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How do you know if you need "float"?

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How do you know if you need "float"?

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Old 08-08-07, 09:18 AM
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How do you know if you need "float"?

How do you know if you need float? Is there a magical formula to this?
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Old 08-08-07, 09:29 AM
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Complete the following formula to determine the amount of float you require. Good luck.

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Old 08-08-07, 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by rizz
Complete the following formula to determine the amount of float you require. Good luck.

Naaaah, I don't really need it after all.
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Old 08-08-07, 09:31 AM
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Do your knees hurt? If not, you're probably okay...
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Old 08-08-07, 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by damocles1
Do your knees hurt? If not, you're probably okay...
No, they don't hurt. I have the gray cleats from Look (4.5% float i believe) and wondered if it was necessary that my feet move.
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Old 08-08-07, 09:36 AM
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If it ain't broke.............
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Old 08-08-07, 09:38 AM
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not enough float = - Your knee explodes.
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Old 08-08-07, 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by bbattle
If it ain't broke.............
Good point.

I found a post on this... https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/60935-pedal-question.html
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Old 08-08-07, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by xfimpg
No, they don't hurt. I have the gray cleats from Look (4.5% float i believe) and wondered if it was necessary that my feet move.
That's the cleat I've been using for the past year and a half. I have thousands of miles using this cleat and it's been plenty for my 40 year old knees. I don't think I'd go with zero float because you really have to set up the cleat position perfectly to avoid knee pain/injury. 9 degrees would be too much though.
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Old 08-08-07, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by rizz
Complete the following formula to determine the amount of float you require. Good luck.

As Jonny Carson asked the prospective accountant. "What is 2 + 2?" Accountant's answer. "What do you want it to be?" Carson. "You're hired".

My personal formula is that if your knees hurt you may need more float in your pedal system. Bebop's are my pedal of choice.
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Old 08-08-07, 03:34 PM
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If your knees hurt then it could be something other than float or lack thereof. I could think of a few but then again I've seen the insides of many knees

Too much float and you feel like you're walking on ice when out of the saddle. Something I didn't really like on my yellow SPD-SL's cleats.
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Old 08-08-07, 08:43 PM
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This is a question that I've struggled with. It makes sense to me that you should get your cleats dialed in, and you should not need float. It seems that float would hinder performance, and could cause problems for the high performance rider. For those folks who are cycling because of bad knees from running or other reasons, I guess the case can be made.

What do the racers do??
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Old 08-08-07, 08:55 PM
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I would suggest you float, why not? Less risk of long term joint issues, less precision required in cleat setup or replacement, easier to clip in. I can't imagine any reason to not float.

As for the performance issue, I use red looks on the track w/o any problems. You get used to the feeling quickly. IMO if you feel like you aren't solid on the pedals it's probably something in your stroke. Float is simply allowing you to feel it, not a cause.
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Old 08-09-07, 12:19 AM
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What is the correct way to go about setting your cleats??? I've only used clipless pedals for a couple months and when I set mine up, I just pointed them in a direction so my feet point straight forword. Is this
the right way or wrong way to do it???
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Old 08-09-07, 01:59 AM
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if you tend to sink while swimming, then you need more float. easy.
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Old 08-09-07, 02:07 AM
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Originally Posted by rayfrady
What is the correct way to go about setting your cleats??? I've only used clipless pedals for a couple months and when I set mine up, I just pointed them in a direction so my feet point straight forword. Is this
the right way or wrong way to do it???
Whatever feels most comfortable for you. Some people's feet point slightly outward, but most people's feet point straight forward.
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Old 08-09-07, 02:42 AM
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a decent amount of float lets you change your position on the bike better, in response to aggressive cornering, side winds, shifting position on long rides, reaching behind to get something out of a pocket, etc.
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Old 08-09-07, 04:22 AM
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Originally Posted by remixity
Whatever feels most comfortable for you. Some people's feet point slightly outward, but most people's feet point straight forward.
After about eight thousand cleat fittings, this is not correct. If you don't walk with your feet straight forward, you don't ride a bike that way, either.
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Old 08-09-07, 06:10 AM
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After switching to zero float earlier this year, my float cleats feel like something is broken. It feels like there’s no loss of power either.
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