Cleat Problem..Help?

fludey

Hi hoping some one can help or put a link to a good cleat set up guide. Have SPD on my mountain bike and "LOOK" type on my road bike and I seem to be having the same problem with both sets of shoes.

Have set cleats up as best I can....but im having the following issues

After about 10-15 miles start to get pins n needles in both feet this happens in both feet on ether bike?

My other issue and this is the one I really need to sort...my right leg is fine how its set other than the pins n needles, BUT my left leg i keep getting pain in the outside of my knee.
Both sets of cleats have a fair amount of float in them but I just cant get my left leg right?

Any help or any links to some good how to guides would be great.

Hope some one can help

Andyp2011

get your bike shop to set them up. if you bought it from them it should be free, if not less than a fiver.

better than a knee injury

sungod

lateral/outside knee pain...

can just be caused by going too hard too soon, use a lower gear, increase cadence

check that the seat height and position are correct, and not too high

too narrow a stance - foot too close to cranks, try moving cleats towards cranks (so your foor moves out)

cleats set so your feet are toed-in too far, if you've got plenty of float that seems less likely but it's still possible

i had months of niggling knee pain, turned out i needed footbeds with more arch support and also shims to adjust foot angle

if you can't figure it out, get a proper bike fit (very few bikes shops can do this, post on the forum asking for recommendations in your area)

also read here...

http://www.cptips.com/xtocdet.htm#medical

sungod

btw the pins and needles could be due to the nerves geting squished by the bones, try using a footbed like the specialized bg ones, these have a raised 'button' designed to prevent this

louthepoo

i dont have any pain just pins and needles in my left foot, never my right and they are set up the same!

sungod

louthepoo wrote:

i dont have any pain just pins and needles in my left foot, never my right and they are set up the same!

people aren't perfectly symmetric

setting up so left == right is no guarantee of correct set up

you need to set each side up separately

fludey

I did try local bike shop there expertise seemed to end with setting them up static off the bike just straight ahead! And this is a well known shop as well with years of experience!

Could be too close to crank thats the one thing that I have not tried moving the cleat in more to move foot out.

Dont think its going to hard, been cycling quite a while done a few 50 mile rides...think ive about got my road bike right after fitting new pedals with look style shoes...but still struggling with mountain bike.

Is it worth putting flats back on and taking note of how foot sits natrually....oh by way if anything my seat is possibly a bit low on MTB could this be a cause?

Failing that anyone know any good shops in Leicestershire to get them set up properly?

Cheers all.

woodywmb

If you are new to SPDs, the pains will be due to the sudden use of muscles that you've never used before. You will have previously pushed down on your flat pedals many times, mile after mile, but the likelihood is that you've never had to pull up on the pedals continuously for a long period of time. It's just not natural and won't be UNTIL your limbs get acquainted with this new pressure on them. Keep at it, play for time. Sungod's suggestions are all good advice. You should also check that the cleats are fully tightened on your shoes (and do it regularly) and alter the "cleat grip" screws on the pedals to suit your pedalling style. These need to be tightened up as time goes on to lessen the sideways movement of your pedal. Park Tools website or Sheldon Brown should help.

sungod

fludey wrote:

I did try local bike shop there expertise seemed to end with setting them up static off the bike just straight ahead! And this is a well known shop as well with years of experience!

Could be too close to crank thats the one thing that I have not tried moving the cleat in more to move foot out.

Dont think its going to hard, been cycling quite a while done a few 50 mile rides...think ive about got my road bike right after fitting new pedals with look style shoes...but still struggling with mountain bike.

Is it worth putting flats back on and taking note of how foot sits natrually....oh by way if anything my seat is possibly a bit low on MTB could this be a cause?

Failing that anyone know any good shops in Leicestershire to get them set up properly?

Cheers all.

as you are getting it on both bikes, consider a proper bike fit, haven't tried them myself but http://www.cadencesport.co.uk./index.php or http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... &page_id=2 might be an option, like i said earlier it isn't a service you can get in many places - you want a dynamic fit from someone who is competent to look at shoes/cleats/footbeds as well as the bike itself

fludey

Cheers Sungod and all, will give it a try with a few little adjustments.
Noticed my left foot like to toe out more when hanging my legs off the edge of the table so have adjusted to cleat to the pedal spindle is now in line with foot toed out.
Also noticed my left leg likes to sit further out on the pedal so have moved cleat in a little, will see how this feels on my Friday night MTB run...will take an an allen key with me for some minor adjustments.

If all else fails I will follow the link to the shop in Birmingham and take both bikes and both pairs of shoes.....and my left leg! :?

At least my right leg is happy