Bicycle Mechanics - What should I use to shim up my cleats?

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531Aussie
09-26-04, 05:58 AM
This is driving me nuts: I think I have one leg longer than the other, although I've only really noticed it in the last 18 months, or so -- either that or my right hamstring is so tight that it just feels that my right leg stretching much further.

Anyway, I wanna put a shim under my right cleat which has to be about 10mm thick!!

Any suggestions on what to use?

I've been using thick leather and hard rubber from a shoe maker.

I figure wood would just crack

Rev.Chuck
09-26-04, 05:38 PM
Just about any kind of flexible plastic will work. I used a Sidi cleat adaptor for my issue. I have a customer that uses a piece of icecream tub lid. You could even use some fender washers.
roadbuzz
09-26-04, 07:33 PM
I have a smaller discrepency, exacerbated by a smaller foot on the shorter leg. Is one leg actually 10mm longer than the other? If so, you might need to split the difference, i.e. 5mm. There are a bunch of reasons just adding a shim to make up the difference may not work perfectly. My point is, try adding 10mm, but be prepared to experiment around some. Good luck!

531Aussie
09-27-04, 05:49 AM
Thanks.

I'm not really sure if I have a short leg -- it could just be a chronically tight hammy
Phatman
09-27-04, 08:40 AM
go to a PT to have it checked out, if you dont actually have a short leg, then you might just be hurting yourself.
Balto Biker
09-27-04, 08:48 AM
go to a PT to have it checked out, if you dont actually have a short leg, then you might just be hurting yourself.


I was going to suggest a chiropractor. I had one leg that was about an inch shorter than the other, but it was caused by my spine being twisted in my pelvis, causing my pelvis to tilt, and put pressure on my lower back. A few months of treatment, and i'm completely out of pain, and i'm standing up straight again.
miguelb
09-27-04, 12:47 PM
Before I shimmed it up a bunch, I think I would try to find out if one leg really was longer or it is it s spine or hanstring thing as noted above. Fix the cause not the symptom.
531Aussie
09-27-04, 10:09 PM
I was going to suggest a chiropractor. I had one leg that was about an inch shorter than the other, but it was caused by my spine being twisted in my pelvis, causing my pelvis to tilt, and put pressure on my lower back. A few months of treatment, and i'm completely out of pain, and i'm standing up straight again.

YIKES :eek:

I obviously didn't consider this possibility