new to clipless. need wedge help.
05-14-15, 10:14 PM
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new to clipless. need wedge help.
I just bought my first pair of clipless shoes and I think I may need wedges. They are spd style. I had knee surgery on my rt knee years back and I belive my rt leg may be a little shorter as a result of injury. I know I have pretty flat feet as well. I can tell my rt knee is not tracking straight and I feel some pain on the top outside of knee. I plan on putting in arch supports for flat feet and I think I've read that wedges will help with knee pain. I just don't know how to go about it. Also, I do plan on getting a bike fit in the future but can't swing it at the moment. Thanks.
05-15-15, 07:16 AM
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Prior knee surgery, current knee pain, and maybe one leg shorter is dangerous to experiment with. By the way flat feet is really over pronation and inserts or arch supports usually help that. I would take it easy and not try anything radical until you save up for some experienced help. Ask around and find someone that knows cycling anad knows how to treat your issue - it could be a bike fitter, a sports MD, or a podiatrist that sees you on the bike.
05-18-15, 04:04 AM
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honestly, everyone has one leg shorter than the other, usually as much a quarter inch...
and a little fyi, a wedge and a shim are two completely different things, used for two completely different reasons. if you have one leg shorter than the other, you can try using a shim the length of the difference on the shorter leg to even it out. your knee not tracking straight is a completely different issue though, which usually has nothing to do with one leg being shorter than the other, it just has to do with your pedal stroke. a wedge may help that, and it may not, but i would see a professional about it before you start trying to fix the problem yourself and maybe worsen the problem...
and a little fyi, a wedge and a shim are two completely different things, used for two completely different reasons. if you have one leg shorter than the other, you can try using a shim the length of the difference on the shorter leg to even it out. your knee not tracking straight is a completely different issue though, which usually has nothing to do with one leg being shorter than the other, it just has to do with your pedal stroke. a wedge may help that, and it may not, but i would see a professional about it before you start trying to fix the problem yourself and maybe worsen the problem...
05-18-15, 07:15 AM
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I'm no bike fit expert, but I have dialed in my own fit very well including the use of wedges.
If your knee is kicking to the outside at the top of the pedal stroke, a wedge will help. You need to get rid of, or at least lessen that lateral knee movement. The wedges are pretty easy to use, start with one and see how it goes.
First step is take a ride and see if your knee is moving laterally at the top of the stroke.
If you need more than one wedge (I have two), you will probably need longer screws on the thick side of your cleats.
Once I drastically lessened that lateral movement, my knee pain went away immediately.
If your knee is kicking to the outside at the top of the pedal stroke, a wedge will help. You need to get rid of, or at least lessen that lateral knee movement. The wedges are pretty easy to use, start with one and see how it goes.
First step is take a ride and see if your knee is moving laterally at the top of the stroke.
If you need more than one wedge (I have two), you will probably need longer screws on the thick side of your cleats.
Once I drastically lessened that lateral movement, my knee pain went away immediately.
