The ultimate cleat question!?
- Thread starter Milzy
- Start date
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smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
oldfatfool
Guru
Common wisdom is to have the cleat so the ball of the foot is over the pedal axle. If pain ensues I remember reading that it is more likely to be from having the cleat too far forward and rarely from having it set too far back. hth
jazzkat
Fixed wheel fanatic.
- Location
- The Cumbrian Riviera
I tried all that feet dangling, check the angle, set the cleats that way yada yada... Didn't seem right and my shoes took all the coating off my cranks!!
I was seeing my physio for an unrelated injury and we ended up discussing cleats. My physio, who is something of a cycling specialist, said as long as there is float in the cleat just set it in a central position (under the ball of the foot) and not at crazy angles. That's how I have mine and I've had no problems.
I was seeing my physio for an unrelated injury and we ended up discussing cleats. My physio, who is something of a cycling specialist, said as long as there is float in the cleat just set it in a central position (under the ball of the foot) and not at crazy angles. That's how I have mine and I've had no problems.
jazzkat
Fixed wheel fanatic.
- Location
- The Cumbrian Riviera
That's true, but there is a lot of 'stuff' on the web about how you can injure your knees with badly set up cleats and I suspect it's aimed mainly at road cleats with no float. So I can understand people asking the question.
When I bought my first set of sdp shoes I just slapped the cleats on in the middle and got on with it. When I went to road cleats (with float) I did all the 'sitting on the edge of the kitchen cabinet, dangling your legs' malarkey and it was for nought really.
I supposed if you are very pigeon toed it might make a difference but by the very expert advice I've had, if you put the cleats in a 'middle' position it would suit most people.
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Fiddle around your self until comfortable. Note that ankle, knee & hip pain can be induced by bad cleat position. As you only lose small amounts of short duration if the cleat is further back but risk bone & soft tissue injury from having the cleat too far forward I'd recommend erring towards a rear-wards cleat position at first.
The further forward the cleat the more short duration (say sub-2 min) & explosive power you have which is better for sprinting, road racing, mountain biking, to get up that really steep bit of trail, & short track event riding. For longer sustained power it's better to have the cleat under the arch of your foot. You're talking about the last 1 or 2% optimisation with this though so for the average rider optimising your cleat position isn't important, being comfortable IS.
The further forward the cleat the more short duration (say sub-2 min) & explosive power you have which is better for sprinting, road racing, mountain biking, to get up that really steep bit of trail, & short track event riding. For longer sustained power it's better to have the cleat under the arch of your foot. You're talking about the last 1 or 2% optimisation with this though so for the average rider optimising your cleat position isn't important, being comfortable IS.
