Training & Nutrition - Right Calf pain.. seat adjustment ?

Ok, so here's my new story... I've been playing with my seat height as I was having pain in my left knee, so I decided to raise it. Perfect.. no more pain in my left knee at all... so now.. I am getting a pain in my right calf now... almost feels like it is gonna cramp up... I've tried different pedaling styles... when I pedal with my toes pointed down a bit... not as bad a problem.. flat footed is when it starts to hurt.. it isn't MAJOR pain... but enough to be annoying, and really kinda ruin my ride a bit....

So my question is now... where do i go from here.. i know there are infinite adjustments I can make to the seat... up, down... forward, back... even twisting it left or right... any suggestions ?? trial and error ?? it drives me nuts !

Jeff

I get the same thing on my road bike at the top of my left calf -- not really bad but enough to make me notice. I tried lowering my seat but it didn't make a lot of difference. The odd thing is that the distance from the BB spindle to the seat top is the same as on my MTB and I have no problem at all on the MTB. Same seat height in relation to the pedals, one bike hurts the left calf and the other not. I have clipless pedals on the road bike and platforms on the MTB so that is an important difference I guess. My theory is that my calf muscles are aching a little bit from pulling up on the clipless pedals.

One other thing -- do you stretch before riding? I've found that it helps in my case, and it's a good habit to get into.

hi there
i used to have problems when i was running after a bike ride and i'd get little calf tears, and always thought it was a running problem (shoes, orthotics or something) but then started to realise i was putting a lot of pressure on my calf whilst doing seating hill work....i then looked at my set up and figured my cleat position was at fault...it was way to far forward. the effect this was having was that when pushing down the central point of pressure was behind the spindle/cleat and therefore loading my calf.
so, i pushed my cleats right back and have never suffered again...i've spoken to others with calf problems who have tried moving the cleat position and this has worked for them also.
try and see how you go.
mike

Thanks for the replies guys... Yeah I should start stetching more before rides, and after... that may be a start...

Grendel, I did notice the same thing as you.. on my roadie, I am clipped in with pain.. today I rode my MTB with platforms and semi-loose toe clips, and no problems at all... hmm it very well could be the pulling motion in the back part of the pedal... I did have the same thing happen in a spin class once... but I was going so fast that when the calf cramped up, it nearly threw me off the bike with so much pain....

Mike, I'm gonan check with the cleat positioning, and try it.. I know I did move them back probably about 2/3's back from the toe.. maybe I should try it all the way back now and see what happens...

So now back to the drawing board and see what happens.. I'll keep ya'll informed of anything new I figure out

Thanks

Jeff

CAlf update....

Ok.. I adjusted the cleats on my pedals all the way back, adjusted my set up about 3mm, and so far so good... I really like the cleats all the way back... much more comfortable... I did realize with the cleats int he old position I was loading my calf as well with my backstroke.. I've done about 2 hours on my trainer, an a quick 9 miler this morning before work, and got a little twinge this morning.. but not nearly anything remotely close to pain... i've also been stretching quite a bit.. trying to get some calf stretches in every night before bed...

Thanks for all your advice :-)

Jeff

Thanks for the help. I have had problems with my left popliteus muscle for 12 months and tried seat adjustments, pedalling styles, cadence and never looked at cleat position which had been set by my bike shop using the "Bikefitting.com".

After three episodes, 4 months off the bike and $500 of physiotherapy I found this thread and checked my cleats. Surprise, surprise the left cleat was 6mm (1/4") further forward than the right. A quick adjustment and not only no more problems but the bike feels a whole lot more comfortable to ride.

Thanks again.