Fullforce

Here's the setup:

I rode around 100 - 200 miles a month on a hybrid bike for 20 years with old Shimano SPD clipless shoes -- no pain. This summer I bought a brand new road bike and after the first 6 weeks, I had terrible neck pain; the LBS changed to a shorter stem and moved my seat back -- pain gone. I then rode the new bike 850 miles in 4 months, same shoes -- no pain. Then I decided to buy new shoes (after 20 years), but I made no other changes (Specialized Pro Mountain SPD on the LBS recommendation). 2 weeks later I started to get slight front of the knee tenderness. This went on for another week, so I went back to the LBS for another fit; they adjusted the cleat position. After another week of riding, now I have pain in the front of both knees and a popping sound from the knees as well. I went back to the LBS, they raised the seat (after measuring my knee bend) and moved my seat forward. I ride another week. Now I have slight neck pain, and my knees have gotten slightly worse. I am very concerned and confused.

Any ideas?

ultraman6970

wow... the old shoes are like using flip flops, the new one it must be like using a steel toe shoe (just making silly comparisons), big differences between the shoes to start with.

In my opinion there is a chance that the cleats are in the wrong position (still), and since the shoe must be way stiffer than the old one you feet is moving in the wrong way maybe affecting the knee anterior part. Are u using heavy gears? like 53x15 or so? That could be part of the problem. Maybe u need shims also. The other thing is that u are coming from a hybrid, and from hybrid to road bike the position and the components are way different also.

Do you have a picture of the bike to start with? That could be helpful because the pain in the neck it could be because the seat is not straight but going down in the front, and w/o looking at the bike is hard to tell. Personally i havent use spds ever due to the fact that other brands can give you the movement u need in the foot, for example time pedals, and that could be part of the problem also.

Would be nice to see your rig...

Thanks.

nocondorfx

um

Fullforce

I bought a Specialized Tarmac Comp. The seat is perfectly level. I have ridden it over 1000 miles since I gave up the hybrid. I do have a standard double, but ever since I noticed the injury, I have been riding at an 80 - 90 cadence in easier gears, paying close attention to relaxing and keeping the knees straight on the bike. The cleats are in the exact same position as they were on the old shoes, and the bottom of the two shoes are identical in size and shape! The only difference is that the newer shoes are stiffer, have a thicker sole on the bottom (about 3/4 inch), and they are HEAVIER (probably due to the bottom thickness)!

RacerOne

Go back to your old shoes? I'd try this and see if the pain goes away. If it does, you know it's the shoes.

Machka 

About knee pain:
https://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

Yaniel

if everytime you go back to the shop for an adjustment it gets worse, i'd try another fitter.

DXchulo

I agree. It definitely sounds like your cleat and/or saddle positioning is off. Do a search on bike fit and read all you can. From there decide if you want to try to get it right or if you're completely confused and you want someone else to do it for you. If you want someone else to take care of it, ask around and see who the best fit guy is in your area. It will be worth the money if you can ride without pain in the future.

riversiderider

I would look at your cleat position on the new shoes compared to the old ones.

I also agree you should go back to the old shoes and see if the hurt is still there.

I have found that dialing in my bikes is a process.

Good luck.