How do you know where to place the cleats?

[dudigrinfeld]

I always wondered if the cleat position on the shoe's soil is a meter of comfort to power transfer. Is there any method where you can find the best position that basically increase the power transfer which for me is the more important aspect? Any suggestions?

 

[Dan_h]

The starting point for most people is to position the cleat so that the ball of your foot is positioned over the axle of the pedal. From there it is a case of moving it a little at a time until you feel comfy. Personally I like to be a bit awkward so I have mine as far back in the slots as they can go which puts a whole lot more of my foot ahead of the pedal axle. I find that allows me to get more power when climbing and just feels right to me. I do think it is a matter of personal preference though.

 

[totallyfixed]

You only have a small area of adjustment possible and if you have stiff soles [best] a centimetre or so of movement would in my experience not change the amount of power transfer very much if at all.

 

[HLaB]

The starting point for most people is to position the cleat so that the ball of your foot is positioned over the axle of the pedal. From there it is a case of moving it a little at a time until you feel comfy. Personally I like to be a bit awkward so I have mine as far back in the slots as they can go which puts a whole lot more of my foot ahead of the pedal axle. I find that allows me to get more power when climbing and just feels right to me. I do think it is a matter of personal preference though.

You are not alone, I've only seen it a few times but I've seen where people have had mid sole cleats manufactured for the same reason. Whether right or wrong, I've always went with slightly behind the ball of my foot myself.

 

[slowmotion]

I stumbled on these clips a little while ago. It's about the exhaustive process of fitting a bike to pro racer. There are four parts, of which this is the first.

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNcQdqrz4JQ[/media]


Somewhere in Parts 1 to 4 is a lot of stuff about cleat positioning. It could be towards the end of the series, I forget.

BTW, I was doing some research for a very fit friend. I have absolutely no pretensions of being anything other than a fairly hopeless pootler.

 

[screenman]

After 20 years of experimenting I went along to Cadence Sport and had them fitted properly, along with moulded insoles. It is certainly not just about fore and aft but the angle as well as tilt for some people. Get it right and you will certainly feel a difference if my experience is anything to go by.

 

[Dragonwight]

Yep defo makes a difference I have my cleats in a slightly different position to each other this suits me as my legs are a slightly different length.