I ****ted my ankle about 9 years and 7 operations ago and finalkly it is fused. This means I haven't been able to ride clipless as twisting my ankle was more likely to release the foot from the leg than the pedal and more recently simply wasn't possible.
Good
New (gravel, sorry) bike made flats annoying and I was recommended some Shimano SM-SH56 multi-release cleats.
Absolute revelation. I have the springs wound back to minimum on both pedals but the feet stay clipped when pedalling but a slight but deliberate wobble of the leg releases without issue every time. Anyone who is worried about, or simply wants easy, releases should try them. They are about £15 from most places.
Bad
I am getting vicious cramp in my left (good) foot when riding in the new cycling shoes. They don't appear too tight and squeezing the foot and have laces so I can loosen them if required. Is it likely to be the position of the cleat, the angle of the foot, just need to get used to stiff soles that don't let the foot flex?
Ideas and suggestions most welcome
Ideas and suggestions most welcome
After watching some vids (prob suggested here) a while back, I've got my cleats as far back as they go.
It might not be the most efficient position, but it's the least painful foot, knee and hip wise and I can ride all day like that (20+ hours).
Stupidly tried to put them a bit further forward and immediately got issues, so that works for me.
So your bad foot is now your good foot and your good foot is now your bad foot, if sliding cleats back n forth to find a sweet spot don't help, get a flexier sole shoe or do a Hans Rey, one clipless one flat pedal.
Article on this subject (sort of) here today, quite interesting - https://nsmb.com/articles/365-day-flat-pedal-challenge/
I have a 12 year old vintage fused ankle. Being clipped in is essential for flat and uphill riding as the fused foot bounces about on the pedal otherwise. Downhill, anything where the wheels leave the ground requires being clipped in or the fused foot parts company with the pedal on landing. Thing is, on steep techy descents where a quick foot out might be required I really don't want to be clipped in as releasing with the dodgy foot is uncertain. The whole manualling and bunnyhopping business is a lottery regardless of pedal type. Mallet DH are my pedal of choice as releasing is easy, there's lots of float for dodgy knees and they work ok when not clipped in.
Totally subscribe the Crank Brothers Mallets
Easy clip off (no silly tensioning bolts) just an amazing and functional spring and a large enough platform for techy 'foot out' sections.
Got cramp for me is clear too far forward, knee pain is too far back.
I use egg beaters.
First thing you need are the easy release cleats.
Second put your pedals in a vice for a week to weaken the spring.
Then for technical bits I have screwed some tyre to the instep of my shoe and ride with this bit on the pedal. Would probably work even better on shimano pedals.
Could be the shoes.
I've got terrible ankle flexibility due to years of abuse. My right ankle isn't great. My left is shocking.
I've tried several pairs of XC style shoes and find their lack of flexibility cause me problems. I now only ride the lace-up gravity style shoes (looks particularly stupid with lycra but I try not to look at me too often) and am much more comfortable.
Cramp could just be a lack of muscle strength/fitness, you're using your foot in a new way and you're not used to it. Certainly try moving the cleat around, but it could just be a case of taking it easy to start with until your feet adapt.
I like the tyre idea on the sole.
I have already set the cleats near the back of their travel for comfiort.
I suspect it is using the foot in a new way as Molgrim said.
Thanks all!
Aye,it might just need time for the foot to settle in with it's new pedal world.
Gotta love Zippy's hacks,will never forget his summer shoe ventilation bodge,it was teh awesum 😉 .
