...what type of pedals are best for dodgy knees?

[Robby]

Easter knees=first time out in shorts and the weather is often cold and the knees suffer , does'nt seem to affect all the postmen riding around in the winter !

[Mrs Tortoise]

They recently had cycling shoes in Lidl for 12.99, quite adequate to start with, and SPD compatible according to the box.

[simon l6 and a bit]

ooohhh. The laces are really good. They allow you to get the feel right all the way up your instep. I'd definitely give the velcro a miss.

[DaveP]

Well I was wearing a thin pair of tights, but it does sound as if I had Easter Knees three weeks ago - Global Warming eh?
Postmen on bikes keep warm as a byproduct of being sworn at. The number I've seen without lights at 4 am recently....

I'll try to have a look at Lidl - the trouble is that the only truly local one I'm aware of is about 5 doors down from my fave LBS...

Simon, in my innocence I dont know whether to take that at face value or just the opposite!

[andwags]

Laces are definitely more comfortable when walking is required but they don't give the performance I demand from my equipment and don't get anywhere near as snug as a ratchet without cutting off any blood supply anyway. I wouldn't dismiss carbon soles as a performance gain either. I guess it just depends where one's priorities are - performance on the bike vs. walking comfort

And please don't give money to Lidl so that bike stores can lose more business. Next thing you know you'll only have Lidl staff in your area to ask for advice on cycling shoes and pedals - like they would know.

Andrew

[ricardolamos]

I would go with Time for although SPD can give some float it is not nearly as much as the Time system.

Use of glucosamine and chondroitin also recommended and backed by evidence now from a respected journal.Don't expect immediate results as it takes time for the joint to rebuild itself.

[DaveP]

Time Atac Alium perhaps?
Decathlon are knocking these out for almost the same price as Spd's, and I was wondering what the pros and cons were.

[andwags]

Pros - simple design with cartridge bearings and plenty of float

Cons - no adjustability, can't find replacement bearings very easily and they wear out quicker then just repacking shimano pedals over and over, too much float for some

Verdict - As a first pair of clipless go with Shimano, if you are an experienced clipless pedal user then Time make great pedals

[holiday]

The matter is better dealt with by the eggshell tablet tree t, a natural organic food. Geff apps develop a swing pedal,, for eaz of ankle,. Hope this helps if you want to contact him iv can furnish hisaddress the
Regards.

[Brucey]

you can see the guts of a Time Alium pedal here;



there is a tiny cartridge bearing and a substantial bushing. The bushing is the same kind as is fitted to a number of other pedals and they all have the same thing in common; the bushing wears out and when under load it generates significantly more friction than even a knackered ball bearing would. You can buy industrial IGUS bushings to fit many pedals.

If I thought that getting enough float was only possible with the Time pedals then I guess I'd buy them despite the bearings.... but there are lots of other pedals out there that are better made than this.

cheers

[bikes4two]

- dont like buying footwear mail order - but its good to go in with some idea of what I want.

I've recently bought new shoes (Shimano ct45 click'r touring shoes) mail order from Wiggle - I wasn't sure what size I'd need so order two pairs. Delivered to my local Collect Plus shop I picked them up in the evening and returned the unwanted pair to the Collect Plus store the next day (free of charge) and the money was refunded to my Paypal account withing a further 2 days.

I'd previously done this with 2 pairs of SPD sandals - neither fitted and so both return via Collect Plus.

So if you can't get what you want in your LBS, don't dismiss the Wiggle service which IMO is excellent.

Here's the CT45 BTW - just done a 450 mile tour with them which involved a fair bit of walking up hills, and I found them very comfortable. Sizing wise I'm UK11 but the Shimano Eu47 fitted (which is UK12?)

[anniesboy]

I wonder if the original " poster" will see these later comments,as post was started over seven years ago.

[Flinders]

DaveP Have you tried Glucosamine Sulphate ?
I've had no end of trouble with my knees in the past (probaly due to 15yrs in the pit then 20odd years in construction, in short a life time of hard labour not to mention cycling and hillwalking)then whilst talking to a chemist (who is also into alternative therapies)was recommended the standard dose of two tablets of 750mg of GS a day about a month later, hey presto new knees.I've been on it for about 7yrs.

I've found glucosamine good for my knee joints, which without it give trouble when walking down steep hills on hard rocky surfaces. It takes a couple of months for the glucosamine to show its full benefit, and you do need to take enough of it, as you say.

After a lot of resistance from me, I finally went for clipless SPDs, and my right knee, which is badly aligned for historical reasons and therefore has a problem on the inside, I think a ligament, no longer has trouble when I cycle. In fact, now, cycling is something I do when I'm having trouble with it to help it recover. Before, with clips and straps, cycling could actually aggravate it.
But I was careful to get my LBS to set the pedals etc. up for me so everything was in the right alignment.

[Pandaz]

Definitely Time Atac, all the couriers used them fir all day comfort.

[Galloper]

May I recommend that you have a look at MTB flat pedals such as DMR or Welgo. I use these on my mountain bikes and gp bikes and have recently fitted a set on my tourer. They work very well with specialist shoes such as 5 10s and offer very good grip. They also work really well with ordinary trainers and in winter with a pair of lightweight walking boots. For less than £30 you can buy a set of DMRs with grease ports and they even provide a spiffy little grease gun. The wide platform offers a supportive stance and the ability to take varied positions to suit your own comfort. They are also very easy to pull away on, no searching for the clip and you can get a foot down immediately if necessary.

If you want to try clipless, may I recommend Shimano 530s. There are two versions, one has a flat on one side and a clip on the other and so offers good versatility.