A variety of injuries, such as bone breaks, can cause a leg-length discrepancy. If the difference in length is very small, this doesn't necessarily pose a problem in your everyday life. Leg-length discrepancy that is noticeable, however, may interfere with cycling. Knee, hip and posterior pain can result if you've got your bike set up to accommodate only one leg length. If you are a bicycling enthusiast with this problem, you don't have to stop riding; you just need to make some adjustments to your bike to prevent discomfort.
Step 1
Measure the difference in your leg lengths with a measuring tape or yardstick. You'll need to know exactly how much shorter one leg is to be able to fix the problem. Mark down the figure in both inches and centimeters, as lots of biking equipment for this purpose use the metric system.
Step 2
Insert an insole or wedge into the shoe of your shorter leg to build up small discrepancies of 1 to 2mm. If you already use insoles in both shoes or cleats, add another one or buy a thicker pad for your affected side. Tackling the problem from the inside of your shoes is probably the least expensive and easiest option.
Step 3
Use leg length shims to build up your shorter leg. A shim is a piece of plastic or metal that attaches in between the sole of the biking shoe and the cleat spikes that fasten into your pedals. You may need to layer a couple of shims onto your shoe to build your shoe up to the required height.
Step 4
Add a cleat wedge on top of the shim if you are still suffering from leg pain due to your leg-length discrepancy. This is another building material that fastens to your biking cleat to make your foot taller on the pedal.
Step 5
Commission a custom-made bike to help you cycle more comfortably. Some people do not find success with building up their shoes and must start from the bike itself. A custom-made bicycle can be built with two differently-sized pedals to adjust for your leg-length discrepancy.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Insole
- Leg-length shims
- Cleat wedges
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