Knee Pain

[naviuk]

Hi

 

I started cycling a few months ago, i had re-setup my seat but this time making the tilt on the seat far less then i had before... this made me feel more stable on the bike and take the weight off my shoulders and wrists... i got back onto the bike and am getting knee pain only on my left knee. it started on the outside but more towards the back. i moved my seat forward abit on stem and the pain has moved more to direct on the outside... only on my left knee though... :s

 

Anyone got any suggestions...?

 

Thanks

[Jakkals.]

Sounds like a stiff ITB. Just stretch out your harmstrings.

[Morwa]

I've got the same thing. Knee pain on right leg only, but at the back where knee bends.

[covie]

Knee pain at the back generally means one of two things. One your just simply overdoing it. Or two your saddle is too high. Drop your saddle 5mm at a time till the pain dissapears. Knee pain at the front normally means your sadlle is too low and you need to raise it.

[covie]

Oh and a saddle should always be level, tilt it down and youll put much wheight on the handlebars and feel like your sliding off. Tilt it up and you put your nutters in a world of pain. Also if you know your saddle height is correct adjust your cleats so your feet do not face inwards while you pedal, they should be level or slightly out. Rembmer cleat adjustments are done in milimeters.

[Me-rider]

Sounds like a stiff ITB. Just stretch out your harmstrings.

 

Agreed. Stretch stretch and stretch some more.

 

Having said that there may be issues with your setup (I am no expert), but the stretcging advice still stands.

 

Being supple also helps you recover from injuries easier.

[Tiny K]

Check your cadence too..... I had a low cadence ride yesterday and am feeling it in my knees today.

 

Should have an average cadence of between 80 and 90 over a long ride.

[jarek.pski]

I tend to sit on my legs when at office or sitting around, at times I switched legs. It was a bad habit I picked up and I have to watch the way I sit. I used to experience horrible knees pains when I was cycling.

 

I sort of figured it out that this might've been the problem, I stopped and the pains went away gradually.

 

Dunno if that's your case

[Harry Potter]

How true is a bike setup? the one with the laser etc. I did one, and both my knees pained, so I raised my saddle I feel more comfy on the bike but still some pain in my right knee.

[GLuvsMtb]

In some instances one leg may be slightly shorter than the other due to injuries. My mate had a femur break and his left leg is now about 15mm shorter than his right. He used to ride with a built up cleat (2 epoxied together) but had this changed after his bike setup was done at Sport Science Institute. They basically moved one cleat forward and the otherone slightly back to compensate for the different leg lenghts.

 

Check your cleats anyway. A mis-aligned cleat may cause too much stress on the outside of your knee if the toe faces inward too much.

 

A pro setup is also the best money you can spend. If in Cape Town, call Jeroen Swart at Sport Science Institute. He will also advise you on training if you have areas that you'd like to develop.

[covie]

Yup i need to go for a proper setup at some stage, im much comfier on my bike but I'm thinking with a little pro help it might just be even better.

[Nameless1]

Hi , nice forum you have here. Thought I may add something. I'm a runner, hurt my right knee 18months ago, and pain just did not want to go away. Last October got on my bike, and guess what, after 2-3 40-60 km rides, pain subsided, after a month it was bearable. I now cycle a few times a week (60-80mins weekdays), 2-4 hours weekend, purely to strengthen the knee. What I am trying to say, is that for me a ride's definitely + sign, for prior knee pain. Exercise the muscles around without the pressure of running.