I want to add some washer to my pedals to widen my q factor, I am already at the limit from adjusting the cleats on my shoes. I thought about switching to speedplay pedals since they have more adjustable to widen q factor even more but I think I will give some spacers a shot.

Now, what type of spacers should I get? Is there a specific brand you guys recommend? Where can I pick some up at, lbs?

Thanks

What are you trying to accomplish by widening your Q factor?

to allow my legs to track straight, I feel that my legs are too close together. I usually ride with my cleats placed all the way inside (inner, big toe side) but awhile back I adjusted them to the center to test things out, the position felt really bad, it hindered my sprinting because my legs/feet were placed too close together. I am testing to see if washers will make a difference in the qfactor.

I cant ride standard pedals with a double chain set due to crippling knee pain after only a few miles. With a wider Q I can knock off centuries pain free in good time. There are a few options available to you:

1, use a couple of extra washers and see how you go. Dont add more than 2 because you will lose pedal thread into crank. Who cares what make they are, they are all about 1mm thick.

2, google up "knee savers" They come in various widths and materials including stainless and Ti but they are quite big, so try the cheep ones first - I found then too big. Specialized also sell an equivilent 20mm version

3, Standard speedplay zero pedals are more adjustable in their standard form than other paedals because you dont lose the Q adjustment when you set the cleat angle like you do with most pedals - (avoid the Ti spindle they are the narrowest of any pedal out there). Good if you just need a few extra mm

4, Speedplay longer spindles - I use the half inch longer spindles myself with results as described above. I will never ride another double chainset road bike without them, they fixed me completely and instantly. I tried quater inch ones but they were not quite enough, i keep them in the tool box just in case one day i get a bike that needs them

5, get a tripple chainset/ wider BB arangement.

6, if you need new shoes then get some with slotted bolt holes that allow greater adjustment. I cant remember who makes them (Sidi?)but they are out there

If its not knee pain you are trying to cure then think long and hard before doing it and causing yourself problems. My knees can feel adjustments of mm so it doesnt take much.

Also in conjuction with Q adjustment I find that a mm or 2 of varus wedge puts the finishing touch on my comfort.

Good luck

I use Kneesavers in the 20mm size, can't use clipless pedals without them. They are sold by SCOR, but there are others.

Nope, no knee pain here. This is why I want to go to spacer route because if I feel a problem I can just remove them. So I need to get 1mm pedal washers/spacers. Best way is to get it a shop or?

BTW, I prob wont go the "kneesaver" route because they are way too long. I will try 2 spacers each side and go from there. Will/should I notice a difference from 2mm each side? THanks

I can notice a difference with 2mm. If you dont feel right still then you need more and then you are into changing parts. Remember you can use combinations of things like knee savers and ti speedplay. Knee savers are actually +19mm ti speedplay are -5mm overmost pedals. Thats all up +14mm but you currently have your cleats wide. Speedplay cleats set narrow could take off another 5 or 6 mm getting you to +8mm You say you are too narrow as it is and want to try an extra 2mm so knee savers could be used to get just an extra 6mm fram what you are about to try with washers.

Just a thought if you cant find a slution and decide you need to spend some money to get it sorted. There are of course any number of combinations of things out there that cost varying amounts

BTW get the washers from your LBS they doint cost much and will ensure you get hte right size

Parroting what my fitter said: most men need a narrow q factor.

Have you gotten a good fitting from someone who knows what they're doing? You might need footbeds and/or wedges to correct pronation. That was what I needed. Fixed the knee tracking problem.

My knees used to track into the top tube. I adjust my cleat position to optimize where the pressure point is on my foot from pedaling -- this ends up being kind of midpoint of the adjustment range front-to-back and with the cleat as far inside as it will go (Speedplay Zero pedals), but my knees still track up and into the top tube. Varus shims are what my fitter used to straighten my knee tracking.

One of my riding buddies tried to solve a knee tracking issues with Q factor adjustment and had very unsatisfactory results from it -- you might want to try the varus/valgus shims. They are cheap and easy to change out.

Thanks for the tips

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=57995

Washers are only good for a couple millimeters. Anything more calls for pedal extenders: