|   What Clipless For Bad Knees | Bob Nap
Jul 14, 2002 1:27 PM | | I am looking to go to clipless pedals and my major concern is that I have a surgically repaired left knee with quite a bit of arthritis. I want to avoid any pedals that may aggravate the situation. I was considering a pair of Shimano's (M545) which have about 5 degrees of float, but I know there are other options out there (ie: Time's; Frog's; etc...). I would appreciate some input on this so that I can make an informed decision.
Thanks! |
| Oh noooo question................ | Mike T.
Jul 14, 2002 3:12 PM | | ....it's Frogs for bad knees - unlimited float (well 20 degrees or so and you're out of the pedals anyway) and above all there is zero resistance to that float - unlike all other pedals where some form of spring mechanism keeps you in and keeps you centered.
Frogs are like standing on two blocks of ice - very un-nerving at first until your muscles learn that they alone have the job of keeping your foot in its correct alignment. That took about 1½ rides for me.
I hated the mud entry performance so I ditched 'em.
My second choice would be top of the range Shimanos (I had 747s) with the adjustment set real loose. Mine took just grams of pressure to get a release. |
| re: What Clipless For Bad Knees | woodyak
Jul 14, 2002 3:19 PM | | Egg Beaters or Times. Both have a generous amount of float and they both are solid pedals. The eggs are a good bit lighter. |
| My present Times............... | Mike T.
Jul 14, 2002 4:26 PM | | ....have light years more release spring pressure to overcome compared to loosely adjusted Shimano 747s. Plus the float barely compares with the Shimano. Neither are close to the Frog.
Time is the last pedal I'd suggest for someone with bad knees - there is no adjustment for release (or retention) tension. Not having tried the Beaters I'll assume they're similar to Time. |
| I have bad knees and I like bebops... | DeeEight
Jul 14, 2002 5:00 PM | | hell, my ankles aren't that great either. I got a sprained ankle just
from taking a nap. Go figure that kinda luck.
Anyways bebops are light, easy to engage/release IMHO, no rider
weight limit, and 20 degrees of float. |
| How About WTB Stealth Pedals? | Bob Nap
Jul 14, 2002 6:02 PM | | I was just searching the countless clipless pedal options out there and I came across the WTB Stealths, I'm not thrilled about the plastic, but the adjustable float (5-15) degrees as well as the independently adjustable tension sounds like just the ticket. Does anyone have any experience with these? |
| re: What Clipless For Bad Knees | Schtoo
Jul 15, 2002 1:13 AM | | I'm using a Shimano 324 right now. One side has THE lightest release available, none! The other is plenty adjustable for my liking.
I was worried about unclipping with my REALLY weak right knee, so I figured that if I can't cope with it I can just pull the cleats and use the flat side. As it stands now I have little problem unclipping (set at just under half tension) and the only real gripe I have about the pedal is clipping into the correct side.
Ok, they aren't the greatest pedals but for versatility you can't beat them. :) |
| Speedplays for sure... | Bob
Jul 15, 2002 5:35 AM | | Hey Bob,
After a surgery in 76 I was left with no cartiledge in my right knee. Arthritis is inevitable. Due to the low impact on the joint, riding actually helps my knee "loosen up". I ride Frogs and couldn't be happier with them. With lots of float no spring tension to work against, your knees will love you for it. Although I've never ridden Be-bops, they look like a good alternative to Frogs.
good luck |
| FROGS!! | JF
Jul 15, 2002 10:07 AM | | My chronic knee pain ended when I bought my Speedplay Frogs. The 20 degrees of float is nice, but what truly makes them special is that this float is unsprung. So, there is no tension applied against your knees as they work through the float. Your knees are simply allowed to operate in their natural range of motion.
Despite what they may claim, Frogs suck really bad in the mud. In fact, they don't work at all in the mud. That's their only drawback. |
| Time | Juanmoretime
Jul 15, 2002 12:14 PM | | I've never tried any of the other pedals but all seem as they would work for you. I personally ride time off road and love them. I do ride Speedplay X-1 on the road and the Times offer that same mindless entry and while not the same float as the Speedplay's, I like them. One thing that Time and I would think Eggbeaters do for you is offer you lateral float. |
| Time vs.Speedplay | Grimlock
Jul 15, 2002 3:38 PM | | I have three pairs of Time's (two on mtb's and pair on my cross bike) and lemme tell you, I love 'em. Great pedals, no doubt. But, I suffered a knee injury that's nagged me off and on for almost a year now, and I'm about to go back to Speedplay for a while to see if it helps. I used to swear by Speedplays...they're light, and the float is great, but the Frogs are harder to enter in the mud (IMHO) and I was bummed when a Frog cleat broke in the middle of nowhere, leaving me hobbling back with 1 1/2 pedals fully operational. Stuff happens, but when I called Speedplay and told 'em that their nifty little "hassle-free" rubber bumper on the cleat crapped out on me, they just said, "yeah, so what...?" That prompted me to go with Time, which have been absolutely flawless for years.
But I digress. Bottom line, I think Time's are better pedals all around, but as a Time user now suffering my own knee problems, I'm going Speedplay due to their amazing float. |
| Depending upon the knee, a properly adjusted Shimano pedal | Pete.
Jul 15, 2002 8:09 PM | | ...is quite good.
I've used 737s, 747s, 858s, 646s, and 959s and I really appreciate the fact that your foot doesn't have to go through such a long range of motion (Times, Eggbeaters) to release and that the release can be adjusted (via a screw and also via using a multi release cleat).
Pete (Left ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL completely severed and rebuilt, and missing some medial meniscus as well) |
| Depending upon the knee, a properly adjusted Shimano pedal | Bob Nap
Jul 16, 2002 6:37 AM | | Pete:
I've torn both my MCL and ACL and have had almost all of my meniscus removed and have developed arthritis (I'm only 36, but my knees are about 83). I really like the idea of the Shimano pedals with the cages (545's; 646's, etc...), my brother just got the 545's and had very little trouble getting used to them (they are his first clipless). However, I am concerned about the spring tension and the impact it may have on my knee. Have you noticed any soreness from this?
I am starting to lean towards the Speedplay's as my first clipless, but I am concerned that the small footprint of the pedal and the large amount of free float may make it hard to adjust to.
Thanks so much for your input.
Bob |
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