one leg shorter than the other

[Bill-H]

i have had a bike fit today and found out i have a 10 mm difference in leg length which explains a few historical lower back issues
the bike fit was with Bill at bike shed in exeter it was very thorough and and afew adjustments made felt really good on cycle home and no i wasnt going round in circles

 

[paulw1969]

Glad you got it sorted.
What adjustments did they make to compensate for the difference?

 

[smokeysmoo]

My old fella has one leg an inch shorter than t'other.

TBH though he's never had an interest in cycling so I've got no idea if it ever affected him in this way.

So pointless post really , but glad you got sorted out

 

[Dave 123]

Can you not just ride with your head tilted to one side a bit?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I've got one slightly shorter than the other. (Leg....) I didn't realise this until I had a fitting. This was settled simply by setting the saddle height for the shorter leg.

 

[Bill-H]

yep saddle was set for shorter leg plus some wedges to sort foot position out really pleased with bike fit was christmas present from my partner
the bike was almost right biggest change was seat back by a fair bit and seat up more than expected but then brought down a bit to fit the shorter leg

 

[dan_bo]

Did Frank Zappa not adress this issue?

 

[simon.r]

i have had a bike fit today and found out i have a 10 mm difference in leg length which explains a few historical lower back issues

I have one leg about 15mm shorter than the other (as a result of a motorbike accident 30 years ago). I was referred for physio following a cycle accident a year or so ago, then referred to the orthotics department of my local hospital when the physio noticed my leg length discrepancy.

I walked out of the orthotics department with a pair of specialist insoles and a wedge in the heel of one shoe - the difference this has made to my posture, back and (always very slight) limp has been astonishing.

I strongly recommend you seek an appointment at your local orthotics department.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I have one leg about 15mm shorter than the other (as a result of a motorbike accident 30 years ago). I was referred for physio following a cycle accident a year or so ago, then referred to the orthotics department of my local hospital when the physio noticed my leg length discrepancy.

I walked out of the orthotics department with a pair of specialist insoles and a wedge in the heel of one shoe - the difference this has made to my posture, back and (always very slight) limp has been astonishing.

I strongly recommend you seek an appointment at your local orthotics department.

Simon, are the insoles and wedge for all uses, that is, do you use the same ones for walking and riding?

 

[simon.r]

Simon, are the insoles and wedge for all uses, that is, do you use the same ones for walking and riding?

I can (and have) used them on the bike, but it doesn't make any significant difference - the leg length discrepancy is made up by the heel wedge, which doesn't make any difference on the bike as the ball of the foot is on the pedal. The insoles are designed to correct the bad posture that I have unwittingly adopted over the years, which again doesn't apply on the bike.

So, to answer your question - for walking only, though I suppose a 15mm thick insole in one shoe and nothing in the other would work? As you say, setting the saddle for the shorter leg works. I also use short cranks (165mm) and they seem to make life easier, tho' that's probably because of an inflexible knee rather than the leg length issue. Might be worth a try? I have experimented with different length cranks on the right and left, but it just didn't feel right.

 

[lulubel]

What adjustments did they make to compensate for the difference?

One crank longer than the other?

(Sorry, I know I'm not nearly as funny as I like to think I am.)

On a serious note, it does give you the opportunity to get fitted for special shoes, and hopefully fix the back problems.

 

[Cycleops]

Lulubel's suggestion of one crank longer than the other is not as funny as it sounds. I believe I read somewhere of a company producing adaptors for just such a situation which effectively made one crank longer.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

I had a fit type thing where the guy measure me and set up my saddle height and he told me that my right leg was slightly longer than my left one. I still get sore on the bike and I haven't found a way to compensate for it yet.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I had a fit type thing where the guy measure me and set up my saddle height and he told me that my right leg was slightly longer than my left one. I still get sore on the bike and I haven't found a way to compensate for it yet.

He didn't do a great job. If orthotic footbeds aren't required(extreme cases and indeed other issues) then generally cleats are shimmed to make up the difference.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I run cranks of different lengths, 162.5mm and a 165mm on one of my bikes, and will do eventually on all my bikes. I also in the past have made this adjustment using custom footbeds and wedge inserts for the cleats.

Lightening which manufacture the carbon s-works cranks for specialized can do cranks of various lengths : 160, 162.5, 165, 167.5, 170, 172.5, 175, 177.5, 180, 182.5, 185, 190mm

http://www.lightningbikes.com/cranks/index.html