Pookie4G

I have chondramalacia in the right knee but it only causes problems when clipping into pedals. Never had pain while riding or clipping out - only clipping in. I tried the SPD MTB cleat and the knee was in so much pain from the force needed to engage the cleat but once in I never had knee issues. Currently using the Speedplay Frogs and the knees notice when I'm clipping in but it's tolerable.

I'm finally ready to move into road pedals and an trying to decide between the Look Keo Carbons or the Speeplay Light Actions.

Any suggestions? Anyone else have an issue with clip in only knee pain?

Chuck G

I have had some issues with my left knee the past 9 years (nothing major), however my knee issues may be different than yours. I do not have any pain when cliping-in or out.

Having said that, I have stopped using clipless pedals. I rode Speedplay Frogs for close to 2 years and now have BMX platform pedals on all my bikes. I don't care how Fred it looks on the roadie - it works for me and I found my ride times are basically the same clipless or non-clipless. The only things I feel I am missing is I can't spin well above 110rpm and I can't pull up with my feet when climbing.

I wear orthotics (mine stop just past my arch). When I used the orthotics in my "real" cycling shoes I would get a hot spot where the orthotic stopped - just about over top of the cleat. I stopped wearing the orthotics in my bike shoes because of this and over time I started getting knee pain after rides on my road bike. Last year I got a hybrid for towing my kids around - the hybrid came with BMX platforms. I rode the hybrid in regular shoes with my orthotics. I finally noticed my knees didn't hurt after riding the hybrid. I tried a cheap pair of BMX platforms on the road bike and my knee pain went away.

ericm979

Try some SPD-SLs. They don't take much force to clip in, and can be adjusted to require even less force. I have not ridden the new LOOKS but the old ones required a solid push to get in. If you know someone who has some, or have a friendly LBS who will let you demo a pair, then perhaps you can test them before buying. The tension adjustment can be turned down quite a ways which will make entry even softer.

What about clipping in hurts? Pushing down, or the sudden movement of the foot when the cleat overcomes the spring and clicks into place? Try it with your knee slightly bent instead of locked straight, that way the force is taken by the muscles and ligaments and not through the joint.

AngryScientist 

i dont see how you could go wrong with the speedplays honestly. "clipping in" to them simply required you to step down with some pressure onto the pedal. i just get the cleat into position and start pedaling, by the bottom of my stroke i'm clipped in, i dont even think about any foot position required beyond pedaling...

cpk0

are there any pedals that don't "simply require you to step down with some pressure on the pedal"? Speedplay, SPD, Look, Time, etc are all the same in that regard.

Just out of curiosity, how bad is this pain and how often are you clipping in? I mean this in all seriousness, maybe it's time you learned to track stand. I can get away with not unclipping at all on most of my rides just out of convenience.

Pookie4G

Thanks for the responses. My knee only hurts when pressing down to engage the cleat. As soon as I start pushing down to engage the spring - my knee cap starts "buckling" out from under and I don't have the force to press down hard enough to engage a tough cleat. I tried some SPD mountain cleats once and I never got the right knee into the clip because of the force required.

I've been using the Speedplay Light Actions and they are great so far but I don't like the free float. I have a call into them to ask what is the tension force of those cleats to decide if I should try for a pair of Look Keos or the Zeros.

Thanks.