A question for cyclists.

[Tilly2]

I have recently bought a bicycle. I haven't ridden a bicycle for years.
This may seem like a daft question

My question is, do you put the ball of your foot on the pedals or do you put the middle of your foot on the pedals, so that the pedal is resting on your heel?

My husband says the ball but I feel more comfortable with the middle of my foot. Does it really make any difference to how much my knees ache?

[tonyav]

A keep fit programme, Tilly ?.

[Zacs-Master]

Balls. You get more energy that way.

[emmie]

do what makes you feel comfortable.

[Tilly2]

Thought I'd add it to my walking programme, Tony.

[tonyav]

Yeah why not, do you do any swimming Tilly, that is supposed to be very good for you.

[ChuckFickens]

Strictly speaking, it is meant to be the balls of the feet, but as already said, just do whatever feels most comfortable for you.

[Tilly2]

No,I don't swim, Tony. Too much palaver and my hair gets wet.

[tonyav]

You could always wear a bathing cap, Tilly.

[Tilly2]

I don't feel comfortable using the balls of my feet as I feel my foot will slip, especially when cycling up the nearest hill.

[Tilly2]

Bathing caps don't keep your hair dry, Tony, they just make you look stupid. Oh.......... and I am worried about catching something nasty.

[Southsider]

The ball of your foot is better. I think it is bad for your arches to be putting pressure on them like that. Practise and it will feel more comfortable and normal after a while.

[joggerjayne]

The ball, because then you press with your toes, which uses you calves, and takes some of the strain off your thighs and knees.

You can get plastic clips that screw on the front of the pedals. Your toe just slips into them. They hold your foot in the right place,mand stop your foot slipping off the pedals if you hit a bump.

You can also get "bindings" where you have a clip in the bottom of your shoe that fixes on to the pedal, but I don't like them. I don't like being fastened to the pedals too much.

But toe clips really do help.

[tonyav]

Ok then Tilly, we'll forget the swimming then.

[joggerjayne]

And toe clips solve the problem of your foot slipping off on hills.

[joggerjayne]

http://www.jejamescyc...N_6tLMCFW_KtAod7RYAbA

[Tilly2]

Thanks j.j. Is that why my knees hurt, because I'm placing my foot on the pedals wrongly?

[tonyav]

Get a motor bike tilly, much more fun.

[joggerjayne]

If your knees hurt, you may have the saddle too low, and be bending your leg too much at the top.

[Khandro]

There is no doubt, it should be the ball, this allows the heel to drop slightly producing more power on the downstroke of the pedal. As an aid to keeping you feet in this position you can buy a variety of toe clips, the simplest being; http://www.jejamescyc...PD6tLMCFU-6zAodWjAADA

[Tilly2]

When I sit on the saddle, my toes reach the ground on both sides. Is that O.K.?