Road Cycling - Cleat Positioning

Are there some good guidelines or links for cleat positioning. I am using Look 5.1 pedals with a fair amount of float, but I was wondering how far forward/backward the cleat should be placed. Also what is the appropriate angle, inward, outward, or straight ahead?

I've been having some recurring knee aches and have played with my saddle height and position. I'm thinking that I might try realligning my cleats but I'm not sure where to start.

Thanks.

Go to your LBS and ask them to just look at your position on the bike. Mine did that for free and they adjusted my seat height and told me to probably move the cleat forward some. There are some general rules like having your knee right over the pedal axis or something like that. Someone else can probably tell you that. Ive heard in general I think you want to have your cleat/shoe setup so that your toes are slightly pointed inward. Best bet though probably just go to your LBS and ask them.

Cleat positioning is a very personal thing. You will have to experiment a bit.

A good starting point may be to set up the cleats in such a way that the ‘ball’ of your foot sole is placed right on top of the pedal axle. It takes you some time to figure out the corresponding cleat position on the sole, but you will feel it when you are there. From there, you can start fine tuning the position: backward/forward/sideward/etc. I have fairly sensitive foot ‘muscles’, so it does not take me long to find out when things aren’t properly aligned. (The first time, I took a screwdriver with me and did a couple of adjustments on the road.)

Once things work well, you may want to mark the desired cleat positions on your shoe soles.

My experience is that allowing for lots of float does not necessarily relieves your knees.

I wouldn’t tune the saddle height at the same time. That makes it more complicated to find out the source of your discomfort.