Road Cycling - Great...knee pain!

Last week, while doing 42 miles, I noticed my left knee starting to hurt. It started off with a dull throbbing, then got a couple of twinges by the end. Nothing different in the ride, though I averaged 1 mph faster than I usually do. So, after a week off, I rode 80 miles yesterday. About 30 miles in, I started to feel it again. I took a couple of rest stops, and it felt better initially better, but by the end of the ride I was in a lot of pain. The funny thing is I have no pain walking, standing, crouching - just pedaling. I ridden about 2000 miles in the same pedals, shoes, etc. so I don't know why it's starting now. Any ideas?

So sorry for you LIRider...I have just been through 10 weeks of patella tendonitis with virtually no riding. Am now lucky enough to be back on bike for 2 weeks...don't ya just love getting back in shape????

You need to describe in more detail your issue, where is the pain,are you icing it many times daily, ibuprofin?? Also think about physical therapist and ultrasound or inflammation treatments. You need to stop riding more than 20-30mi. at a time until resolved...just my opinion but I am convinced trying to ride too much kept me off the bike longer than necessary.

Good Luck

Wow, 10 weeks...that's discouraging.

I feel it in the inside of my left knee. I've only felt it twice, the last two times I've ridden. When I'm not riding, it feel fine - no pain walking or anything. I think I'm going to give it a week, then maybe try a 25-30 mile ride to see how it feels. I really don't want to miss out on the best weather of the season.

Check your cleat position. Increase your cadence and decrease the amount of pressure you are putting on the pedals. These should help.

I intially posted this in another thread earlier this month but it seems approprioate here so I'm cuttin' n' pastin'...

Everytime I would ride earlier this summer, by the time I hit about the 15 mile mark my left kneee would start to ache and throb.

If I continued riding and finished say a 30 mile route, the kneee would be stiff and sore through at least the next day.

It was strange because noithing had changed - same bike, same shoes, no adjustments had been made, no off-season injuries. Nothing. Other than me getting older there was no obvious reason for the knee pain.

I didn't know what to do until a friend told me to go have my bike custom-fitted. After hemming and hawing I finally did it. The gal that fit me was a magician. She immediately looked at my foot position and knew that because my toes were naturally pointing inward that my foot was twisting my knee inward as well which is what was causing the discomfort. She also told me that your heel should naturally drop below your toes as you pedal and she adjusted everything so that that would happen as well.

In addition to measuring the angles of every dangle that I have and readjusting everything on my bike from seat to handlebars she put spacers on my cleats that turned my foot back outward allowing my legs to come down straighter.

Since then - zero pain.

That's interesting, soupcan. I would have been skeptical except you mention that you hadn't changed anything either. If I get the pain again, I will consider a custom fit. Where did you find someone to do it, and how much did it cost?

LIRider.

same thing is happening to me...i have been riding for 8 weeks now and just about a week and half ago my left knee started hurting when riding more than 15-20 miles. the pain for me is on the outside of my left knee. it comes on softly until it is a sharp pain with each pedal stroke. if is stand and pedal in the saddle or get off the bike and walk there is no pain. only when i am sitting and pedaling.

i went to have my LBS re-fit me. we adjusted my seat position (moved back) and increased the height of my saddle. we also repositioned my left cleat on my shoe. i also have concentrated on keeping my heel below my toes (or at least even with) in my down pedal.

i am still having the pain. but only after about 20 miles of pedaling. my pedals are speedplay and my cadence is always high.

i have discovered through online searching and through other members here on the board that i may have ITBS (ITB sysndrome). you can do a search on google as "itb sysndrome". it is a common injury with runners and now cyclist. i have all the symptoms of it (pain on outside of knee, comes on with repeated motion of the knee, pain goes away with stopping of that motion).

since the change in cleat position, and saddle height have not stopped the pain i am now resolved to find a good sports medicine doctor to get checked out.

just before my pain started i had increased my milage from 20 miles each day to 30 miles each day. and i usually do a 40 mile ride on the weekend. i think i may have jumped up the mileage too quickly and my knee is letting me know.

until i resolve this issue i am now stepping back off my milage and only doing 20 miles a day (yes, i have 1-2 rest days a week in there as well).

this could be something with your equipment (shoes, pedals, cleats, saddle) or it could be something injured with you (tear in the knee, itbs, etc...).

i hope you get it figured out and please post back when you determine what it is.

jeff

Thanks for the info, jsfountain. Sounds pretty similar, except my pain is on the inside of the knee, not the outside - I wonder if this makes a difference. I will say that I have been using crappy SPD pedals and cheap diadora touring shoes. Maybe I should look into speedplays and better shoes. I still am thinking about a custom fit - it sounds like a good investment if it's not ridiculously priced. I'd have to find somebody good though, my LBS is more into selling bikes than service.

Your cheap pedals will catch up with you eventualy. My guess is that you finally reached that limit. Look into Dura Ace SL or SpeedPlay Zeros.

Cheers

raise the saddle and move it back a little!!!!!