Road Cycling - Most common fit error

I was talking to a guy who does fits around Denver for various LBS. He told me the the most common fit correction he makes is the cleat position.

So here's a quickie:

Put your shoe on. Mark the shoe at your 1st metatarsal head. It's the big toes' joint furthest back from the tip of the big toe. Your pedal spindal should meet this mark with a level shoe and cleat in the pedal. The lateral position should follow the natural curvature of the shoe on the shoe's immaginary centerline (some shoes mark this line.)

I was talking to a guy who does fits around Denver for various LBS. He told me the the most common fit correction he makes is the cleat position.

So here's a quickie:

Put your shoe on. Mark the shoe at your 1st metatarsal head. It's the big toes' joint furthest back from the tip of the big toe. Your pedal spindal should meet this mark with a level shoe and cleat in the pedal. The lateral position should follow the natural curvature of the shoe on the shoe's immaginary centerline (some shoes mark this line.)

i'm having trouble locating the 1st metatarsal head. can you describe where to find it again (i'm confused by the above description).

Look at the tip of your big toe.

There are two joints. one in the middle of the toe and one farther back. I think the metatarsal head is the one farther back.

Look at the tip of your big toe.

There are two joints. one in the middle of the toe and one farther back. I think the metatarsal head is the one farther back.

you mean where all the hair is? :p

thanks - that makes sense now.

the 1st metatarsal head is the proximal end, most medial in your set of phalanges. its located ventrally/proximally from the cuneiform and navicular--fibiale in quadrupeds, and as a fused naviculocuboid in cervids and bovids...

or rather, the big ball near the toe

the 1st metatarsal head is the proximal end, most medial in your set of phalanges. its located ventrally/proximally from the cuneiform and navicular--fibiale in quadrupeds, and as a fused naviculocuboid in cervids and bovids...

That's much clearer...thanks.

55/Rad

I think the hard part is trying to figure out where your foot is in the shoe so that you can accuratly place the cleat. I always just take my bare foot and rest for example the right shoe sole on the bottom of my left foot b/c that is the way the curves of the shoe fit. And then just estimate where my foot would be in the heal and make a mark on the shoe to locate pedal axel. This of course works if you have two same sized feet. Does this make sense. iow to just put a shoe on and then try to feel where the ball of your foot is especially w/ hard soled cycling shoes is difficult.

I think the hard part is trying to figure out where your foot is in the shoe so that you can accuratly place the cleat. I always just take my bare foot and rest for example the right shoe sole on the bottom of my left foot b/c that is the way the curves of the shoe fit. And then just estimate where my foot would be in the heal and make a mark on the shoe to locate pedal axel. This of course works if you have two same sized feet. Does this make sense. iow to just put a shoe on and then try to feel where the ball of your foot is especially w/ hard soled cycling shoes is difficult.

Don't try to locate the ball of the foot. Go for the side (inside) of you foot to locate that methead. Mark the location with a pen on the side of your shoe while your foot is in the shoe. If you're unsure, wiggle your toes to get a better feel of it. It's really a big protuberance, so you shouldn't have such a difficult time with this process.

That's much clearer...thanks.

55/Rad

:D :D