G. Ike

I have been diagnosed with Chondromalacia Patella today. It's a condition in which the cartilage in your knee is abnormally soft and can be caused by abnormal tracking of the knees. I am blaming this on my SPD pedals and shoes and their minimal float. I want to switch over to a set of road pedals and shoes with plenty of float to try to prevent the condition from worsening. Are Speedplays my only option for mass amounts of float? If I have to, I will pay the extra cash for them, but I really don't want to haha. So, can anyone recommend a road pedal system that will allow a good amount of float? Thanks in advance,

George

JoelS

If the resolution requires more float, then the speedplays have a lot and will be a good solution. I really like mine.

Beaker

Look Keo's + red cleats give you 9 degrees of float. Have you had other aspects of your fit evaluated - seat height, cleat position etc.?

G. Ike

I have never been professionally fit, but I use the "Heel Method" for my saddle height. I do realize that this is probably not the best way, should I try another method? Perhaps the 109% method?

J.W.

I have had some knee problems (numerous sprained Ligaments and a dislocated patella..still have a bone chip floating around from that one) and i have Look Keo's and i dont have any pain or troubles.

Beaker

I had some knee pain which ended up being a mixture of a saddle that was a bit too low, cleat alignment that was out on my right shoe and some pronation that was cured with a Specialized shim. No way in hell I'd have worked that out on my own. I don't know enough to prescribe a saddle height method, but would recommend getting a fit if you've been diagnosed with chondromalacia patella.

BTW - what's up with the troll???

DrRx

I have the same knee problem. I suggest getting a proper bike fit. I used to have knee pain after rides, but after the fitting, I've not had any knee pain, even on 50+ mile rides. I currently have basic Shimano road pedals and cleats.

G. Ike

Sorry that this is a troll? Haha I never really was sure what a troll was, I was just looking to save some money.

shiz702

I am using look keo's and I am having serious trouble with my right knee. Anything over 20 miles and my knee feels like its going to explode, very frustrating. I have been fitted numerous times including cleat fittings and im still having problems. I'm thinking about trying the speedplays because they have more float, hopefully that will help.

OP- I'm assuming your diagnosis was from your doctor, what was his recommendation for getting rid of the pain?

G. Ike

He told me to take Advil and to keep on riding because it won't hurt and it may help. Haha, that's all he told me.

Beaker

No, not you -- I was looking at post #2. edit : troll vanquished - no problem with post #2 now

Rohc

Speedplays are definately worth the $. I would re iterate what some one else was saying about riding position. This has to be spot on. Any misalignment in riding position can throw your whole body out, starting with the hips.
Before I got fitted correctly to my bike my right hip was lower than my left which in turn threw my whole posture out of whack.
Since being fitted and getting the correct info from a decent physio including strengthening lower back (core)excersizes ------ no probs

thirdin77

I don't see how more float will change much with your knee symptoms. You need to be professionally fitted so that not only height but saddle setback are addressed, as well as any leg length discrepancy, overpronation of one or both feet and whether or not you knees buckle inward when you pedal. Go pay the $ to be fitted.

Siu Blue Wind

FYI
The troll post in post 2 has been removed. Everyone jumped up a post. That is why it doesn't make sense.

Siu Blue Wind
Forum Moderator

wideAMG

speedplay zero. 15-0 adjustable float.

i don't have knee problems and don't want knee problems that's why i chose zeros and carbon soled shoes.

zeros are also double sided (faster entry) and light.

you can't put a price on your health.

ettsn

My knees aren't complete crap, but still ache often (cycling, hockey, etc). I've got Speedplays and LOVE them.

tumbler

I have Bebop pedals and love them (www.bebop.com). Similar to speedplay in many respects, but a little cheaper and more durable. They aren't as easy to find as speedplay, which could be an issue if you broke a cleat or something like that, though I've never heard of anyone doing that. I picked some up on eBay real cheap.

My knee pain was just beginning to bother me when I switched from SPDs to Bebops. I love the float and the easy step-down entry. Always heard great things about both the Bebops and Speedplays. Definitely worth the money.

Lectron

Having Chondromalacia Patella, more float won't solve your problem.
You'll still have that moon landscape behind your patella.

But by all means, it doesn't hurt. What I'd recommend thou is
Omega-3(good fat acids in general and lots), gluchosamin and chondroitin.

That will lube and smoothen out the "working surfaces" a bit and help
keep pain and flamation down.

Also make sure not to have your saddle too low and not too forward
positioned and keep the cadence up.

alanbikehouston

BMX pedals are the solution. Look at the excellent but expensive MSK made pedals sold at Rivendell's web store. It is designed to support the entire front portion of the foot, and allows you an infinite choice of foot positions. A cyclist who did RAAM for several years developed severe knee problems. The solution for him was the ability to move the ball of his foot slightly forward, or slightly back, to avoid the stress of being locked into one position for thousands of miles. The knee is not a machine, it is a body part, and the body was not designed to be locked into one precise position for hour after hour.

www.rivbike.com

Midwest Ullrich

Speedplay did not solve my knee problem but proper saddle height and setback did. I ended up switching back to Look Keo (from Speedplay X1).

meanwhile

Buy old style pedals and Powergrips; nothing will have more float. Especially if you get big BMX pedals. You'll still be connected to the bike, and what people think they know about using upstroke energy with clipless is bs anyway. If you doubt me, iget Powergrips and secondhand pedals and see if your times change.

robncircus

I also have bad knees. I went form SPD-L to Speedplay. Funny thing is when I switched my pain went from the left knee to the right so go figure. I tink a proper fit is more important that float and I'm in the process of going back to a larger platform style pedal. Check crank arm length too - switching from 172.5 to 165 for me was a big help.

Cheers

rob

MONGO!

Speedplays and a pro bike fit.