Cleat position

[jowwy]

1. Forward
2. Middle
3. Rearward

Im asking because i have been riding the hybrid lately with toe straps, were the ball of my feet is over spindle and found it comfortable and powerfull.

But today with road bike, spd cleats pushed rearward i found i had a loss of power when climbing and legs tired very quickly.

So whats the best position for you and why??

Ps please dont turn this into a you know nothing about cycling thread and my b**ls are bigger than yours etc.

 

[screenman]

Either way the spindle should be roughly under the ball of your foot, on both pedal setups. Why are the cleats pushed rearward?

 

[Biker Joe]

Either way the spindle should be roughly under the ball of your foot, on both pedal setups. Why are the cleats pushed rearward?

I agree.

 

[fossala]

You could just nip down to the local bike shop where you bought them and ask them to quickly set them up for you. I think most would give you a hand.

 

[jowwy]

Bought from wiggle and i can set them up myself. Im just asking were do you guys place yours and why

 

[Biker Joe]

I set up cleat so that ball of foot is over the pedal spindle.
Why? Because the power generated by the muscles is then transferred most efficiently to the crank.

 

[jowwy]

I set up cleat so that ball of foot is over the pedal spindle.
Why? Because the power generated by the muscles is then transferred most efficiently to the crank.

Thanks biker joe - an on topic response

 

[black'n'yellow]

Thanks biker joe - an on topic response

screenman's reply (the first reply on the thread) was on topic. It also contained a question which you didn't answer.

Either way the spindle should be roughly under the ball of your foot, on both pedal setups. Why are the cleats pushed rearward?

 

[jowwy]

screenman's reply (the first reply on the thread) was on topic. It also contained a question which you didn't answer.

I hadnt read screenmans response which is probably the reason that i didnt answer the question

But thanks for letting me know and i will respond to screenman forthwith.

Now - have a response to my question or are you just picking holes on yet another thread????

 

[black'n'yellow]

Screenman's reply was spot on. My (implied) question was to re-iterate his. Why are your cleats pushed rearward?

 

[jowwy]

Either way the spindle should be roughly under the ball of your foot, on both pedal setups. Why are the cleats pushed rearward?

To be honest screenman i dont knlw why they were pushed rearward - but all i do know was it just didnt feel right all the way through the ride, but didnt have time to stop and re-adjust.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Bought from wiggle and i can set them up myself. Im just asking were do you guys place yours and why

This post contains (perhaps unwittingly) a signpost about the way cycling is going in terms of acquired knowledge and the seeking thereof.

Many years ago I bought my first set of (Look) clipless pedals and shoes to match. The guy in my LBS set them up for me and showed me the basic tips and variables. It was the 'old' type of Look pedal and had grubscrew adjusters for the spring.

These days many people buy accessories online (nothing wrong with that and I do it myself) and miss out on the often valuable input of experienced cyclists at the point of sale.

The web forum is a wonderful thing and has much to commend it, but it can't put a spanner on your headset and say "About this tight" or give a tug on your gear cables and say "This is the sort of tension you're aiming for".

The confidence imbued by this sort of face-to-face chat with an experienced spanner-twiddler is invaluable. There will be less and less of it.

This is absolutely not a criticism of the OP, who asks a very reasonable question. It's just an observation.

 

[black'n'yellow]

This is absolutely not a criticism of the OP, who asks a very reasonable question. It's just an observation.

and a very good one, too...

 

[Ningishzidda]

The middle of the SPD cleat, or the little mark on a SPD-SL cleat should be below the joint of your metatarsals.
The centre of your middle metatarsal should be directly under the centre of your hip ball joint.

http://bikedynamics.co.uk/fit01.htm

 

[Ningishzidda]

This post contains (perhaps unwittingly) a signpost about the way cycling is going in terms of acquired knowledge and the seeking thereof.

Many years ago I bought my first set of (Look) clipless pedals and shoes to match. The guy in my LBS set them up for me and showed me the basic tips and variables. It was the 'old' type of Look pedal and had grubscrew adjusters for the spring.

These days many people buy accessories online (nothing wrong with that and I do it myself) and miss out on the often valuable input of experienced cyclists at the point of sale.

The web forum is a wonderful thing and has much to commend it, but it can't put a spanner on your headset and say "About this tight" or give a tug on your gear cables and say "This is the sort of tension you're aiming for".

The confidence imbued by this sort of face-to-face chat with an experienced spanner-twiddler is invaluable. There will be less and less of it.

This is absolutely not a criticism of the OP, who asks a very reasonable question. It's just an observation.

I've bought shoes as well as all sorts of kit from bike shops and not been asked if I can set the stuff up myself.