Where do you set your cleats?

[Tim Cognito]

(Unfortunately) the first thing I normally have to do with new shoes is drill out the holes to position my cleats about 1.5cm further back than the standard range will allow. Off the top of my head I think this tends to put the centre of the pedal axle about 2.5cm behind my first metatarsal head.

It's just what I am used to and anything further forward feels so wrong - like trying to walk around on your tip toes with a 50kg rucksack.

As far as I understand it, the further forward the cleats, the more it loads up the calf to stabilise the foot as you push down. Possibly there could be a loss in max sprinting power with a rearward position due to not being able to recruit the calf as much to help deliver power, but given i'm not a track sprinter this doesn't bother me.

Further reading here https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/...

Obviously I am bias but it feels like shoe manufacturers have got it wrong and should move the adjustment range rearwards as I just can't imagine anyone ever using the front half of the range? Does anyone do this?

Or has anyone else tried a rearward position? How did/do you find it?

[okgo]

I moved most of mine rearwards after an Achilles tendinitis issue, that never came back and it didn’t ever make any difference to the numbers I could hit as a maximum. That said I don’t think I’ve ever needed to drill extra holes to do it, perhaps different shoes have different tolerances.

[oddball1313]

Lakes cleat positions are further back than most. Wear mine slammed as far back as they’ll go and feel perfect, i get zero feet/knee issues and the cleat directly under the ball of your foot seems to have zero negative effect on power in my experience

[Dracoro]

Check vid below out, explains ideal cleat location most riders, and explains reasons why (and to check saddle height when changing cleat position as is affected). It also covers actual cleats/float etc.

Bike fit James knows his onions and well respected, so check out his other bike fit vids, quite useful when setting your overall riding position too

https://youtu.be/qoB7uaJcyUU?si=9S9Vu-P2Ji31bCV0

[BlackTails]

I used to set mine up so that the pedal axle was right under the ball of my foot. I think that is the head of the first tarsal. Never had to drill a shoe though.