Thursday, October 20, 2016

Platform Pedals - A Cure for Knee Pain?

In August I transitioned from toe clips to a platform pedal on my Ross commuter bicycle. I didn't make this change out of necessity - I was looking for easier footing to accommodate flip flops, sneakers, or monstrous winter boots. After the switch, my nagging knee pain lessened, considerably, a benefit I did not expect. And while I generally spin at high cadence - that simple remedy learned from past long-distance tours - the new pedals have made a noticeable difference. My foot naturally falls more forward on the platform pedals, approximately 1-2" than previously wedged into toe clips. I've been wondering if my body wanted to stretch and lengthen to account for a too small bike frame, in addition to the adjustments I've made - namely a longer seat post and slightly upright bars. Whatever the reason, platform pedals are here to stay!

Has anyone had a similar experience?

13 comments:

  1. My friend had a similar problem and switched from SPD's to platform pedals and like yours the problem went.

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  2. I believe my knee (and foot) comfort was increased after switching to platform pedals. It seems I move my foot fore and aft with changes in the terrain. I also change my foot angle from time to time. I find the freedom to adjust my footing liberating and refreshing.

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  3. Good to hear this report on the MKS Sneakers as I have a pair waiting to onto my Schwinn Passage project.

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  4. I too find platforms more comfortable. For me, it may have to do with the "Q" factor, the width between pedals. Being a big guy, my stance may require that my feet are a little further apart than standard clipless pedals afford. (I used clipless pedals for years, and switched to platform pedals 3 years ago.) With the platforms, I no longer have knee pain. It may be the platform pedals allows me to better position my foot on the pedal fore-aft as you suggest, and they may allow me to turn my foot in or out according to what works best. Bottom line, is the platforms work great.

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  5. Yes, I've had a left-knee pain with clipped-in pedals, and it almost all went away when I shifted to platforms.

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  6. Very interesting everyone! And thanks for all your responses. I'm pleased to hear how platform pedals have affected so many people in a positive way. And, of course, platform pedals (or sans toe clips or clipless) is simpler all around.

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  7. Similarly to the other posters, my knee pained increased when I tried clip in pedals. My knees were suddenly not aligned properly and the pain was just plain silly. Plus I kept falling over because I couldn't unclip quickly.

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  8. For me, platforms allow some small changes in foot placement and angle that clipless do not, which I think helps to ward off knee pain or discomfort from repeated motion in exactly the same position mile after mile. But with clipless, I do find that slightly adjusting the push-pull emphasis through the pedal stroke for a few minutes, by pulling up more for a while, is also beneficial when my knees get sore.

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  9. As an older cyclist, I was concerned from the start about not only falling until you get use to clipless pedals but locking my foot into one position. In city riding, you often need to make a change faster than you can unclip. I use platforms, some with and some without the teeth that hold the foot better. If I feel I need for more hold in wet weather, I use toe clips and shoes that fit them.

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  10. Some people comment that they use platforms or toe clips so they can get out of them quicker, but it only takes a short time to adjust to getting out of clipless pedals quickly, before long you can do it quickly and without even thinking about it. It becomes reflexive. But to each his own.

    I never had knee pain at all until I started riding toe clips, even if you have a cleat, they hold your feet more or less straight. My SPD pedals had a nice amount of float which actually helped, but once I started riding Platform pedals again I noticed I had no more knee pain, which struck me as odd and then I started noticing my feet on the pedals, I would purposely look down after a prolonged period of riding comfortably, at which point I noticed that while my left foot was fairly straight on the pedal and centered, my right foot tended to fall much more to the outside of the pedal with my heal angled in so much that it almost contacts the crank arm with each revolution!!! My first thought AH!! "No wonder my knee always hurt!" Second thought "so much for low Q factors!" - Mas

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    1. I also have also noticed my own unique asymmetrical foot placement on platform pedals, which I believe is why I am more comfortable with this set up.

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  11. A good bike fit may make clipless pedals work for you (it took me two goes to get a good bike fit, but enormously helpful). There's no reason for cleats to be fixed symmetrically--feet aren't identical, and we're left- and right-handed. That said, my commuter bike is fitted with strapless toe clips so my feet don't slide forward when the pedals are wet.

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    1. My usband has one of his bikes set up this way. It suits him just fine.

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