Touring - body parts in pain

lately i've just been riding about 30-40 miles a day. but soon i'll be leaving for my tour. the only problem is my knees are KILLING me. I can't bend them well anymore and it's really difficult to walk up the stairs. They are soar while riding but not too bad really. I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar problems. Is this normal?

Sounds to me like your bicycle is not set up correctly.

You might have a look over this article:
http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

As Machka mentioned, I'd double-check your bike setup, such as seat height and setback. A low seat will put extra stress on your knees. Are you using clip in pedals? If so, check your foot position as you may need to adjust your cleats and pedals for float/release pressure. Some folks ride with their knees flaring out, which is not good for power transfer or knees either. Keep your knees tucked in and pull them up to your chest. Are you mashing gears in too small a sprocket? Spin at a faster cadence.

These are just a few things I can think of. For bike setup visit your local bike shop and they'll point you in the right direction.

If your knees are that sore, consider postponing your trip until you sort out the problem. Touring in physical pain is a nightmare.

Nobody on this forum can diagnose your problem. The best that any of us can do is guess. We don't know whether your bicycle is too big, too small, or just right. We don't know whether your bicycle is set up correctly. We know nothing of your pedaling technique. We don't know whether you have an organic condition, such as arthritis. We know zero about your non-cycling activities that may contribute to knee pain.

Although we may not be able to solve your problem, we can give you ideas about how to go forward. Here are my suggestions:

1. If it hurts your knees to bicycle, stop cycling. Don't try to work through the pain. At best, you will prolong your suffering. At worst, you could cause permanent damage.

2. Go to a medical doctor who knows something about sports injuries. Get a diagnosis and a treatment plan.

3. Find an expert in the biomechanics of cycling who can fit your bike to your body and analyze your riding technique. There are specialists who do this -- usually they are trained in kinesiology, physiotherapy, or occupational therapy -- but many bicycle stores have someone on staff with a knack for spotting and correcting biomechanical problems.

[B]...Nobody on this forum can diagnose your problem...

+1. You need a throrough diagnosis of your knee, bike, position and riding style.

Do check to see if your pedal spindles are bent or your cranks are running out of rue

Ditto above.

If it's that bad, get thyself to a physician forthwith. And stop trying to push through it, for now, or you won't be going anywhere. You may have to take up rowing...

After not biking much for for a while, this past year I started riding regularly. I have minor re-occuring knee pain. I have found that the Glucosamine has been very helpful in preventing pain. I equate it to oil on the tin man. My joints are approaching 50 yrs. Please follow the previous posts advice and ensure proper bike fit AND get checked out by a doctor. Knee mangement is a fact of my life, which includes proper bike fit, trying to spin at 60 rpm +, avoiding extensive honking (especially early in a ride untl I am well warmed up), knee rest days and the irregular use of ibuprofin (anti-inflamatory) and the glucosamine. Good luck with your knees.

I had trouble for about a week, posted a similar question here. I was told to spin faster (kept it over 85 for the rest of the trip while climbing) and felt a good bit better after a few days. It really did make my first week painful. I tweaked the saddle height as well.

I had trouble for about a week, posted a similar question here. I was told to spin faster (kept it over 85 for the rest of the trip while climbing) and felt a good bit better after a few days. It really did make my first week painful. I tweaked the saddle height as well.

Well, there is that ... anything under about 80 (except while climbing or fighting a strong wind) is considered recreational/newbie. And in order to spin faster, you've got to shift into an easier gear.

I was told to spin faster (kept it over 85 for the rest of the trip while climbing) and felt a good bit better after a few days. It really did make my first week painful. I tweaked the saddle height as well.

It's astonishing how small adjustments can make big differences. I have had ongoing knee issues for 25 years, and biking can either aggravate or ameliorate the pain. In one situation, moving a cleat a few millimetres and rotating it a few degrees "cured" a problem.

Knee problems can be maddeningly difficult to diagnose, so make sure you get assistance from someone with a trained and experienced eye!

I am now 61 at 25-30 both knees were operated on, one was very extensive. at about 45 they were hurting constanly. After MRI's a young orthopedic surgin told me there is always more surgory, BUT he thought I should ride a bike. he said to have the seat as high as I could stand (without rocking) and way forward. So I started with a garage sale huffie. Terry had advice that if knee pain was in the ft. of the knee, raise the saddle if the pain was in the back lower the saddle. A dozen bikes, three ft. stack of books, a cost to cost and golf to Cannada rides later, these are the things that I rember as meanigful help. I might also add that my lower back is also much improved. Every one has their own experiances, But a Doctor started me down a very enjoyable, pain free road.