Painfull left leg after riding

[W@nted]

Hi Guys

 

I am struggling to get my mtb setup correct. After hard rides I sometimes have a pain in my left leg, especially when walking or putting excessive pressure on the outside of my foot. Sometimes this is especially evident after getting “hotfoot”. I tried moving the cleats backwards a bit, but did not realy help. Any tips? I do not experience it at all with my road bike.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I used to get that quite often on my old roadie, and when I had cleats on the MTB until I changed to shoes that fit properly. Even the smallest amount of variance between different shoes can result in an uncomfortable / hot sensation, and mine presented in exactly the same place as yours - on the outer edge of the midfoot, opposite the arch. 

[Headshot]

You must use both legs when pedaling.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Another thing to look at is your Q factor i.e. how wide your cranks plus pedals are.

 

If you are a big guy i.e. wider hips - more like a prop than a wing (notice i didnt insult you here)  you may be pushing down in such a way as to have your foot rolling off the side of the pedal, which then puts pressure on to the side of your foot.

 

This used to cause me agony and i couldn't walk after a race sometime. I eventually solved the problem with wider pedals i.e. longer axles - a set of Shimano Ultegra's off CRC.

 

You can also shim your pedal axles wider. Which i have done.

 

This helped a lot for my problem. It was pain in the front of the foot. I felt like my foot was being crushed after a long ride - it was nothing to do with how tigt the shoes were.

[MarcBurger]

Don't overlook the possibility of your saddle being the issue. Your hips may be trying to compensate by rotating your one side.

Unlikely but if all else fails

[Johan_Kleynhans]

Search for posts on saddle position.

 

How different is the set up on the two bikes itv saddle v BB position?

 

Try to ride with the same shoes eg use your MTB shoes with the road bike and see if it feels different.

[Vetseun]

Hi Guys

I am struggling to get my mtb setup correct. After hard rides I sometimes have a pain in my left leg, especially when walking or putting excessive pressure on the outside of my foot. Sometimes this is especially evident after getting “hotfoot”. I tried moving the cleats backwards a bit, but did not realy help. Any tips? I do not experience it at all with my road bike.

All that is happening here is that your body is telling you that something is wrong with your setup.

You dont have issues on your RB. You do on your MTB. So its not a health issue.

Cycling is hard, you deserve to at least be comfortable when doing it.

My suggestion would be to fork out the ZARs and get a quality proffesional bike setup done. Probably a minor tweak and all will be good again. Good Luck.

[Dicky DQ]

I get hotfoot every time I lay off for a while and it takes about 2 weeks to resolve itself. During that time i loosen the offending shoe a lot and the problem disappears. Toe-strap and 2nd strap loose and the top strap moderately tight. you can always adjust in the ride so no big issue.

[Vetseun]

I used to get that quite often on my old roadie, and when I had cleats on the MTB until I changed to shoes that fit properly. Even the smallest amount of variance between different shoes can result in an uncomfortable / hot sensation, and mine presented in exactly the same place as yours - on the outer edge of the midfoot, opposite the arch.

 

Cleats are on your shoes. Clipless pedals are on your MTB.

My pleasure.

[Fat Boab]

Hi Guys

 

I am struggling to get my mtb setup correct. After hard rides I sometimes have a pain in my left leg, especially when walking or putting excessive pressure on the outside of my foot. Sometimes this is especially evident after getting “hotfoot”. I tried moving the cleats backwards a bit, but did not realy help. Any tips? I do not experience it at all with my road bike.

 

Measure your road bike: saddle tip horizontal distance relative to BB, saddle height, Q-factor.

 

Measure the same parameters on your MTB.

 

Correct later to former as much as you can. Rinse and repeat!

[W@nted]

Thanks for all the replies! I will properly measure my road bike setup and try to duplicate as best possible on the MTB this weekend. If that is unsuccessful, will have to fork out the Rands for a proper setup on the mtb.

 

Riding with specialized shoes on both bikes, but have always ridden with time pedals on the road bike. Maybe time to switch to time on mtb as well, as I like the float on the road pedals. Currently have the s tracks on the mtb.

[Fat Boab]

Thanks for all the replies! I will properly measure my road bike setup and try to duplicate as best possible on the MTB this weekend. If that is unsuccessful, will have to fork out the Rands for a proper setup on the mtb.

 

Riding with specialized shoes on both bikes, but have always ridden with time pedals on the road bike. Maybe time to switch to time on mtb as well, as I like the float on the road pedals. Currently have the s tracks on the mtb.

 

Maybe worth, if possible, moving your road pedals to your MTB for a trial period ie change fewer things at the same time, to see if your set-up tweak works or otherwise?

[W@nted]

Great suggestion! Will definitely try that, as there will not be walking required with the mtb. Will eliminate one unknown????????

[W@nted]

Some feedback: I replaced my saddle with a narrower prologo saddle without a cutout like the spez phenom. (Had the prologo saddle on my old 26er mtb). Problem gone! No more pain in the left leg during or after exercise. Seems that the spez and fizik saddles pinch a nerve somewhere, causing numbness in my leg.

 

So happy that I can train without unnecessary pain again.

[Tristand]

This is the type of situation where the bike fit with both cameras and lasers is what you want. Rest of the time they are unnecessary.

[Eldron]

This is the type of situation where the bike fit with both cameras and lasers is what you want. Rest of the time they are unnecessary.

Or you can just change your saddle apparently ????????