High pedals

[Binky Berlingo]

Hi everyone,

This is probably discussed elsewhere....sorry

Fairly new to my new multispace and creating sciatica pain as pedals are too high especially the clutch. 

I have to lift foot to engage. Instead of pivoting on my heel.

Have adjusted the seat without success.

Any ideas on what would be safe to put under the mat to lift feet a bit? 

Or maybe I need to get some platform shoes! I knew I should have kept them and my bellbottom trousers!

Any advice welcome.

Many thanks

Christine in Barnstaple

PS The garage where I bought it said they had not heard of the problem and couldn't advise.

[3rensho]

Well, if you find a way to lift the mat I would think that you'd still have a problem because you still have to depress the clutch fully to disengage, which too might cause some back pain. Maybe look at one of the automatic models? In the beginning I had a problem with the pedals being too close together for my clod hoppers to fit.

[Binky Berlingo]

Well, if you find a way to lift the mat I would think that you'd still have a problem because you still have to depress the clutch fully to disengage, which too might cause some back pain.  Maybe look at one of the automatic models?  In the beginning I had a problem with the pedals being too close together for my clod hoppers to fit.

Many thanks. How did you deal with the pedals too close together and your clod hoppers? 

[3rensho]

Ha ha, I wear thin sneakers when driving and don the boots after arriving at destination. Boot is at the perfect height for changing shoes.

[Binky Berlingo]

Good news, I spoke to someone who is the mechanic for the local council refuse dept. He says this is a common problem on their trucks and they use 'spacers' to adjust the height of the clutch to suit the drivers. He is confident Citroen can use the same or similar. Interesting that when I contacted them they said they couldn't help even though it is a new car. The mechanic said to explain that the car is not currently fit for purpose and I would like them to rectify it. Will have to see what they say on Monday.

[geoff]

Try exercising / developing your transabdominal muscles as this can help a lot as does any core strengthening. You just need to " fire " the muscle into action and hold for a few seconds and release, no big force / loading needed.

I have a higher seat which makes a difference also as the angle of leg operation / lifting are altered by doing so ( I've had spinal surgery ).

Close pedals can be spread sideways with brute force - I used an 18" stilsons as an experiment and it worked, I usually wear steel cap boots and now have no bother with pressing the wrong pedal by mistake.

[Binky Berlingo]

Try exercising / developing your transabdominal muscles as this can help a lot as does any core strengthening. You just need to " fire " the muscle into action and hold for a few seconds and release, no big force / loading needed.

I have a higher seat which makes a difference also as the angle of leg operation / lifting are altered by doing so ( I've had spinal surgery ).

Close pedals can be spread sideways with brute force - I used an 18" stilsons as an experiment and it worked, I usually wear steel cap boots and now have no bother with pressing the wrong pedal by mistake.

Funny you should post that. I have just started deep water aerobics to get my fitness back after a me on bicycle v car accident. My core needs serious work or maybe some scaffolding :-). Thanks for the advice.

[geoff]

You can exercise EVERYWHERE ..... even when driving.

When you learn to " fire " the muscle set whichever one you wish to activate you can try " red dotting " which is a technique developed by an Australian physio I believe, you fire and hold the muscle for 5 seconds every time you see something red ie a traffic light, a red jumper or anything.

Good luck with it all you'll need to keep pushing the boundaries each week / day and it will feel like it takes forever ... eventually you get there.

edit : ask a woman about pelvic floor technique !

[Binky Berlingo]

You can exercise EVERYWHERE  ..... even when driving.

When you learn to " fire " the muscle set whichever one you wish to activate you can try " red dotting " which is a technique developed by an Australian physio I believe, you fire and hold the muscle for 5 seconds every time you see something red ie a traffic light, a red jumper or anything.

Good luck with it all you'll need to keep pushing the boundaries each week / day and it will feel like it takes forever ... eventually you get there.

edit : ask a woman about pelvic floor technique !

Ha ha. I am a woman and I will have a word with me!  Thanks for the encouragement. I was very fit before the accident. My problem is that I do too much and struggle to pace myself. Christine

[Fish]

I'll have to look at the stillsons theory.

I wear size 11 shoes and wear steel toe cap boots a lot so I'm always catching 2 pedals and panic at times as I hit the brake and accelerator at the same time !!