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Cycling with cleats so force is towards heel
Princess Leah
✭✭✭
in Triathlon
After no exercise since March due to foot injuries I am slowly allowed to get going on a bike again. I have lingering sesamoidits so must avoid putting pressure through the ball of my foot. So far I've been allowed on the turbo and have used normal pedals. It's been easy (for the massive 10 mins I'm allowed on!) to concentrate on keeping my heel on the pedal. I'm desperate to get outside but physio is worried it will be natural to move my foot forward on hills etc. I was wondering if somehow I can clip in at heel end rather than ball/arch. All the shoes I can see online are at ball of foot area, but I'm a bit clueless with this sort of thing. I realise even if possible this is probably an ergonomic/efficiency disaster, but it's all I've got at the moment!
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Comments
If it were possible I would seriously warn against it ... it will upset all sorts of mechanics and you would likely end up with more problems than you started with
Your physio knows best
Middle of the foot is certainly possible if not the heel.
http://www.trainingbible.com/joesblog/labels/midsole.html
While I don't use anything quite so extreme, I use Speedplay pedals with the Alu fore aft extenders and the cleat as far back as it will go. This is due to a history of Achilles problems so I reduce the force on my tendons.
How far back do you need to go?
I would definitely keep the cleat the same on each shoe.
good luck.
why clip in at all for now.why not just cycle on falt normal pedals
If you clipped in at the heel I'm not sure how you'd unclip ?
Could you offload the offending sesamoid with a cutout in an orthotic, and then use a normal cleat position?
Spot the medic
If you were told not to run on the balls of your feet would you go out and run on your heels?
That is a good idea. We did cut out originally in my normal shoes to no avail so orthotics got set up in other ways to help with walking. But I never tried them for cycling. I guess the loading is different with cycling making it worth a try too.
Thanks all - will look at Darkness' suggestion and try a cutout in the meantime.
If you were told you couldn't run or cycle what would you do?
Yes, this may be a stupid idea, which is why I am grateful for the advice I am getting.
Don't forget that you'll effectively reduce your leg length by moving the cleat closer to your heel, so lower your saddle accordingly.
I'd find another physio. I can't remember any cyclist or footballer ever having to give up their career because of sesamoiditis so there must be a way of recovering from it so you can continue sport.
What is the physio saying is causing the problem, bending the toes/foot or pressure on the ball of the foot from the pedal? if it's pressure something as simple as a different shoe, pedal, a change of cleat position or even saddle height or fore/aft position could alter the locus of pressure enough to solve the problem without pedalling with your heel. Some pedals allow you to alter the q factor and pronation/supination - some of the old Look Delta pedals did and I think some Time ones. I'd go to someone like Martin Early who was a pro cyclist and is now a physio - they are more likely to get it sorted and will realise things like pedalling with the heel are really not long term solutions.
+1 with pops - go get a 2nd opinion
you could also try Pyro platforms http://www.pyroplatforms.com/. designed with duathletes in mind, it gives a more stable platform to ride on compared with standard non-spd pedals but means you can wear normal running shoes which will be more cushioned for you and may therefore not impact on the seamoiditis.
just a thought