I'm pondering playing about with my cleat position a little. I've had my bike set u with quite racey position until recently but am wanting a more fun trail geometry. My cleats are quite far forward on the ball of my feet at the moment. Do people wear them closer to the arch for a more planted feeling on the pedals? Mine feel great for rotational efficiency but not very convincing when jumping or throwing the bike around underneath me. Just curious to hear other peoples setups. Might be that I need caged SPDs instead.
They're supposed to be on under the ball of the foot.
surely the only place you should put them is under the ball of your foot, the adjustability is there for changing the angle isn't it?
a platform spd will probably give you the support you are looking for
I just wondered as downhillers will sometimes put the pedal right in the arch of their foot. Presumed that this gives more stability or control.
downhillers "tend" to use flat pedals(though not always). They then use the arch of their foot to grip the pedal and get a similar level of grip that you'd get with an SPD.
I wouldn't run an SPD cleat anywhere other than the ball of my foot for fear of knacking up my already creaky knees
Lots of people like to run the cleat further back, for a more firm feeling engagement with the foot. The idea being that it further boosts the "driving" of the bike with the feet, and further diminishes any (wrong) tendency to ride "tippy-toed".
I can't see how it would be worse for your knees.
A small change will make quite a difference, just edge then back a little bit and see how it feels to you. Only you will know what you like.
There was a thread on this some time ago and somebody posted a link to a paper that claimed it position of the cleat makes no difference to efficiency but when placed further back can increase stability and confidence especially on a mtb. Or something like that.
I run mine as far back as possible as its not that comfortable landing a 6' drop on your toes, it hurts my ankles.
Don't tighten them completely until you have them in exactly the right place, moving a cleat that has biten into the sole is a pain.
I moved mine further back a few weeks back, does help with stability when standing up on the pedals on the downhills I find
I run mine quite far forward, as I seem to be able to clip in easier and quicker.
Feels comfy and stable enough to me.
on my shoes.
generaly on the bottom.
(+1, ball of foot)