If the problem is that people’s knees tend to collapse inward during the downstroke, shouldn’t the support to correct this come from a higher and more supportive shoe arch (i.e. the reason for medial posting in stability running shoes)? Simply sticking a wedge between the shoe’s sole and the cleat that angles the foot so that it’s higher medially and lower laterally (the idea is that it keeps the knee from falling inward) doesn’t prevent the arch from collapsing (and the knee from doing exactly what it was doing before).
I’ve been experimenting with Le Wedges for about 6 months and I’ll be damned if I think that they not only don’t solve the problem they’re intended to solve, but they make the pedal stroke feel mighty uncomfortable and like my ankle is going to roll, especially when riding out of the saddle.
I’m interested in some Podiatrist’s (or other knowledgeable human’s) opinions.
My experience is just the opposite of yours. My bike fitter added wedges (shims, I think they’re actually called), and my pedal stroke feels much more natural. My foot arches are fine, so I don’t see why I would want to screw around with arch supports. The shims relieve lateral stress on my knees.
I think you are both right, depending upon your individual problems. IF your arch is collapsing, I think a more supportive arch is called for. IF youf arch isn’t collapsing, the shim or wedge approach can do wonders to help correct knee tracking.
FWIW I just had a bike fit with Scott Millar of BikeRight. He’s the dude who fits gordo and there is good reason for his great reputation in town - I was super-impressed with his knowledge and know-how.
we are working with a gait analysis guy to move me from float to no-float cleats, and also got some “formthotics” insoles to correct a mild pronation. at any rate, his opinion is that wedges are both wrong-headed and ineffective. Unfortunately I dont feel qualified enough to try and repeat what he said, other than the bottom line: never use them.
Very interesting. Did he say they are wrong in all circumstances, or just in your type of situation? I’d be very interested to hear other opinions on this, especially from all of you other qualified fitters out there (paging Dr. Slowman and Dr. Tom D). On the other hand, the wedges appear to actually work for me, so maybe I should just need well enough alone and not f around with it.
I think Titan has it right. If there are problems with overpronation in the feet, then address the feet. If the feet are fine and there are still tracking problems, best to find out why. Weak quad (VMO probably) then you’re probably best off addressing the weakness. However, I’d think that with all issues dealing with the human body, I’d probably refrain from ever saying that nobody should ever use shims… That’s making a big assumption that you understand exactly all of the possible biomechanical possibilities…
Is suffered from plantar and ITB probs while running and knee pain while cycling. Orthos fixed the running issue but still had knee pain while cycling. Tried the wedges and no longer have knee pain. So, I think, they work for me. BTW, I also have superfeet orthos in my cycling shoes.
I don’t see how one can lose/gain more power with or w/o the wedges. I think its more of a comfort issue. I’ve been using wedges for 2 years now.
If you look at how pro cyclists ride, their knees are almost hitting the top-tube with each stroke. David Miller had bruised knees when he finished his TT in a World Champs a while back. It’s more aerodynamic and uses better muscles (but don’t take me on that last one).