More road bike oriented but i guess it wouldn't be too different to mountain bike riders who clip in!
I ride flats on the MTB but obviously clip in on the road bike. I've been getting pain on the inside of my left knee when riding recently and I wondered if it was down to my cleats. Am I right in thinking that the screw on the pedal just controls the amount of force required to release from the pedal, and the cleat controls the amount of float? I feel like my left leg wanders around when pedalling and i'm sure i'm arching my leg rather than going in a true circle. I assume this could cause a bit of pain? My cleats are pretty bashed up from a bad crash and i've ripped one of the yellow wear indicators off.
Im currently running the standard yellow cleats would a pair of the cleats with less float make a difference?
Thanks for any input.
Harry.
Have you had a bike fit?
Might be a cleat set up issue, might just be a muscle imbalance - easily sorted with some simple exercises (not something I'd want to advise on).
Same as you only clipped in for the road bike and I think the less floaty cleats are better. Bit of a mystery how they are supposed to be positioned maybe you could find someone to help with that. Having trashed the first set of cleats I also bought the rubber covers for walking.
Am I right in thinking that the screw on the pedal just controls the amount of force required to release from the pedal, and the cleat controls the amount of float?
Yes, Shimano do 3 cleats: Red: no float, Blue: 2° and Yellow: 6° float.
This is an OK article on cleat position: http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/fitness/bike-fit/cleats-explained-how-to-set-them-up-correctly-23575
I had a similar problem with my right knee, when I was training for La Marmotte last year. I was advised (by Oli Beckingsale no less!) to move the cleat back slightly (about 5mm) so the balls of my feet are very slightly forward of the pedal axle. Oli's reasoning was that when climbing , your feet will move back in your shoe slightly, so you'll then have the balls of your feet directly over the pedal axle.
Whatever the reason, the problem went from pain to mild discomfort.
Might be a cleat set up issue, might just be a muscle imbalance - easily sorted with some simple exercises (not something I'd want to advise on).
+1
But my experience was a bit of both - and a bike fit and checkup with a specialist sports therapist led to cleat wedges, insoles and a tweak of cleat position. And saddle a smidge higher, slight bar position tweak.
I'd recommend Nic and Nick at NJD...
[url= http://www.njdsportsinjuries.co.uk/ ]http://www.njdsportsinjuries.co.uk/[/url]
🙂
I can also recommend NJD.
Are you only getting this pain on the road bike? If so, then I guess it's something to do with the setup of that. Although I do find that any problems do amplify themselves on the road bike as you tend to ride hours in the same position.
It's hard to say, I seem to notice it more on the road bike but as I ride a lot i'm often still feeling the effects when i jump on the MTB. Im thinking maybe take a look at cleat position/switch cleats and perhaps a bike fit. Thanks guys!