New Shoes & Pedals = Knee Pain

canuckguy · 05-15-2006, 12:22 PM

Well, the title just about sums it up.

I finally decided to get some proper road pedals and shoes for my road bike. Nothing fancy - Specialized shoes and Shimano platform pedals (SPD-SL). Up till now I had been using Wellgo MTB pedals and Shimano MTB shoes (SPD).

So I switched the pedals Friday night and headed out Saturday to give them a try. My usual short ride - about 27 km. By the end of it, I had a bit of soreness on the inside of my left knee. It was a little stiff going up and down stairs, but nothing unbearable. No problems on the right side. By Sunday, everything was pretty much back to normal.

I'm assuming that the problem is probably cleat positioning on the shoe. I need to rotate my foot either in or out a few degrees. The question is "which way?". Again, I'm assuming heel in/toes out, but I'd hate to go the wrong way first, and make matters worse.

Any thoughts?

FishrCutB8 · 05-15-2006, 10:25 PM

The other thing might be float--how much movement your foot is allowed when you're clipped in. Two thoughts--talk to your LBS where you bought them. You might also want to post this at roadbikereview.com...those guys are to biking what JPs is to lifting, IMO. I might have a knee pain-cycling link at my other computer too. Will check and post if I do...

canuckguy · 05-16-2006, 10:11 AM

The cleats do allow a few degrees of float.

I adjusted them to move my heel in just a bit and went for another ride last night. I didn't have a recurrence of the pain I felt on Saturday, so I guess I'm on the right track.

FishrCutB8 · 05-16-2006, 10:53 AM

Speedplays?

Kaiser · 05-16-2006, 11:17 AM

Sounds like you have the right idea - play around with it until you find what is best for you. Unless you have a good fitter at your LBS, and even then, you'll have to microadjust it to your liking (if you are like me or Lance and have the 'princess and the pea' syndrome).

Fish, he said above they were Shimano SPD-SLs. They are a Look-type platform pedal (the kind most pros use).

FishrCutB8 · 05-16-2006, 11:26 AM

My bad. Thanks, K.

FishrCutB8 · 05-16-2006, 11:26 AM

For the record: I went with Speedplays for the float, because of my knee history.

Kaiser · 05-16-2006, 11:28 AM

I also have Speedplays, the kind with unlimited float, on my road bike. Went with it for the same reason as you Fish, and no knee issue ever since. Love 'em.

FishrCutB8 · 05-16-2006, 01:04 PM

True enough.

ODB · 05-24-2006, 07:20 AM

Nothing beats Eggbeaters.....especially eggs!