Float vs. no float?

[wwtsui]

Am in search of improved bike fit and relief from hot foot :(. I just spoke to someone at Bill Petersen's shop in Rhode Island (www.wedofeet.com) -- I gather from other posts here that his footbeds are well regarded. One surprise was that he apparently recommends no float -- I guess the idea is that once you're aligned, you shouldn't need any. On the one hand, this makes sense, though on the other, (1) I've always heard float described as "knee friendly", and (2) it seems unintuitive that your foot wouldn't rotate at all during a pedal stroke, given that everything else is moving...

My questions:
1. Any experiences with Bill, either for footbeds or for cycle fit?
2. How many out there use no float? I guess some people must, since it's an option with many pedals...

Thanks in advance, as always...

[William]

I love the float in my Speedplays. Takes a little getting used to at first but I find my knees like it much better then when I used pedals with little to no float. I tend to ride slightly toed in. No float caused undue pressure for me.

Just my experience.

William

[Kevin]

Another vote for Speedplays.

Kevin

[Matt Barkley]

Bill knows what he is doing.

1 vote for fixed. :beer: (Victory Horizontal) - Matt

[itsalldark]

I use Look pedals with float and the red cleats with Rocket Seven custom footbeds. IMHO it is a great set up. Float is a good thing. As you get tired or you hammer your biomechanics go through small changes that float can take care of and fixed pedals will not!!

[Climb01742]

my .02 is, float or no float depends on your biomechanics. i'm not sure there is "one" right answer. and there are various kinds of float...speedplay float feels very free...other pedals have float that is, well, less floaty. maybe begin with your biomechanics. find someone knowledgeable who you trust, and let their analysis of your pedaling determine float v. no float. just a thought.

[zap]

Float or no float? My understanding is that it depends on your biomechanics and related position. Your body can take a certain amount of "changes", but exceeding your limits may present a big problem.

I started years ago with no float (cleats and original Looks) but changed to Looks red cleats as soon as they came out. Come to think of it, I don't think I changed for any good reason, but I'm older now and sticking with what I have.

Check this out for another perspective http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2005/letters04-18 if you havn't done so already.

Good luck.

[yeehawfactor]

what pedals are you on now?

i'm on spd-sl's and i appreciate the float very much. i also don't have any issue with hotspots since these(As well as looks) have a very big platform.

[Michael Katz]

I use custom orthotics made by a specialist at the Foot and Hand Institute in Phila who makes orthotics for Olympic athletes. And with his blessing, I still use Speedplays for the float. So just because someone at Bill Petersen's shop expressed an opinion, sight unseen, that you won't need float with a set of Petersen footbeds doesn't make it so.