Quick question about cleats:
06-02-11 | 02:47 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Awesome, Austin, TX
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Interloc Impala, ParkPre Image C6
Their movement aft is limited by the bolts...which generally won't get you to the center of the foot (under the arch). Some have drilled additional holes in the soles of their shoes to allow the cleat to be mounted further back.
If you are truly a "teenage cycling novice" and want to ride road bikes with clipless pedals, then you should learn to ride them as designed, which was for a reason. Better power transfer. Is it because you've ridden platform pedals and are comfortable with them squarely under your foot?
If you are truly a "teenage cycling novice" and want to ride road bikes with clipless pedals, then you should learn to ride them as designed, which was for a reason. Better power transfer. Is it because you've ridden platform pedals and are comfortable with them squarely under your foot?
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2014 Specialized Roubaix2003 Interloc Impala2007 ParkPre Image C6 (RIP)
2014 Specialized Roubaix2003 Interloc Impala2007 ParkPre Image C6 (RIP)
06-02-11 | 02:49 PM
#4
Disgruntled Grad Student
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: CAAD 10, Cross Pro, Cross Comp, TK2
oh god. not this again. I distinctly remember a thread either here, or in SSFG about somebody who wanted to do the opposite, and pedal directly with his toes (instead of on the ball of your foot)
I can dig it up if you want, but to save you the trouble of repeating history: place your cleat how your cleat should be placed. (with respect to the metatarsal bones in your foot) it may seem unnatural at first, but the improved pedaling form will make you a better rider, and make better use of your leg muscles.
I can dig it up if you want, but to save you the trouble of repeating history: place your cleat how your cleat should be placed. (with respect to the metatarsal bones in your foot) it may seem unnatural at first, but the improved pedaling form will make you a better rider, and make better use of your leg muscles.
06-02-11 | 02:50 PM
#5
Senior Member
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From: In a crate
I don't use clipless, but I do alter my toe clip set up and learned:
one inch forward of the center of you foot is my best position as long as I'm using a hard soled shoe.
On platforms I use my toe, but my road bike is set up weird to give me better spin, so it's the only bike I push with the center of my foot.
Also, toe gives more strain and you can't work the upper muscle on your knee. I found this out when I trained on my toe clips and my knees killed me because I was lifting in the center of my foot.
For clipless, I would set it to the center so that when you push down, all the slack is out and you move my one inch forward
one inch forward of the center of you foot is my best position as long as I'm using a hard soled shoe.
On platforms I use my toe, but my road bike is set up weird to give me better spin, so it's the only bike I push with the center of my foot.
Also, toe gives more strain and you can't work the upper muscle on your knee. I found this out when I trained on my toe clips and my knees killed me because I was lifting in the center of my foot.
For clipless, I would set it to the center so that when you push down, all the slack is out and you move my one inch forward
06-02-11 | 02:53 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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Bikes: Giant TCR
Their movement aft is limited by the bolts...which generally won't get you to the center of the foot (under the arch). Some have drilled additional holes in the soles of their shoes to allow the cleat to be mounted further back.
If you are truly a "teenage cycling novice" and want to ride road bikes with clipless pedals, then you should learn to ride them as designed, which was for a reason. Better power transfer. Is it because you've ridden platform pedals and are comfortable with them squarely under your foot?
If you are truly a "teenage cycling novice" and want to ride road bikes with clipless pedals, then you should learn to ride them as designed, which was for a reason. Better power transfer. Is it because you've ridden platform pedals and are comfortable with them squarely under your foot?
06-02-11 | 02:55 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Still a newb.
Joined: May 2011
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From: Northern IL
Okay, okay, I'll try pedaling with the ball of my foot. 
Also, it isn't the true 'center' of my foot, it's just a little behind the ball of my foot. I'm used to platforms, and won't be riding clip-ins anytime soon, but I might as well work up those leg muscles now, while I have a chance to get used to them. 
Also, it isn't the true 'center' of my foot, it's just a little behind the ball of my foot. I'm used to platforms, and won't be riding clip-ins anytime soon, but I might as well work up those leg muscles now, while I have a chance to get used to them.
06-02-11 | 03:05 PM
#9
Disgruntled Grad Student
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: CAAD 10, Cross Pro, Cross Comp, TK2
a happy medium might be clips/straps. without a cage there, its much easier to pedal with the middle of your foot, but when theres something to help keep your foot near optimal placement, the difference is night and day.
06-02-11 | 03:08 PM
#10
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Still a newb.
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From: Northern IL
I will start using the ball of my foot though.
06-02-11 | 08:00 PM
#11
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Still a newb.
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From: Northern IL
So I used the ball of my foot on my platforms for a 15ish mile ride this evening, and it really makes a difference. I do feel more confident climbing hills, and my average was definitely up.
I suppose I just reverted to the center of my foot on the pedal because it felt more natural, and more secure.
Thanks guys.
I suppose I just reverted to the center of my foot on the pedal because it felt more natural, and more secure.
Thanks guys.
06-02-11 | 09:07 PM
#12
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To offer a different perspective from someone well-respected in the cycling community:
https://www.trainingbible.com/joesblo...-position.html
https://www.trainingbible.com/joesblo...-position.html
Why do we place the cleat under the ball of the foot on our cycling shoes? I can find no evidence to support this location. It appears to be simply a result of tradition--cyclists have always done it that way. Last July former pro cyclist and shoe designer Goetz Heine (www.biomac.biz) suggested I try putting my cleats in the arch of my shoes. With some skepticism I tried it. To my amazement my performance improved. In fact, my power-heart rate ratio which I tracked for years improved by 9%. That's a huge change.
...
So is there an advantage in placing the cleats farther back? I believe so. Economy - how much effort it takes to ride at a given power output - improves. There may be lots of reasons for this which I won't go into here. Another advantage is that the biggest muscles of your body - the quads and glutes - are used more since the calf - a relatively small muscle - is now less active and no longer serves as a "transmission" for the biggest muscles.
...
So is there an advantage in placing the cleats farther back? I believe so. Economy - how much effort it takes to ride at a given power output - improves. There may be lots of reasons for this which I won't go into here. Another advantage is that the biggest muscles of your body - the quads and glutes - are used more since the calf - a relatively small muscle - is now less active and no longer serves as a "transmission" for the biggest muscles.
06-02-11 | 09:12 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Still a newb.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 451
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From: Northern IL
To offer a different perspective from someone well-respected in the cycling community:
https://www.trainingbible.com/joesblo...-position.html
https://www.trainingbible.com/joesblo...-position.html
When I do get cleats, I'll probably end up moving them as far back as I can anyhow.
06-02-11 | 09:32 PM
#14
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,863
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From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?
So I used the ball of my foot on my platforms for a 15ish mile ride this evening, and it really makes a difference. I do feel more confident climbing hills, and my average was definitely up.
I suppose I just reverted to the center of my foot on the pedal because it felt more natural, and more secure.
Thanks guys.
I suppose I just reverted to the center of my foot on the pedal because it felt more natural, and more secure.
Thanks guys.
It's really about the same spot on your foot as if you were on the balls of your feet while standing on the floor. Stand up, lift your heels about half an inch, and you've found the center of pressure. Ride with your pedals there, and set up the cleats the same way (or just mount them like I did mine -- halfway in the slots in the shoe).
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