I have two legs of different lengths. How can I walk as economically and painlessly as possible? What can I do if my foot is misaligned?
Thomas Gimpel, by e-mail
Unfortunately, there is no patent remedy for legs of different lengths and other orthopaedic problems, but there are a few options that can be tried out and discussed with an orthopaedist. Cranks are available in different lengths, with most manufacturers offering lengths from 160 to 180 mm in 2.5 millimetre increments. The respective length is labelled on the crank. A longer crank results in a larger circular path that the foot describes. With some pedals, it is possible to fit a spacer between the shoe and the pedal plate using longer screws. It acts as if the bottom bracket is mounted slightly higher on one side and perfectly compensates for a shortened lower leg. However, you have to make such parts yourself. If you take the sole of an old cycling shoe, the shape and the holes will also fit the plate. In order to maintain the contact surfaces between pedal and shoe, the spacer must be significantly larger than the plate.
Although the Look CX 7 pedal cannot compensate for length, it is suitable for misaligned feet due to its many adjustment options. It can be moved on the axle by up to one centimetre to position the foot at different distances - important if you turn your heel inwards when pedalling. To do this, you should ride cranks with strongly cranked, outwardly bent arms. The adapter pieces with different angles supplied as standard help riders whose feet bend inwards or outwards - so-called pronators or supinators. They can use them to compensate for the inclined position of their feet.
Adapters compensate for inclined foot position:
