yup.....clearly time to find a fitter. There are some really good ones locally so im told. They will fit me to 1 bike for about 200 bucks. This isnt bad at all considering i could ride forever after i have this sorted out.

I played with the cleat adjustment tonight and cranked them in to allow my foot to point out more. This was close to scraping the insides of my cranks with my heels. I rode a bit but it didnt seem natural. My feet feel the most powerful / natural when they are pointed forward.

I farted around with saddle height forever....and not matter what i do....same issues.

Looking at my knees it would seem the knee caps point outward vs straight forward. I have more muscle on the inner part of my knee toward the top and outside i have much less. I guess i dont know what a normal knee looks like. Maybe im some sort of freak mutant. All things a fitter would be able to tell me im sure.

I think i have a case of spring knees / slight knee rotation / pushing too hard of a gear too early. Thats my guess.

Ill report back if i end up in front of a bike fitter any time soon.

THanks for the replies!