One leg shorter than t'other?

KnightOfTheLongTights

Anyone know how problems from this can normally manifest themselves?

I feel like I am pushing harder on the left side - which would seem to tally with my left left being ever so slightly longer than the right - which if memory serves me right, it is.

This in itself is probably not ideal as it is an inefficient use of power - but I'm not sure how to compensate for it. Cleat positioning perhaps?

Also I have been getting some left hip-pain after long rides, which might or might not be related to this - though it seems likely.

Anyone any experience of asymmetric pins?

kfinlay

First of all, get your bike on a turbo trainer, ensure the bike is vertical then get someone to stand beind you to ensure you are sitting straight and not to one side. If you don't have a turbo trainer then get someone to ride behind you on a straight flat or slight hill. You may have too high a saddle and are compensating by rolling on the saddle.
If all is ok with this then I would say you may need to get your legs properly measured and then a suitable fix put in place - probably best get a bike fit from somewhere reputable although many cyclist do have a bias one one leg over the other.
HTH

ut_och_cykla

I've read a lot about such problems on cycling news.com fitness pages. There they talk about postural and actual shortness in legs - teh latter often a result of a previous femur break etc. Google over there and have a read?

KnightOfTheLongTights

thanks both

small_bloke

Shims for cleats.

http://www.bike-science.com/products/sh ... -1254.html

Tom Butcher

A small leg length discrepancy might be quite difficult to measure accurately even for a physio but might have an affect on your cycling. If your only problem is you feel you are pushing harder with one leg could you maybe test that out with some kind of power measurement system that differentiates between left and right cranks before going further. I think watt bikes do that (not certain) though of course they aren't your bike so the set up will be slightly different.

KnightOfTheLongTights

cheers again

am going to a good sports physio I know who deals with bike positioning - although to what level of detail I don't know

he should at least be able to tell if I do have a signigicant leg disrepancy, anyway

racingcondor

I had a body geometry fit about a year ago and one of the first things they noticed was that the muscle up the right side of my spine was over developed. A little investigating later and it's because I've always ridden with my hips rotated a little to counter my shorter right leg. All of which goes a long way to explaining the basis for my knee issues etc. I now have a shim which reduces the discrepancy.

Common problem since people just aren't symmetrical.

rozzer32

Get yourself off to Adrian at Cadence Sport for a proper bike fit.

http://cadencesport.co.uk/

He uses shims to sort out any leg length differences. Always uses wedges in your cleats to make sure your foot is level etc. Can't recommend him enough. When I went the fit was £100 and I can honestly say it was the best money I have ever spent on cycling.

Stephb

Firstly you need to ascertain whether your leg length discrepancy in structural, ie bones in one leg longer or functional where your pelvis my be stiff on one side. You need to see a Physio or Chiropractor to find this out, once you know this you can do as zozzer32 suggests and invest in some shims. hope this helps

Nairnster

I have the exact opposite problem

one of my legs is longer than the other

Alex_Simmons/RST

I just adjust some screws to even mine up, or cut a new length of tube.

Power differences between legs is normal, and it varies depending on relative intensity. It is not necessarily an inhibitor to performance as I have personally demonstrated for myself.

As others have said, see a quality bike fitter to address fit issues, and it is worth doing some things to help with functional symmetry. Sometimes use of wedges can be counterproductive, so be careful with that. If you need an orthotic of some kind when cycling, you probably also need one when walking, so get that sorted.

KnightOfTheLongTights

thanks Alex et al.

So it seems I have no leg discrepancy. According to physion, my feeling of exerting more effort on the left side is through muscular / nervous tensions brought on by an imbalance in hip-flexor strength (left one is weak) - or something like that.

Goodtwist

Since I'm currently dealing with similar issues I STRONGLY recommend you to visit an orthopaedic specialist, preferably one experienced with athletes.

Do yourself a favour and tackle the problem appropriately from the scratch. It'll save you time and money and guarantee long lasting health.

Your musculoskeletal system is by far too complex to solve your problems through an internet forum, or by reading one book, that is.