crghill

I have been riding Look keos and have always had trouble with my left foot. Not so much pain (except maybe a little in the knee), but more discomfort. I was riding hard against the right stop, effectively using all the float.

So, today, I bought a set of Ultegra Spd-SL pedals and cleats. The LBS uses fit kit, with the kooky looking pedals with red and white rods sticking out of them. Upon trying to adjust the left, the fitter told me she had totally run out of adjustment on my cleats and my foot was still not in the right position. She went on to explain that because I am so broad, my feet were trying to roll left to compensate for my broad body. She suggested a set of pedal spacers which we installed. This leads me to a few comments and a few questions:

1. I feel like they look totally dorky (and it's against my OCP nature to look dorky!
2. Is her reasoning sound? I am really broad (I can ride a 46cm handle bar), but I'm only 5'8" tall. Just seems so out of bounds.
3. Are there other solutions to this problem?

Thanks in advance for the help guys and girls!

crghill

Any Comments at all on this? Any help would be appreciated.

RubenX 

Photo please...

dpr

Going for a professional fitting where your pedalling can be filmed and studied (much like is done for well fitted running shoes) would be my first course of action.

Kabloink

Are you still having the discomfort in your left ankle with the spacers installed?

crghill

I'll try to get some pictures. I had my first "crash" today. I've had turbo dismounts before, but this was a 20 mph slide down the highway. I've got some killer road rash and just got back from the doctor. Thanks to everyone for their help.

classic1

Her reasoning is sound. I've used them for the same reasons as suggested by the fitter, I ran out of adjustment on some Adidas shoes. It was messing with my sciatic. Your stance or so called Q factor is influenced by your shoe/pedal/crank/bracket combo. Spacers are the simplest way to address the issue in the first instance and one or two spacers may fix the problem. FWIW, Armstrong used spacers on his pedals in his Motorola days.

jccaclimber

It sounds to me that a wider Q factor crank would help. Spacers will simulate this and I wouldn't go replacing my crank just for this. However, you might keep that in mind if you ever buy a new bike in the future.

big john

Like these?

classic1

Not necessarily big john. You can use pedal washers which space you out about 2mm.

crghill

Exactly

big john

Kneesavers are 20mm. I have some custom made ones, too that are 1 inch. I toe-out and have size 13 feet. Even with the spacers my right heel hits the crankarm, and it hits the chainstay on my C'Dale.

grahny

Comfort trumps everything... if they work, and they're inexpensive, it's a win win. You're the only one who's ever going to notice anyway. Just don't look down