Training & Nutrition - Pain at outsides of knees......?

My legs were a little sore today. I should have rested yesterday, but I rode 10 miles anyway. The day before, I rode 22 miles in about 90 minutes. I am a beginner cyclist, with a moderately heavy build. I noticed today that my legs were hurting on the outside part of my legs for about 4 inches above and below the knee sockets. I didn't think that it was bothering me too awful much, but somebody asked why I was limping! Well, I took the hint, and rested today like I should have done yesterday.

Has anyone experienced this particular area of pain? I am trying to be very careful not to over do it, but I have a very hard time holding back at things when I become interested in them. Thanks for any advice. - Ted

Do you have clipless pedals? If so, it could be the angle the cleats are mounted on your shoes, causing stress on your knees. If not, it's probably just from overdoing it a few days in a row, and with rest and taking it easy when you get back into it, the pain will disappear. Is it actual joint pain or muscle pain?

aerobat,

It is muscle pain, not joint pain. I am using conventional pedals, with straps.
I had cleats, but I didn't feel that I was ready for them yet, so when I picked up the bike, I had the shop owner put the conventional pedals on and he kept the cleats. If it doesn't rain, and I don't have a lot of soreness tomorrow at work, I'll probably knockout about 10 miles for a workout. I can do 10 miles in about 40 minutes without feeling to bad the next day. I hope that in a month or so I can move up some. I am keeping a daily spreadsheet log on how many miles that I do per week. - Ted

The only two things that cross the knee joint on the outside part of your knee is the iliotibial band and biceps femoris, long head. If it is the iliotibial band syndrome, it must mean you are biking with your knees bent inward although (I'm trying to imagine how you are doing that wihtout incorrect angling of clipless pedals.)

Here is a link for proper ITB stretches. http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/itband.html

If it is strain of the biceps femoris, long head, it is referred pain from the back of your leg to the side of the knee where its ligament traverses. Don't know if your "pulling "too much. Any way, I may be off since I can't physically examine you, but good luck. Usually I say rest, ice, etc. but it seems like you have made up your mind to "work through" the injury which can be done, (alot of pros do it). Good luck. It would not hurt to take some antiinflammatories though.