Road Cycling - Do your feet rub the cranks?

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live311
10-06-03, 06:40 AM
I know this may sound kinda weird, but do the insides of your shoes rub against the crank arms when pedaling? I've done this on every bike I've ever owned with SPD's and it's annoying. My cranks start to look pretty ratty after a few weeks of steady riding. Sometimes I think that squeak is coming from my drivetrain, but it ain't. And forget it if the cranks are powder coated or anodized. I always get a small strip that gets polished to a shiny finish, wearing off any color and logos on both sides, which transfers onto the insides of my shoes. Is this normal or am I destined for knee surgery in 20 years? Right now I can say that I have no knee issues. I really like the look of the gray '04 Centaur group but if the color will get worn off by my shoes what's the point?
I have Look pedals and it depends on which shoes I'm wearing. My "old" Shimano shoes had the screw holes positioned so that my shoes never rubbed against the crank arm.
My current PI Vortex shoes have rubbed against the crank arm since I got them. I moved the cleat as close to the inside edge as possible and adjusted the angle, but it still rubs slightly.
I'm hoping the Lake shoes I just got will have the screw holes positioned so that the inside edge of the shoe will clear the crank arm.
AndrewP
10-06-03, 11:26 AM
The right shoe of the Cannondales that I got in Aug rubbed. I fixed it by moving the cleat to the end of its travel. To do this I had to remove a bit of rubber from the side of the cleat recess.
Paul L.
10-06-03, 12:34 PM
My shoes rubbed until I got Eggbeaters and they kept the shoe off the crank. That being said my heals still rub occasionally as my feet are pretty pronated.
I know this guy that makes pedal extenders to solve that problem. Catfish got a pair from the guy- he claimed they were about 30 bucks for the pair. If you're interested, let me know, ,and I'll get his info for you.
Koffee
I had Lake CX125 shoes that rubbed but when I switched to Sidis, away went the rubbing. Of course the part of the Lakes that was rubbing were the velcro straps which the Sidis don't have.
Michel Gagnon
10-07-03, 09:14 AM
I don't consider it a problem: I never feel anything like my feet bump into the cranks or make noise. However, there definitely is a shoe streak on the cranks.
I would have a solution/question: it would be nice to have that kind of polish all over the cranks. Is there an easy way to get it? .... Just kidding.
fogrider
10-07-03, 02:42 PM
I too rub my shoe against my crank and my chainstays. My natrual walking stride has my toes pointing out and this is simulated on the bike with the aligning of my cleats. If the cleats are not aligned accordingly, I get pain in my knees. I have heard that the new Look CX pedal has an adjustable Q-factor, I don't know how much adjustment these pedals have, but it might help to adjust it out as much as possible and move the cleat as far to the inside of the shoe as possible...I got fitted at my LBS and my knees have been happy ever since.
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