Could Fixed Cleats Actually be Good for your Knees?
#26
Super Modest
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 23,466
Bikes: Trek Emonda, Giant Propel, Colnago V3, Co-Motion Supremo, ICE VTX WC
Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10963 Post(s)
Liked 4,620 Times
in
2,123 Posts
Like many here, I started when all cleats were fixed, whether slotted or Looks or whatever. Getting cleats right generally amounted to riding with an adjustment tool and stopping every so often until one "felt" they were right. Occasionally, I'd get knee pain a hundred or so miles later.
FF to float cleats and adjustments are quicker and easier. Mid ride adjustments are fewer and knee pain is non-existent. Float for me.
Anecdotal? Sure, but like @rpenmanparker, I've got 34 seasons with a logged mileage of 209, 974 miles as of this morning and I'm not going back to fixed cleats.
FF to float cleats and adjustments are quicker and easier. Mid ride adjustments are fewer and knee pain is non-existent. Float for me.
Anecdotal? Sure, but like @rpenmanparker, I've got 34 seasons with a logged mileage of 209, 974 miles as of this morning and I'm not going back to fixed cleats.
__________________
Keep the chain tight!
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SGV So Cal
Posts: 883
Bikes: 80's Schwinn High Plains, Motobecane Ti Cyclocross
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 108 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 30 Times
in
21 Posts
My knee issues went away when I went to zero float cleats (SPD-SLs).
That's a sample set of one though.
I see a lot of riders, many in full kit with expensive bikes, that have their knees flapping like chicken wings. Zero float would probably either cure them kill them.
That's a sample set of one though.
I see a lot of riders, many in full kit with expensive bikes, that have their knees flapping like chicken wings. Zero float would probably either cure them kill them.
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Rocky Mountain West
Posts: 568
Bikes: 2013 Giant Defy, 2013 Specialized S-Works Venge, 1993 Specialized Epic, 2012 Fezzari Fore CR3, 2015 Cipollini Bond
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
"knee niggles" ? lol
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Rocky Mountain West
Posts: 568
Bikes: 2013 Giant Defy, 2013 Specialized S-Works Venge, 1993 Specialized Epic, 2012 Fezzari Fore CR3, 2015 Cipollini Bond
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Like many here, I started when all cleats were fixed, whether slotted or Looks or whatever. Getting cleats right generally amounted to riding with an adjustment tool and stopping every so often until one "felt" they were right. Occasionally, I'd get knee pain a hundred or so miles later.
FF to float cleats and adjustments are quicker and easier. Mid ride adjustments are fewer and knee pain is non-existent. Float for me.
Anecdotal? Sure, but like @rpenmanparker, I've got 34 seasons with a logged mileage of 209, 974 miles as of this morning and I'm not going back to fixed cleats.
FF to float cleats and adjustments are quicker and easier. Mid ride adjustments are fewer and knee pain is non-existent. Float for me.
Anecdotal? Sure, but like @rpenmanparker, I've got 34 seasons with a logged mileage of 209, 974 miles as of this morning and I'm not going back to fixed cleats.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 76
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm going to experiment with fixed cleats. I've been using spd mountain bike cleats which (with my pedals at least) have a fairly loose float. My knee flaps about all over the place when under pressure and it is giving me some discomfort. This particular issue never happened when I used toe strap/cages which kept the foot more or less in the same place.
Phil Burt (bike fits for GB cycling and Team sky) in his book on bike fit more or less agrees with the fella in the video, stating that in some cases 'float will actually cause knee pain' due to having to control excessive movement.
Phil Burt (bike fits for GB cycling and Team sky) in his book on bike fit more or less agrees with the fella in the video, stating that in some cases 'float will actually cause knee pain' due to having to control excessive movement.
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 76
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What issues were you having?
#32
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,531
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3887 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
Yes. There is a subset of riders who do better on fixed cleats. Only way to find out if you're in that set is by trying them for a while.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter