Discussion
I’m really a novice, and fairly inexperienced, but I have just fitted clippy pedals and got proper cycling shoes. Managed to ride without falling off, although still not 100% confident.
However, my legs don’t feel as comfortable as previously - don’t feel able to lock my knees.
Is this something I will get used to? Or do I need to raise my saddle to compensate for the slight difference?
TIA
However, my legs don’t feel as comfortable as previously - don’t feel able to lock my knees.
Is this something I will get used to? Or do I need to raise my saddle to compensate for the slight difference?
TIA
As a very, very rough guide, lean up against something sat on your bike. Put your pedal to bottom dead centre (crank pointing straight down vertically, flip your pedal over and with your heel (not ball) on the pedal axle, your leg should be pretty much dead straight but not "locked". Move your saddle up and down accordingly, and set it to dead level on flat ground (iPhone spirit level is a good guide).
If you've gone from squishy flat trainers to a proper cycling shoe there's every chance you need to raise your saddle by 5-10mm or more. Don't overdo it though, if your hips have to "rock" to allow your foot to get to the bottom of the stroke, you are too high.
Have you gone for road (SPD-SL) or MTB (SPD) cleats and shoes? Cleat position is vital, plenty stuff on YouTube about how to get it there or thereabouts. But I do agree a bike fit is important.
If you've gone from squishy flat trainers to a proper cycling shoe there's every chance you need to raise your saddle by 5-10mm or more. Don't overdo it though, if your hips have to "rock" to allow your foot to get to the bottom of the stroke, you are too high.
Have you gone for road (SPD-SL) or MTB (SPD) cleats and shoes? Cleat position is vital, plenty stuff on YouTube about how to get it there or thereabouts. But I do agree a bike fit is important.
Bike fit would be the answer, but agree that the £150 it would cost might not be worth it.
There are some good apps at c£5-10 that do a decent job.
A REALLY rough rule of thumb I use on a hotel static bike or similar: when your pedals are true horizontal, your forward knee should be directly over the pedal spindle.
There are some good apps at c£5-10 that do a decent job.
A REALLY rough rule of thumb I use on a hotel static bike or similar: when your pedals are true horizontal, your forward knee should be directly over the pedal spindle.
Been on Look pedals since getting back on a road bike. I like them.
Can’t really go wrong with shimano pedals either.
After a couple of rides you should be used to clipping in and out. It’s only really remembering when coming to a stop!
Well worth making the switch to clipped in pedals.
A bit of research on the internet will give you guides to positioning of cleats in relation to your foot and bike fit in terms of saddle height and fore/aft positioning. I also bought a tool which you can put your cleat / shoe onto and helps line up the shoe.
Can’t really go wrong with shimano pedals either.
After a couple of rides you should be used to clipping in and out. It’s only really remembering when coming to a stop!
Well worth making the switch to clipped in pedals.
A bit of research on the internet will give you guides to positioning of cleats in relation to your foot and bike fit in terms of saddle height and fore/aft positioning. I also bought a tool which you can put your cleat / shoe onto and helps line up the shoe.
I took Oddballs advice and moved the cleats - wow!!!
Huge improvement in comfort
When I mentioned locking my knees, it was not so much when pedalling, but more when crank is at the bottom and I’m just coasting.
Bike fit will be investigated, but nearest looks like Cheshire/Manchester, unless anyone can recommend one in north Wales
Thanks again all
Huge improvement in comfort
When I mentioned locking my knees, it was not so much when pedalling, but more when crank is at the bottom and I’m just coasting.
Bike fit will be investigated, but nearest looks like Cheshire/Manchester, unless anyone can recommend one in north Wales
Thanks again all
Glad the tip helped - there’s a ton of bad advice there but a really good place for sensible bike fit information is on the Francis Cade youtube channel (cade media is the new site address)
Bikefit Tuesday with his mate James from Bicycle Richmond is a genuinely excellant resource from someone who clearly knows his stuff
https://youtu.be/xum6W3pk59A
Lots more on saddles, bar width and everything else you need to know
Bikefit Tuesday with his mate James from Bicycle Richmond is a genuinely excellant resource from someone who clearly knows his stuff
https://youtu.be/xum6W3pk59A
Lots more on saddles, bar width and everything else you need to know
Damp Logs said:
I took Oddballs advice and moved the cleats - wow!!!
Huge improvement in comfort
When I mentioned locking my knees, it was not so much when pedalling, but more when crank is at the bottom and I’m just coasting.
Bike fit will be investigated, but nearest looks like Cheshire/Manchester, unless anyone can recommend one in north Wales
Thanks again all
Matt Hallam from Crimson is definitely worth travelling for. He has a jig set up permanently in the ground floor of Rapha.Huge improvement in comfort
When I mentioned locking my knees, it was not so much when pedalling, but more when crank is at the bottom and I’m just coasting.
Bike fit will be investigated, but nearest looks like Cheshire/Manchester, unless anyone can recommend one in north Wales
Thanks again all
I seem to remember Grahm Weigh in Shotton used to do bike fits. Website doesn't say he still does but it might be worth a phone call - he might recommend someone if they are not doing them. Further afield, Paul Hewitt in Leyland used to be highly regarded and may well still be but again a quick look on the website does not say that they do them now.
The Trek shop near Wilmslow has a video room to carry out bike fit / posture checking.
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/retail/wilmslow
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/retail/wilmslow
bike fits generally snake oil for beginner cyclists looking for comfort.
99% of the time they lower the saddle and move it back, move your bars up and towards you, sell you some expensive innersoles etc.
Ive had three fits as a "racer" everyone was different, and what i ride isnt like any of them.
99% of the time they lower the saddle and move it back, move your bars up and towards you, sell you some expensive innersoles etc.
Ive had three fits as a "racer" everyone was different, and what i ride isnt like any of them.
speedking31 said:
The Trek shop near Wilmslow has a video room to carry out bike fit / posture checking.
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/retail/wilmslow
I wouldn't let those guys change a tyre, let alone give an accurate bike-fit.https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/retail/wilmslow
z4RRSchris said:
bike fits generally snake oil for beginner cyclists looking for comfort.
99% of the time they lower the saddle and move it back, move your bars up and towards you, sell you some expensive innersoles etc.
Ive had three fits as a "racer" everyone was different, and what i ride isnt like any of them.
Have they been jig-based fits? If so, that's your inability to know what is comfortable. If not, that your fault for paying for a non-jig bike fit 99% of the time they lower the saddle and move it back, move your bars up and towards you, sell you some expensive innersoles etc.
Ive had three fits as a "racer" everyone was different, and what i ride isnt like any of them.
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