Touring - bad knee

Not really touring related but that's my eventual goal so I'm posting here.

I must have overdid it yesterday. I started to just do a qucik ride but it was so nice out (68 F) that it morphed into a 2 hour ride 20 mile ride that included riding off the mountain and back. Today my right knee fells a little like it does after a long hike as in tight behind the knee. I was hoping I could do some long bike rides as I get in better shape without bothering the knee. I have researched bike fit web sites etc and have my bike dialed in fit wise. I am not over extending the knee which seems to lead to back knee pain. I try to not mash the gears as I know that can strain the knee. Oh and my other knee feels fine. it is the knee that gives me fits hiking. I'll either have to back off a little and see if I can work up slowly. I have been riding about 10 miles fairly regularly without knee pain. BTW, the 520 is great for climbing the mountian with just my 240 lbs. I use the 30 in front and the 34 in the back on the steepest climbs but now drop down a couple in the back as the steepness demands.

Coy Boy

OH, forgot to mention, I had 3 dogs fairly big dogs (looked like cow dogs) come out of one yard so I stoped. Stoped so fast the back wheel felt like it came up. Anyways, the dogs saw me and made a bee line across the pasture at an angle so I was a few hundred yards past the house. they stopped when i did and sat on the other side of the fence just yapping. When I rode off they gave me a few curticy barks and trotted back home. Then a little faurther on a little bitty dog gave chase. he would not go back home. kept cutting across in front of me. I stoped and scolded him several times. finally after about 1/4 mile he gave up. it was kinda funny, the little dog was more trouble than the 3 big ones.

Coy Boy

I have a knee problem too. To make sure I do not get any ill effects on the bike there are a few things that seems to matter.

1. Saddle Height - low saddle even if 1/8 inch causes severe hurt in the knees for me
2. Fore/Aft location of saddle
3. Spinning - keep cadence above 80, prefer 90 to 100

I have a knee problem too. To make sure I do not get any ill effects on the bike there are a few things that seems to matter.

1. Saddle Height - low saddle even if 1/8 inch causes severe hurt in the knees for me

I will keep playing with this part. it would also help to get a better saddle...20 miles feels a lot different than 10

2. Fore/Aft location of saddle

same as above

3. Spinning - keep cadence above 80, prefer 90 to 100

I think I may do it more (not peddle fast) on the small hills. I hit them and think, this hill aint too big. then near the top I am pressing hard to make it over. I figgure I am so close thees no use in gearing down now. might need to be more careful with that. thanks for the advice

Coy boy

By back of knee do you mean inside back of the knee cap, or the rear of the leg? If the former I get that kind of pain a lot and it always goes away if while standing up I hook my heel under something like a bench, something that will allow me to keep my knee about 90 and pull up with the ham strings. Instant cure. I guess tha machine you lie down on and curl your lower leg to your ass would work too, however it doesn't seem to require all that much weight to neutralize.

I agree with everything Warren said. At the begining of a new season our coach used to make us spin in low gear for the first few weeks. At the very least, spin in low gear a little bit while you are getting back into it. Don't get tempted to prove stuff too early in the conditioning process.

By back of knee do you mean inside back of the knee cap, or the rear of the leg?

cb. back back as in the scooped area. it get's a knot in it that i can feel and not on the good knee. that goes away fairly quickly after i rest a few hours. then there is a dull pain and it hurts to bend it for a few days. Also, I can not twist on that knee anytime. I had it operated on several years back but it still give me a lot of problems.

If the former I get that kind of pain a lot and it always goes away if while standing up I hook my heel under something like a bench, something that will allow me to keep my knee about 90 and pull up with the ham strings. Instant cure. I guess tha machine you lie down on and curl your lower leg to your ass would work too, however it doesn't seem to require all that much weight to neutralize.

I agree with everything Warren said. At the begining of a new season our coach used to make us spin in low gear for the first few weeks. At the very least, spin in low gear a little bit while you are getting back into it. Don't get tempted to prove stuff too early in the conditioning process.

10-4. I ride alone so there is no racing or pride involved...well, I try not to walk the bike up the last steep section going up the mountain but I do ocasionally.