This quick tip comes from Coach Rick Shultz, an IBFI Level 3 certified professional bike fitter.
More cleat float is not necessarily your solution to knee pain. Sure, you want a little float But it’s much more important to have your cleats adjusted correctly. And it’s even more important to have the right crank arm length, as well as the correct saddle height. Most cyclists don’t do any of these, which is why most have knee pain, which will eventually lead to knee damage, which will eventually lead to knee surgery and possibly knee replacement. A bike fit from a qualified fitter is sure worth the price when you consider the alternative.
Coach Rick Schultz is an avid cyclist who trains, races and coaches in Southern California. Rick is an engineer by trade, and in addition to being a coach, he's a bike fitter and prolific product reviewer. He's the author of Stretching & Core Strengthening for the Cyclist and Bike Fit 101: Your Toolset for a Great Bike Fit in the RBR eBookstore. Check his product reviews website, www.biketestreviews.com, and his coaching site, www.bikefitnesscoaching.com. Click to read Rick's full bio.
After 45+ years of of-and-on racing, I finally got a real fitting and it was worth every penny. Aside from saddle position, the biggest surprise was that my legs are different lengths! With cleat and innersole shims, I am riding better than ever!