Bike fit / correct riding position

It was after reading Steve Hogg.

And if it works for Hippy...

If you think of the foot as lever (pivoting at the ankle) then the further forward the cleat is, the greater the leverage. So you are devoting more energy counteracting that leverage to stabilise the ankle: if you didn't, when you press on the pedal your heel would go down and the pedal would stay put.

The old dogma of "ball of the foot over the pedal axle" made sense when people wore flexible, leather soled shoes (and still does if you're riding in trainers etc): otherwise your foot curls around the pedal, like a bird's does when landing on a telegraph wire.

With modern, stiff soled shoes you can sit the foot anywhere on the pedal, rather than where it doesn't "hurt".

Bearing this in mind, I can see how it would help Achilles tendon and calf muscle problems, as you would be putting less strain on them. I'd be wary of making an internet-diagnosis though, as there could be a number of different causes.

I set my friend up the same on her TT bike and she has continued to improve: PB, CR and wins. I obviously wouldn't claim that this is the only reason (or even a significant one), but I would cautiously suggest that it hasn't held her back.

Although you can't discount the possibility that she might be even faster, with a more conventional set-up :/