To agree with both Damien and Ken, my wife's knees are sensitive to being restricted too, and she has solved this two ways--Speedplay pedals (Frogs in her case) and quill or platform pedals without cleats. She needs that Speedplay walking-on-ice feeling Damien mentions to let her knees find various angles they need during the pedal stroke, although the icey feeling made her feel insecure at first, expecically out of the saddle. She tells me that pedaling without cleats on platform or quill pedals is just as effective for this freedom as speedplays. She uses one or the other depending on the bike and type of riding (on-topic note: her bikes are on-topic, Batavus Professional and Raleigh 531 mixte).
--Mitch Harris Little Rock Canyon, Utah, usa
On Sat, Jul 24, 2010 at 9:53 AM, Ken Freeman <kenfreeman096@gmail.com>wrote:
> I've used quill or platform pedals for years, without "hard" cleats
> that fix your foot position. I'd suggest this if you do have knee
> issues.
>
> Perhaps you can ask your PT if it would be better to reduce the hip
> closure and the knee flexion.
>
> On Saturday, July 24, 2010, damien roohr <droohr@comcast.net> wrote:
> > Richard-
> > I agree with Jon-- - all of his points on bike fit are wise--
> >
> > Also, do not forget to adjust your seat height accordingly - it should go
> up as your cranks get shorter - as a base point, that is... because if
> changing crank length is not the solution, then you might want to fiddle
> with seat height.. and I mean fiddle, as I am sure you know that differences
> of as little as 1 mm can have an impact on comfort.
> >
> > Another thought (yup, Off Topic, but still...)- you may want to try using
> a pedal that gives you a lot of free lateral movement. I have had surgery on
> both knees and the original speedplay pedals have been terrific. they feel
> like you are walking on ice when you first use them, but your knees may like
> it. when you think about how quill pedals lock the ball of your foot in
> place, and compare that to how most people's foot twists a little on each
> step - you begin to see the wisdom of a free floating pedal for some of us.
> >
> > Also, i do not have links, but Lennard Zinn (velo news, maker of KOF
> frames) has studied and written extensively about crank length and
> physiology, etc.
> >
> > good luck
> >
> > Damien Roohr
> > Canton, CT
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jon Spangler" <jonswriter@att.net>
> > To: "Dale Brown" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > Cc: "RICHARD HOWARD" <rehoward1@verizon.net>
> > Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 9:04:20 PM
> > Subject: [CR] Old Age vrs Crank Lengths
> >
> > Richard,
> >
> > What do your physical therapist and orthopedist (preferably of the sports
> medicine certified variety) say? Have you asked them?
> >
> > Not being an expert, I would swap out those 175s for 170s ASAP. It is a
> relatively cheap and easily-accomplished experiment. Ask your sports
> orthopedist or physical therapist for advice. You will want to modify your
> seat position, too, I would think...
> >
> > If they are not bike-fit knowledgeable, ask for a referral to a PT or
> sports chiropractor who is a bike fit expert. If those avenues fail, check
> back with your local bike shop(s) and ask their fitting experts.
> >
> > Locally, I would recommend my friends at Cycle Sports bike shop in
> Oakland or my buddy, Jessica Graux, DC, who does great bike fitting in
> Berkeley, CA:
> >
> >
> http://www.innersport.com/
> >
> > You might call or visit other local CR listers and shop owners in VA or
> thereabouts:
> >
> > Wayne Bingham at Velo Classique (540-338-8376; PO Box 2069, Purcellville,
> VA)
> >
> > or Dale Brown at Cycles de Oro (1410 Mill Street, Greensboro, North
> Carolina 27408; 336-274-5959)
> >
> > (These are the only two references I can think of that are in your
> "neighborhood," but I'm in Alameda, CA and on the wrong coast to
> > know who else might be closer to you.)
> >
> >
> > Jon Spangler
> > who has less-than-pristine hips in Alameda, CA
> >
> > Linda Hudson Writing
> > TEL 510-864-2144
> > CEL 510-846-5356
> > JonSwriter@att.net
> > http://www.linkedin.com/
> > http://www.twitter.com/
> >
> > ===========
> >
> > Message: 5
> > Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:04:34 -0700 (PDT)
> > From:RICHARD HOWARD <rehoward1@verizon.net>
> > Subject: [CR] Old Age vrs Crank Lengths
> > To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> > Message-ID: <519559.20286.qm@web84401.mail.ac2.yahoo.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> >
> > I am 65 years old and have been using 175 mm cranks since my first real
> bike in
> > 1967. I have had a total knee replacement and lost enough range of motion
> in
> > the affected knee that it impacts on my ability to ride smoothly. The
> problem
> > is mostly at the 12 o'clock position of the affected crank arm. It is a
> struggle
> > to power over the top. I am thinking about switching to 170 mm cranks or
> even
> > 165mm. Considering the skeletal shrinkage that also automatically comes
> with old
> > age, I am thinking that 165 may be optimal. Has anyone else had a problem
> > similar to this? Did you create any new problems for yourself while
> solving the
> > targeted problem?
> > Dick Howard
> > Roanoke, Virginia
> > USA
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > _______________________________________________
> >
>
> --
> Ken Freeman
> Ann Arbor, MI USA
> _______________________________________________