Strange pedaling action

cyclingjosh

Hi, i have noticed i have got a very strange pedaling movement in my left leg. When i pedal my right leg stays completely still. However my left leg on the downward movement twists to the right, then when on the upstroke it twists again to the left. Is this normal? it is wearing out my pedals at quite a significant rate. Is there anything that could correct this/ what could be the cause of the problem? Thanks in advance. J

Alex_Simmons/RST

It is not uncommon to see this kind of lateral knee action by many cyclists. For many it can be corrected with correct positioning on a bike and with particular attention paid to cleat position and rotation, managing any leg length and/or pelvic asymmetries.

Have a look here for some clues:

http://www.cyclefitcentre.com/further%20reading.htm

bombdogs

I agree. Sounds like you might need your position on the bike, as well as cleat set up, looking at a bit closely.
Had the same problem myself switching from playing football for years to riding a bike - kept sticking my knees outwards. Was only through watching cycling videos and races on the TV that I noticed how George Hincapie and other riders tend to ride with their knees pointing a bit more inwards.
Started to mimic that and since then my pedaling action has got much smoother.
Tuesday night, I managed to get up to 30mph and hold it for mroe than 10 minutes and wasn't even on a slope or had a talewind. Was over the moon with myself
Have heard about other people who have got problems with their hips that cause them to pedal strangely, but one guy from my club has got a good part of his back calf missing from an accident years ago and he still beats everyone up the hills without breaking into a sweat. Guess he just took what many people thought as a disadvantage and turned it into a positive.
Bombdogs

cyclingjosh

cheers guys, i tried to re-position my cleats, but ended up hurting my shins. I'm going to go and get properly sized and perhaps think about some bg footbed inserts as well as professional cleat alignment. J

Alex_Simmons/RST

cyclingjosh wrote:

cheers guys, i tried to re-position my cleats, but ended up hurting my shins. I'm going to go and get properly sized and perhaps think about some bg footbed inserts as well as professional cleat alignment. J

Professional fitting is a real art/skill. Most LBS owners say they do bike fits but more often than not they know bugger all about it, especially for people that have particular requirements. Find someone who really knows what they're doing. They're worth their weight in gold and will have you riding in comfort and more powerfully.

cyclingjosh

cheers alex, i know you live in az but do you know anyone in south england who is good?

st199ml

Butting in, try:

Roger Graver at Mosquito Bikes in London (roger@mosquito-bikes.co.uk)

Or Cyclefit, again in London (http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/)

I've used Roger. Lovely bloke, fixed my lower back pain and knee mal-alignment (in conjunction with physio).

cyclingjosh

thanks, they are nice and local so i will give them a try

Mike Willcox

cyclingjosh wrote:

Hi, i have noticed i have got a very strange pedaling movement in my left leg. When i pedal my right leg stays completely still. However my left leg on the downward movement twists to the right, then when on the upstroke it twists again to the left. Is this normal? it is wearing out my pedals at quite a significant rate. Is there anything that could correct this/ what could be the cause of the problem? Thanks in advance. J

I find that putting my foot on the pedal helps.