I have been using speedplay x/2s for nine months now (they have really unlimited float). However, I’ve had a very nagging left knee injury that only occurs when I’m on the bike. It’s an excruciating pain on the medial side of my left knee. Ironically, I’ve torn my right (not left!) ACL and had it reconstructed three times. Probably as a result, my right leg is 2 centimeters shorter than my left leg. As such, my coach has put padding on my right cleat to try to make my right leg even with my left leg. And yes, I’ve been very properly fit on my p3c. However, my the knee problem has only lagged on, causing my swim background and 6:30min miles to be of waste if I can’t ride! Since I’m only 22 years old, I really hope this problem doesn’t last forever!
So, I’m switching this week to the shimano dura ace pedals. But my question is regarding crank length. Has anyone had a similar injury and fixed it by changing crank lengths? I was fit on the p3c with 170 cranks, but maybe I need to change this. I’ve also heard of people using different lengths for different legs. Obviously I should see if switching pedal/cleat systems resolves the problem first; but, has anyone had any success with changing crank length?
Thank you so much for your advice! It is appreciated!
I’ve torn my right (not left!) ACL and had it reconstructed three times.
My first guess is muscle imbalance between legs. I suspect your left leg is much stronger than your right, which might cause your left leg to overcompensate for your right.
Has anyone had a similar injury and fixed it by changing crank lengths?
My right leg is shorter than my left (medial collateral tear), but I use same length cranks (175).
You might be able to cure your leg length discrepancy with mixed cranks (170 left and 172.5 right), but I wonder if that would open a pandora’s box of other problems.
Good luck with the Shimano pedals, and I hope that solves your problem.
Speedplays are funny - I know people who’ve had major knee issues that were “cured” ONLY by switching to Speedplays, and they can’t ride anything else.
I know others (myself included) who tried them and **got **knee problems from them. It would appear that they either work for you or they don’t - with very little middle ground.
It sounds like they don’t work for you. The Shimanos should be fine.
I have been using speedplay x/2s for nine months now (they have really unlimited float). However, I’ve had a very nagging left knee injury that only occurs when I’m on the bike. It’s an excruciating pain on the medial side of my left knee. Ironically, I’ve torn my right (not left!) ACL and had it reconstructed three times. Probably as a result, my right leg is 2 centimeters shorter than my left leg. As such, my coach has put padding on my right cleat to try to make my right leg even with my left leg. And yes, I’ve been very properly fit on my p3c. However, my the knee problem has only lagged on, causing my swim background and 6:30min miles to be of waste if I can’t ride! Since I’m only 22 years old, I really hope this problem doesn’t last forever!
So, I’m switching this week to the shimano dura ace pedals. But my question is regarding crank length. Has anyone had a similar injury and fixed it by changing crank lengths? I was fit on the p3c with 170 cranks, but maybe I need to change this. I’ve also heard of people using different lengths for different legs. Obviously I should see if switching pedal/cleat systems resolves the problem first; but, has anyone had any success with changing crank length?
Thank you so much for your advice! It is appreciated!
Crank length could help the situation; how many wedges were used to make the stack under your left shoe?
Is your knee tracking straight on the left? Could it be that all the float might be hurting your knee?
Try moving the heel in just a little while also reducing the amount of float. When you pedal how far in does your heel come?
What pedals were you using prior to Speedplay and were those the same pedals used during the bikefit?