Given that one size doesn't fit all.....
Discussion
Why are pedal manufacturers determined that it does?
If I look at my bike, I can choose just about every ergonomic component on it in different or adjustable sizes. Saddle height, width, shape & position, stems, bar height, width, rise & rake, the distance of the brake levers from the bars, the angle of the brake and shifter levers etc, etc, etc...
The list of what I can vary is pretty much endless, so why is is that all SPD pedal axles seem to be one standard length?
I've just had a bike fit done which included fitting pedal spacers on my road and cross bikes, and for the first time ever, my feet are really comfortable in SPDs! My natural stance has my toes pointing out at around 45 degrees from straight ahead, so before getting these spacers, there was only so far I could adjust my cleat position, and it always felt like the front outside edge of my foot was trying to push its way out of the shoe. As the ride went on, it would feel like someone had lit a blow torch and started moving it closer and closer to the shoe. Now, I can have the whole pedal and shoe 15mm or so further out, which means we could adjust the cleats to give me the right foot angle without my heels fouling the seat stays, and it's absolute bliss!
So... If I can buy saddles in three different widths to accommodate different widths of sit bones, why can't I buy pedals in three different axle lengths to accommodate different gaits? Surely I can't be that abnormal, and it surely can't be that technically difficult?
If I look at my bike, I can choose just about every ergonomic component on it in different or adjustable sizes. Saddle height, width, shape & position, stems, bar height, width, rise & rake, the distance of the brake levers from the bars, the angle of the brake and shifter levers etc, etc, etc...
The list of what I can vary is pretty much endless, so why is is that all SPD pedal axles seem to be one standard length?
I've just had a bike fit done which included fitting pedal spacers on my road and cross bikes, and for the first time ever, my feet are really comfortable in SPDs! My natural stance has my toes pointing out at around 45 degrees from straight ahead, so before getting these spacers, there was only so far I could adjust my cleat position, and it always felt like the front outside edge of my foot was trying to push its way out of the shoe. As the ride went on, it would feel like someone had lit a blow torch and started moving it closer and closer to the shoe. Now, I can have the whole pedal and shoe 15mm or so further out, which means we could adjust the cleats to give me the right foot angle without my heels fouling the seat stays, and it's absolute bliss!
So... If I can buy saddles in three different widths to accommodate different widths of sit bones, why can't I buy pedals in three different axle lengths to accommodate different gaits? Surely I can't be that abnormal, and it surely can't be that technically difficult?
Q factor on a bike is largely determined by width of the chain stays. To an extent, the trend is to keep it low.
Pedalling with feet at 45 degrees has got to be a fair way from the norm, TBH. Most Q factor adjustment will be aimed at individuals with parallel foot position to maintain hip alignment.
Pedalling with feet at 45 degrees has got to be a fair way from the norm, TBH. Most Q factor adjustment will be aimed at individuals with parallel foot position to maintain hip alignment.
Magic919 said:
Q factor on a bike is largely determined by width of the chain stays. To an extent, the trend is to keep it low.
Pedalling with feet at 45 degrees has got to be a fair way from the norm, TBH. Most Q factor adjustment will be aimed at individuals with parallel foot position to maintain hip alignment.
I'm talking about what's outside the Q factor though. As I understand it, that's the distance between the outer edges of the cranks where the pedals bolt onto them. What I had in mind was simply a range of what, 30mm to 60mm in pedal axle length between the crank and the centre of whatever the thingummy is called that the cleat attaches to?Pedalling with feet at 45 degrees has got to be a fair way from the norm, TBH. Most Q factor adjustment will be aimed at individuals with parallel foot position to maintain hip alignment.
I'm not, by the way, riding with my feet facing out at 45 degree angles. That's just my natural position when I'm standing. When I'm riding, it's probably no more than about 15-20 degrees if that, but over the length of my foot, that's still enough for my heels to be clipping the chainstays.
Magic919 said:
Q factor is not so strictly defined and often refers to the distance the feet (at the pedals) are apart. Anything more than a few degrees off straight ahead is likely to be problematic (unless toe in).
It's only problematic if you can't get your pedals a little wider out! 
If I try and just stand with my feet shoulder width apart and pointing straight ahead, it's uncomfortable and verging on painful, so trying to ride a bike with my feet pointing straight ahead would certainly be problematic for me.
Pointless rant let down by poor research, speedplay do different axles to solve this problem.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/speedplay-replacement-long...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/speedplay-replacement-long...
BadgerBenji said:
Pointless rant let down by poor research, speedplay do different axles to solve this problem.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/speedplay-replacement-long...
Sorry, I wasn't aware speedplay made SPD pedals.....http://www.wiggle.co.uk/speedplay-replacement-long...
BadgerBenji said:
Pointless rant let down by poor research, speedplay do different axles to solve this problem.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/speedplay-replacement-long...
I've just had a look at those, and whilst my initial post wasn't a rant - I was genuinely interested to know why this one part of the bike has no variability when pretty much every part does - these, were I a Speedplay pedal user, certainly would provoke a rant!!!http://www.wiggle.co.uk/speedplay-replacement-long...
How on earth do they justify charging more or less as much again for replacement axles as they do for the pedals in the first place????
They make axles in standard, 1/8", 1/4" & 1/2" longer than standard, so why not just have an option box when you're ordering the pedals to choose the axle length you want? OK, maybe an extra tenner or so might not be unreasonable if the longer ones are sold less and therefore have a higher manufacturing cost, but to make customers buy a second set of axles and presumably throw the first pair away is just plain daft!
Speedplay pricing is on the juicy side, it will come down partly to numbers and demand, and they are the only people I know doing different width axles.
My rant comment was more tongue in cheek, than serious.
It does seem cycling is the new cash cow when it comes to making things fit.
Just wish speedplay made better mountain bike pedals.
My rant comment was more tongue in cheek, than serious.
It does seem cycling is the new cash cow when it comes to making things fit.
Just wish speedplay made better mountain bike pedals.
BadgerBenji said:
Speedplay pricing is on the juicy side, it will come down partly to numbers and demand, and they are the only people I know doing different width axles.
My rant comment was more tongue in cheek, than serious.
It does seem cycling is the new cash cow when it comes to making things fit.
Just wish speedplay made better mountain bike pedals.
The spacers weren't cheap at £25 per pair, but the difference is staggering! My rant comment was more tongue in cheek, than serious.
It does seem cycling is the new cash cow when it comes to making things fit.
Just wish speedplay made better mountain bike pedals.
Annoyingly, they're also made out of a non-magnetic metal, so I've now got to rethink how I stick on the magnet for my cadence sensors!
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