Last week I was contacted by a potential client looking for a cleat fitting on their new pair of uber expensive French pedals utilizing the company’s “cleat adjustment apparatus”. I described my fit process, including the large portion of time allocated towards cleat adjustment, all while explaining one’s closed kinetic chain being the reason I do not do partial fittings. As anticipated, I was questioned why a professional full-time bike fitter did not use various pedal companies alignment systems. They were surprised to hear me say, “It simply doesn’t matter.” The client had inadvertently stumbled on to a huge issue in the cycling industry EVERY pedal and shoe manufacturer (with the exception of one) doesn’t tell you. There is no camber adjustment built in to either the shoe or pedal, and the interface between the two is flat; your foot is not. If you have ever owned a car that pulled to one side it was not because the wheels were not parallel, but that the toe-in or camber was causing the car to pull to one side. The old wives tales of adjusting the cleat in a flat plane where rotation is needed is exactly that, an old wives tale. Yet you still see intricate markings on the bottoms of expensive cycling shoes. Why?
Manufacturers aren’t conspiring, but do turn a blind eye because ergonomics are not sexy and ugly doesn’t sell. Each year, I spend thousands of dollars on wedges, shims, spacers, washers, etc. to correct hip, knee and foot angles on clients. While most comment on their improved efficiency and comfort, if the distributor stamped “15 watts!” or “Wedge-Strong” on each of them, the line for demand would be around the block. The truth is that manufacturers approach this issue like a Junior High dance; everyone is milling around waiting for someone else to make the first move.
In my opinion it is the end user and not the manufacturer that needs to vote with their dollars. I have installed hundreds of horrible “ergo” bars over the years at the public’s request and the manufacturers were forced to follow suit. Wherever consumer’s value ergonomics, the industry will be forced to follow. This also extends to bike fitting but the order needs to be reversed. Most clients rank handlebars, saddles and shoes/pedals in respective order of importance but in actuality it should be reversed since the shoe/pedal and saddle combination is far more impacting than a handlebar. I am often asked, “How do the pros do it?” When I comment that most have regular professional fittings, use custom foot beds and/or shoes, almost all have some form of wedging or shimming and wide padded saddles the reply is, “No, I meant how stiff and light are their bikes?”
Enjoy the ride.
Website: www.tadhughescustom.com
Twitter: @MasterBikeFit
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