Jump to content

Cleat placement


Carbon_Kooi

Cleat placement  

28 members have voted

  1. 1. Where do you place your cleats?

    • The standard ball of foot over spindle method
      17
    • Ball of foot in front of spindle
      4
    • Ball of foot slightly behind spindle
      3
    • As far back as possible
      4


Recommended Posts

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?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 by Tazz007
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

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

 

 

 

Why?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 by TNT1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Settings My Forum Content My Followed Content Forum Settings Ad Messages My Ads My Favourites My Saved Alerts My Pay Deals Help Logout