shop. Because your feet are effectively locked into the pedal (with some room for float), you can seriously damage your knees (repeative injury). It also sounds as if you could do well to have a professional fit your bike to you as well -- to address your heel position. Big changes in position take time to adjust so that you do not injure yourself. To get good bike fit and cleat positioning there are two main systems -- Fit Kit and WobbleNaught.
If your toes are pointing down when your leg is fully extended then you'll need to adjust your seat hight. That may also help your knee problem but more than likely that would require a float adjustment on the pedals. Start them with full float and adjust them tighter as you progress. I am also a big advocate of stretching.
SPD's are without doubt one of the worst pedals Ive ridden. My advice would be to save yourself alot of knee pain. Invest in a set of Speedplays. I suffered the knee pain for too long before I finally switched. They are also much easier to get into and out of. Just my 2 cents.
Do your feet point out or in or straight when you walk?? Which way do did your toes to heel point on your old pedals when you rode??
You should probably start with adjusting your cleats such that your feet are generally pointed somewhere close to the above.
Position the cleats in the front to rear direction on the shoe so that the center line of the cleat is about .25" behind the centerline of the ball of your foot (front to back) when your foot is in the shoe.
Another suggestion is to put your cleats on with the screws a little loose, but snug. Ride around the block with an easy pace, not focusing on your feet. As you come into stop coast for a while while spinning each foot to the front and looking down at the angle of where your feet ended up. note this angle, note that the angle may be different for each foot.
