Cleat placement

[Carbon_Kooi]

I've been reading up on cleat placement and see a lot of people saying you should put the cleat as far back as possible, although the standard is ball of foot over pedal spindle, what are your thoughts on this?

[#Pete#]

Moved my cleats back as part of dealing with metatarsal pain ,and after reading I'm sure some of what you did - much happier.

[Cyclocross]

I've been reading up on cleat placement and see a lot of people saying you should put the cleat as far back as possible, although the standard is ball of foot over pedal spindle, what are your thoughts on this?

Much happier with spindle just behind ball of foot. Previously was too much "toe down" through pedal stroke, now foot is flatter (occasionally heel down) and able to draw on bigger muscle groups.

 

Also required me to drop my saddle heights fractionally to compensate which is something to consider if changing cleat position.

[Palaeodom]

Do you also think that MTB may require a slightly different cleat position than road? I am just starting to read about it. It'd be interesting to see where MTBers have their cleats or even if it makes as much of a difference seeing as they're int and out of the saddle and regualrly shifting weight and position on the saddle.

[Tazza007]

If ANYBODY finds a comfortable position which does not yield dead or burning sensation in feet PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW

 

I'll be reading ....

 

I think I should move mine back though, after getting on my road bike for the first time in a long time I've noticed my cleats are further back than with the new (later obtained) MTB shoes.

 

Keep pedaling ...

Edited May 19, 2011 by Tazz007

[Tankman]

Where is the "They dont ever stay in the same position" option?

 

Track, sprints, kermisse or kriteruims ... move them forward ... more power.

Endurance or long distance ... move them back ... comfort.

 

 

Tazz, if you struggling with hot foot, move them back.

[The_Break]

The bone of the ball of your big toes should always be directly over the axle of the pedal.

Assuming stragith ahead clearts, your legs are the same length, your saddle is correctly set with regards height and fore/aft position you should not get injuries from another cleat position. If you are getting injuries it is from another cause and not cleat position.

Moving to the rear or front of the pedal axle only causes the foot to tend to rotate around the axle as your force is coming from the balls of your feet. It is when this rotation takes place that you cause unwanted strain, wasted energy that is not good for cycling.

 

All bike setups should begin with correct cleat placement, then saddle height, then fore/aft, then readjustment of saddles height and foreaft till correct and then the height and distance of the handle bars.

[The_Break]

I've been reading up on cleat placement and see a lot of people saying you should put the cleat as far back as possible, although the standard is ball of foot over pedal spindle, what are your thoughts on this?

 

Most shoes I have set up on people have to be moved back as far as possible in order to get to the ball over axle position so dont be fooled when people say as far back as possible.

[TNT1]

I've been reading up on cleat placement and see a lot of people saying you should put the cleat as far back as possible, although the standard is ball of foot over pedal spindle, what are your thoughts on this?

 

Ball of foot over the axle is correct. Wherever the cleat is actually doesn't matter, as long as ball of foot is over axle.

[Carbon_Kooi]

Ball of foot over the axle is correct. Wherever the cleat is actually doesn't matter, as long as ball of foot is over axle.

 

Joe Friel claims it is better to have it more to the arch of the foot, so much more for endurance rather than track or sprinting, http://www.trainingbible.com/joesblog/2007/01/cleat-position.html

 

I have always been riding with ball of foot on axle but it's interesting to see what your thoughts are on this toppic.

[SwissVan]

 

 

The bone of the ball of your big toes should always be directly over the axle of the pedal.

 

 

 

Why?

[TNT1]

Joe Friel claims it is better to have it more to the arch of the foot, so much more for endurance rather than track or sprinting, http://www.trainingbible.com/joesblog/2007/01/cleat-position.html

 

I have always been riding with ball of foot on axle but it's interesting to see what your thoughts are on this toppic.

 

When I see the riders in the TDF changing to this position, I'll look into it. (Oh, and not just one or two whack-jobs like David Millar or some nutter like that, I mean when people like Contador, Basso and Vino start doing it.)

Edited May 20, 2011 by TNT1

[SwissVan]

I've been reading up on cleat placement and see a lot of people saying you should put the cleat as far back as possible, although the standard is ball of foot over pedal spindle, what are your thoughts on this?

 

I moved mine back as far as possible and then elongated the cleat slots in the shoes a further 12 - 15mm to allow the cleats to be moved even further back.

 

Motivation was due to pressure on my metatarsals resulting in nerve related toe pain.

 

Funny enough I found this position to be quite comfortable and it also seems to place less physical stress on my calves, which helps if you also run i.e. triathlon.

[AndreZA]

The bone of the ball of your big toes should always be directly over the axle of the pedal.

 

 

I would love to see how you will get a cleat underneath the ball of the big toe.

[AndreZA]

I moved mine back as far as possible and then elongated the cleat slots in the shoes a further 12 - 15mm to allow the cleats to be moved even further back.

 

Motivation was due to pressure on my metatarsals resulting in nerve related toe pain.

 

Funny enough I found this position to be quite comfortable and it also seems to place less physical stress on my calves, which helps if you also run i.e. triathlon.

 

I think it's Pornstar that has a pair of custom made shoes with the cleats in the arch of the foot.

[Just Keep Pedaling]

"When I see the riders in the TDF changing to this position, I'll look into it."

 

They have a differant objective to many riders here - which could mean that emulating them is not 100% correct for everyone.