Nachoman

I just installed some new speedplay (x-series) cleats and I’ve been experiencing some slight knee pain, located on the front side of the knee cap. Anyone have any input on best direction to move the cleats to avoid this type of discomfort?

I’m pretty sure it would be a touch forward or backward. But I guess there is some slight room to move inward and outward as well. Thanks!

bored117 

cleat further backward a little.

rydaddy

It could also be a saddle height thing. Your new pedals may have more or less stack height from your shoes thank your previous ones.

Nachoman

Same pedals. Just replaced the cleats. that's why I'm pretty sure it's a placement issue, instead of a height issue.

deinonychi

From what my fitter said (and it makes sense), when you move your cleats rearward it has the same effect as raising your saddle height. If you were to think of yourself as riding on "tippy-toes", you can see how this works: with rearward movement of the cleat your foot would move that much closer to the ground and that much further away from the top of your saddle. With me, it seemed to be roughly a 2:1 ratio: for every 2mm of rearward moving of the cleat, I needed to lower my saddle 1mm ('cause I don't ride on my tippy-toes, and neither do you I suspect).

As part of my fit we moved my cleats back by 5mm and then lowered my saddle height by about 3mm. When I got back on the bike my seat height felt unchanged.

So if you installed your new cleats a bit more forward of where they were, that would have an effect equivalent to a lowered saddle height, which can (and will, in my case, since my left knee is really sensitive) cause irritation of the patellar tendon.

So I'd suggest moving your cleat rearward.

My fitter and I had an informative conversation about cleat position. His idea, which he'd heard elsewhere, was that the more rearward the cleat (that's still comfortable) the better. The reason is that the calf muscle has to work to stabilize the foot while you pedal. Moving the cleat rearward effectively shortens the lever that is your foot that the calf muscle has to stabilize. The result is that the calf uses less energy and your endurance is improved, or so goes the theory. Food for thought.

DropDeadFred

everybody is different. I slam my cleats to the front...no probs...I did start riding new shoes today and they are tight in the front. not in the tip toes but basically top to bottom, i.e. they havn't broken in yet. They feel great, I just switched to speedplays as well and its different getting in and out, I need to adjust my clips so that its easier to get out. as of now I'm having to rotate too much, its a simple adjustment. I like mine in the front, it has to do with the way I pedal, it's just whats most comfortable. unfortunately it's nothing you can adjust and realize without putting several miles in the saddle. It took me awhile to get my saddle adjustment right.

sqharaway

If the speedplay cleat is taller/thicker than your previous cleat (which it almost certainly is) your saddle height will need to be raised to accomodate for the difference, probably by a few milimeters. Make sense?

Also, check out this resource: https://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

Nachoman

this evening I pushed it back as far as it went, which was not much at all. Hopefully I'll get some miles in this weekend and report back with good news. thanks for the input.

oldbobcat

The adapter plates that come with Speedplay cleats don't have a lot of lateral movement but you can get longer plates either directly from Speedplay or through your local shop.