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Where should the foot "hit" the pedal axle?

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Where should the foot "hit" the pedal axle?

Old 07-16-06, 11:04 AM
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Where should the foot "hit" the pedal axle?

Have some new SPD-SL cleats and I'm trying to figure out where my foot should be in relation to the pdeal axle. On my old SPD's and tried to set them up so that the exact center of the ball of my foot was on the axle. That seemed OK, but I never really bothered to see if it was most efficient. Now that I'm learning a new shoe, might as well learn the most efficient cleat placement (assuming I didn't have it right with the SPD's). Thanks for the help
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Old 07-16-06, 11:10 AM
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Well, it does appear from a century of history that the ball of the foot should be directly over the pedal-spindle. Although I've known track-sprinters who've preferred to be a little further back of that. Seems most shoes & cleats only give you a 0.5" range anyway.
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Old 07-16-06, 11:23 AM
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Ball of the foot should be over the centerline of the pedal axle.
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Old 07-16-06, 01:17 PM
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The forward foot: the ball of the foot over the center of the pedal when the pedals are horizontal to the ground.

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Old 07-16-06, 07:04 PM
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According to Steve Hogg, the ball of the foot should be slightly forward of the pedal spindle, as explained here and clarified here.
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Old 07-17-06, 10:01 AM
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the ball of the foot is very long isn't it? furthest point of contact while heal is elevated all the way to curve up to toe joints? The length varies by how high you raise heel.

When discussing points in relation to this, do you mean the back point of the ball of foot area while heel is fully lifted? This point tends to feel the most powerful when the heel is almost flat, and is also where I put the most pressure on my platforms, though it is a little forward of the center pedal spindle.

Would cleat position vary with crank length? The only reason I understand, to put it more forward than center is for that bit of extra leverage, and knee/pedal relationship. So a longer crank with back foot postion would achieve the same mechanics.
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Old 07-17-06, 10:29 AM
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Cleat position will not vary with crank length... it is a measurement taken from your foot while not on the bike.

Ball of the foot over the spindle is a good starting point. If you feel like you are more powerful with a slightly different position, go for it. None of our bodies are 100% identical, and none of use pedal quite the same. But... the ball of your foot doesnt really move(much, if any at all) when you raise your heel, its still in the same place.
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Old 07-17-06, 10:51 AM
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OK, now that you have some info on where the ball of the foot should be in relation to the spindle, here is how to locate the ball of the foot:

it's determined by the bony protrusion on the inside of the foot, where your ball is at the widest. That point is where you align the axle relative to the foot.
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Old 07-17-06, 04:07 PM
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OK. That's how I have it set up now. I can reach down, place my index finger on that bone and I'm directly over the spindle. It feels "off" though, so I think I must have had my old cleats forther forward. Doesn't feel unconfortable though, so I'll keep it this way for a while and see if it's something I grow used to or if it starts to bother me. Thanks for the replies y'all!
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