Mark and Fred make valid points.
In my experience through the years, The "Kneesavers" function extermely well
and can be purchased in several lengths to compensate.
I only ever used them because of injury, longer feet and extreme foot angle,
or some congenital symptom needing the adapters.
Many people only used one.
Never did the "Q" factor enter in, as all the riders I ever dealt with
adapted to the regular factory crank widths and pedal positions.
I haven't come across anyone with such wide hips that drastic accomodation
was needed.
In horse parlance a big strong plow horse was measured in axe handle width,
ie. 15 axe handles across the a**.
Someone may be pretty big, but the pelvis just doesn't seem to be that much
wider to affect the stroke. Muscle and fat mass don't count.
Again, I refer to my previous post in making your foot flat across the
bottom so your power goes straightr down and not out.
I've never had my foot slide sideways, and especially not when strapped in
snugly and pedalling with some finesse and not in some untrained manner.
Again, for over a hundred years, it's been feet as close to crank as
possible and knees as close to top tube as can.
Knees and legs spread apart like some pleasure-bent lady of the night is not
the efficient stroking position(on your bike).
Look again at all the racing pictures frontal views especially those in
motion. It's knees in!
I don't think any one of us is going to tell the Super pro riders they don't
know how to be most efficient and one with their bike.
Maybe every once in a blue moon someone can come along and need special
consideration, but I haven't seen it yet in over 40 years of fitting.
Again, in my prior post, look to your core muscles, hip flexors, etc., to
improve your flexibility for nice loose, powerful, smooth pedalling.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
> At 4/24/2007 08:24 PM -0700, ternst wrote:
>>Then we have to see to the foot/cleat angle to keep our heel from
>>touching frame or crank and adjust our feet positions accordingly.
>>I can remember years ago being able to twist foot sideways and if not
>>paying attention whacking ankle on crank and cutting accordingly. OUCH!
>>and bleeding. S*)(^% and F@&() !! Oh well, one learned.
>>Depending on your individual needs your feet will be farther or closer
>>to the cranks, and your "Q" will change whether you like it or not.
>>If you are only riding 5MPH and watching celestial bodies along the
>>beach, it won't mean jack.
>>If you want to ride a little more intensly, try to get it dialed in and
>>save your hips, knees, and ankles.
>>If the cleats are incorrect, a host of foot problems could manifest
>>themselves depending on your intensity.
>> >From what I've posted, hopefully you will see how the relationship
>>between "Q" and foot position are inexhorably related.
>>How about your experiences, gals and guys?
>
> Ted,
> Personally, I need "Knee Savers" pedal extenders on all my bikes with
> older "Low Q Factor" cranks. Without them, I either pedal with my feet
> hanging off the ends of the pedals or wreck my knees.
>
>
> Mark Stonich;
> BikeSmith Design & Fabrication
> 5349 Elliot Ave S. - Minneapolis. MN 55417
> Ph. (612) 824-2372 http://bikesmithdesign.com
> http://mnhpva.org