So I have been having trouble with both of my knees lately. My right has had ITB syndrome, nothing too serious, but it bugs me on longer rides. But my left knee has patellar tendonitis, again its pretty mild, but it was more serious before I raised my saddle back up a bit to reduce the pain. Problem is that one pain suggests too high of a saddle and the other suggests too low. So I am thinking its a leg length issue.
I have had a basic bike fit done, and there were no major changes made. I think I have my saddle height pretty dialed now, but this pain is still bugging me.

Im just not too sure on what to do. I don't want to get another fitting done, for $$ reasons, and I don't wanna mess with myself experimenting with tons of different shims.

Sounds to me like thats a leg length thing. Persistent saddle sores on one side was what alerted me to my own leg length discrepancy.

Im just not too sure on what to do. I don't want to get another fitting done, for $$ reasons, and I don't wanna mess with myself experimenting with tons of different shims.


Well in that case you're really limiting your options to living with it.
When I had my last fitting done after he watched me pedal for about 5 minutes the fitter had me stand barefoot facing him to check out how my knees lined up. Then he had me lay on my back to see how muck of a discrepancy there was. He felt I needed shims on both sides and a stack on the left side. He also put some spacers on the left pedal spindle since the left ankle was intermittently clipping the crank arm. I've had no issues since.

I have a toe shim inside my left shoe. And my fitter tweaked my cleats a bit, along with everything else of course. A good fitter will usually let you come back once or twice for minor adjustments.

If my knees are complaining, I've been working too hard usually. But that's me.

When My Friend needed a Knee replaced He had that fixed too. now they are the same length..

I was diagnosed a few weeks ago by a PT with unequal legs. So far I have been wearing a 12mm heel shim, not under the ball so it doesn't help riding but I am becoming increasingly aware of the discrepancy while riding. But walking/standing? Wow! I never knew I was standing on a tipped floor! For 60 years!

I think I will go out to the shop right now and make a 1/4" shim. See what that does (besides kill cleats and floors).

Ben

Former chiro here. It could be ITB syndrome, unlevel pelvis, unequal leg length, scoliosis, knee problems or any combo of these.

Sorry, but I don't understand the part about shims on both sides. Don't they "cancel" each other? (Obviously the extra "stack" on the left has an effect.)

You answered your own question. The shims addressed the way the feet transfer power to the pedals and the stack took care of the leg length discrepancy. I had other issues besides the leg lenght including a hip replacement and achillies surgery.

OK, thanks. But please tell me more about how the shims help you transfer power to the pedals; are they angling your foot or ???

In addition to my other issues I also have flat feet I'm told the shims tilt the feet outward which helps with knee alignment which was something he picked up when I was riding on the trainer.

shorter crank arm on the short leg side wont need that spud cleat sticking up. the power stoke to BDC is where you want the arm shorter ..

IMO it's easier and cheaper to put a stack on one cleat than change crank arms on multiple bikes.

Sports Orthopedics Is the specialist you want to see not a blind guessing Bike Forum,