Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Clyde First Responder

Saturday I took Roark to Limerick Community Park and did ten miles on the trail and local roads. During one of my laps around the park on the MUP I noticed a couple of kids on BMX bikes headed towards me. Although they were more than 100 feet away, I mentally noted them and thought, "OK Neil, be careful. Kids on bikes are liable to be stupid when riding." Sure enough, the fatter and bigger of the kids saw me coming, and decided to cut across a gravel patch between the trail and a nearby picnic pavilion. He turned and slowly headed between two poles. And hit the heavy chain hanging between the poles. He went off the bike, over the chain, and lay crying and clutching his stomach on the ground.

I pedaled over as the boy's mother and friends arrived. While the kids asked if he was OK and the mom checked her son for broken bones, I searched my panniers for first aid material. All I could come up with was an anti-bacterial cloth. She took it, but returned it with thanks as her son had no scratches from the collision or fall. (For the record, none of the kids were wearing helmets.) It looks like the kid took the impact in his lower stomach when his belly hit the chain. The grateful mom took her kid and his bike away, and I continued my ride, although seeing the kid clutch his belly sent chills up my spine. No guy, even one who hasn't gone through puberty, wants to get hit 'there.'

That crash was an omen of bad things in store for me. While riding I felt a slight twinge in my left knee. I don't know if I had an awkward dismount and twisted it slightly, or had my left foot in an odd position, but after the ride I had a touch of what probably is tendonitis. Walking was a little painful, although I had little or no trouble riding. The pain was, and is, under the kneecap, and in the joint, not the surrounding muscle. As a precaution I scratched my trip and 50 mile ride in Lehigh Gorge on Sunday and merely rode some 8 miles on the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River Trails. Again little or no pain riding, more so when dismounting or walking.

I'm skipping riding and the gym today while the knee recovers. I want to be back on the bike tomorrow.

You are tooooooo old for "gym class!" That's for grade schoolers........

You are tooooooo old for "gym class!" That's for grade schoolers........

Consider it physical therapy then. I'm better off exercising in a gym than attempting to get lifting in outside.

What time were you there? I did a quick 8 miles starting at the Plank Rd parking area south through Collegeville. Maybe around 1-1:30 pm

Have it looked at.

I hate to say it, but I'm thinking that isn't tendinitis, but a torn meniscus from doing leg lifts in a gym, or pushing too big of a gear on the bike.

I'd guess that you probably don't have a bike that is 'fit' properly, people rarely do. The average local LBS could care less about properly fitting a customer to a bike, and more about just selling what they have on the floor...

For the record, if you've never been on a sizercycle, and you've never had your stem swapped out for an Ergostem, then your bike shop didn't make an effort to properly fit you.

Most road bikes only have about 1.5cm either way of fit due to the top tube. Anything beyond that is a complete compromise of proper fit.

As a rule, its safe to say to any cyclist that they have the wrong stem on their bike, and have poor bike fit. Have someone who knows what they are doing look at your position on the bike to see where you knee sets up relative to the pedal spindle when you have the pedals horizontally. You may also have cranks that are too short for your legs, proportionately.

Bicycle manufacturers make road bikes in 1cm increments from 49cm to 64cm. Component manufacturers used to make 165mm, 167.5mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, 175mm, 177.5mm, and 180mm cranks. Now most exclusively make 175mm cranks and think they are appropriate for the whole spectrum of frame sizes from 49cm to 64cm (a 250mm spectrum).

You'll read a lot of stuff on the internet about how great the local bike shop is and how important it is to cycling. I disagree. I've been in hundreds of bike shops in my life, including very famous ones, and I've purchased many bikes including very high end ones. As a rule bike shops are staffed by people who think they know bikes, but at the end of the day know very very little about proper bike fit.

Cycling is a lifelong activity. Take that creaky knee seriously.

If you have clipless pedals, chuck 'em. Almost every cyclist on clipless pedals tried to set 'em up themselves.

I think clipless pedals are one of the worst things to ever happen to cycling.

Look for pedals with rotational float on multiple axes, and forget anything that resembles an SPD.

Bebop pedals are excellent. The knockoff Speedplay X pedals are the same thing and good. However, get properly fit by a bike shop that has a Serotta Fit specialist (you can be sure that they know what they are doing).

I hate to say it, but I'm thinking that isn't tendinitis, but a torn meniscus from doing leg lifts in a gym, or pushing too big of a gear on the bike.

I'd guess that you probably don't have a bike that is 'fit' properly, people rarely do. The average local LBS could care less about properly fitting a customer to a bike, and more about just selling what they have on the floor...

For the record, if you've never been on a sizercycle, and you've never had your stem swapped out for an Ergostem, then your bike shop didn't make an effort to properly fit you.

Most road bikes only have about 1.5cm either way of fit due to the top tube. Anything beyond that is a complete compromise of proper fit.

As a rule, its safe to say to any cyclist that they have the wrong stem on their bike, and have poor bike fit. Have someone who knows what they are doing look at your position on the bike to see where you knee sets up relative to the pedal spindle when you have the pedals horizontally. You may also have cranks that are too short for your legs, proportionately.

Bicycle manufacturers make road bikes in 1cm increments from 49cm to 64cm. Component manufacturers used to make 165mm, 167.5mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, 175mm, 177.5mm, and 180mm cranks. Now most exclusively make 175mm cranks and think they are appropriate for the whole spectrum of frame sizes from 49cm to 64cm (a 250mm spectrum).

You'll read a lot of stuff on the internet about how great the local bike shop is and how important it is to cycling. I disagree. I've been in hundreds of bike shops in my life, including very famous ones, and I've purchased many bikes including very high end ones. As a rule bike shops are staffed by people who think they know bikes, but at the end of the day know very very little about proper bike fit.

Cycling is a lifelong activity. Take that creaky knee seriously.

If you have clipless pedals, chuck 'em. Almost every cyclist on clipless pedals tried to set 'em up themselves.

I think clipless pedals are one of the worst things to ever happen to cycling.

Look for pedals with rotational float on multiple axes, and forget anything that resembles an SPD.

Bebop pedals are excellent. The knockoff Speedplay X pedals are the same thing and good. However, get properly fit by a bike shop that has a Serotta Fit specialist (you can be sure that they know what they are doing).

All this is wonderful advice. Pity none of it applies to me, since I've been successfully riding the same fit for more than two years, use flat pedals, don't push big gears, don't do ANY leg work in the gym, and have a history of tendonitis in that same knee. :)

What time were you there? I did a quick 8 miles starting at the Plank Rd parking area south through Collegeville. Maybe around 1-1:30 pm

In the evening, in the Audubon area.

Have it looked at.

If it markedly worsens or continues much longer than past flareups have, I will.

I hate to say it, but I'm thinking that isn't tendinitis, but a torn meniscus from doing leg lifts in a gym, or pushing too big of a gear on the bike.

I'd guess that you probably don't have a bike that is 'fit' properly, people rarely do. The average local LBS could care less about properly fitting a customer to a bike, and more about just selling what they have on the floor...

For the record, if you've never been on a sizercycle, and you've never had your stem swapped out for an Ergostem, then your bike shop didn't make an effort to properly fit you.

Most road bikes only have about 1.5cm either way of fit due to the top tube. Anything beyond that is a complete compromise of proper fit.

As a rule, its safe to say to any cyclist that they have the wrong stem on their bike, and have poor bike fit. Have someone who knows what they are doing look at your position on the bike to see where you knee sets up relative to the pedal spindle when you have the pedals horizontally. You may also have cranks that are too short for your legs, proportionately.

Bicycle manufacturers make road bikes in 1cm increments from 49cm to 64cm. Component manufacturers used to make 165mm, 167.5mm, 170mm, 172.5mm, 175mm, 177.5mm, and 180mm cranks. Now most exclusively make 175mm cranks and think they are appropriate for the whole spectrum of frame sizes from 49cm to 64cm (a 250mm spectrum).

You'll read a lot of stuff on the internet about how great the local bike shop is and how important it is to cycling. I disagree. I've been in hundreds of bike shops in my life, including very famous ones, and I've purchased many bikes including very high end ones. As a rule bike shops are staffed by people who think they know bikes, but at the end of the day know very very little about proper bike fit.

Cycling is a lifelong activity. Take that creaky knee seriously.

If you have clipless pedals, chuck 'em. Almost every cyclist on clipless pedals tried to set 'em up themselves.

I think clipless pedals are one of the worst things to ever happen to cycling.

Look for pedals with rotational float on multiple axes, and forget anything that resembles an SPD.

Bebop pedals are excellent. The knockoff Speedplay X pedals are the same thing and good. However, get properly fit by a bike shop that has a Serotta Fit specialist (you can be sure that they know what they are doing).

Wow, remote viewing has spread to cycling.....

And I thought I was good, diagnosing bike issues over the phone!

I won't discount the benefits of good bike fitting, but cleat fitting is less arcane. There is only so much adjustment available, so....

You, sir, are free to hate clipless all you like; others have different opinions.

And 175 cranks are not the universal application, either; 165's are rare, but 170's are all over the place. I'd be willing to bet that the .5 intermediates did not give enough benefit to warrant the expense of their production.

Yes, cycling is a lifelong activity; I intend to use it to reach a higher age than anyone else in my family tree. So stop with the picayune 'trashing' of it.

Sorry I missed you

If it markedly worsens or continues much longer than past flareups have, I will.

Pain is gone, swelling is gone, tenderness is gone, and range of motion is as abnormal as it used to be. I'll ride again.

Interesting how you describe the kid who got hurt

"Sure enough, the fatter and bigger of the kids"

Interesting how you describe the kid who got hurt

"Sure enough, the fatter and bigger of the kids"

That's because he was fatter and bigger. Had this been formal writing I might have sketched him in more detail.

I don't know about your knee, but when I hurt my knee and had to have the meniscus trimmed it sounded an awful lot like your injury. Just sayin'. . . .
edit: ok, I take that back since you say that all the symptoms are gone now. (I didn't read far enough before butting in!)

And 175 cranks are not the universal application, either; 165's are rare, but 170's are all over the place. I'd be willing to bet that the .5 intermediates did not give enough benefit to warrant the expense of their production.

I don't think the fit benefit, or the efficienct benefit had anything to do with it. It was a production and cost issue. Why produce five or six different products when you can produce only three and force the market to adapt?

Its the same thing that happened to frame sizing. For all the benefits of compact geometry, what everyone forgets is that the days of the 20 different frame sizes in 1cm increments from 49cm to 68cm disappeared replaced by XS, S, M, L and XL. Give Specialized some credit for being one of the only frame manufacturers to make additional sizes even if just a couple.

I you think the benefit of a properly fit bike isn't worth the expense you're crazy. Your knees make thousands of rotations on the pedals. Properly sized cranks are critical to joint health.

Lehigh Gorge. Great Place to Ride. It Sucks that I now live 6 hours away. Enjoy. Especialy this time of year. I bet the fall colors are awesome right now

Saturday I took Roark to Limerick Community Park and did ten miles on the trail and local roads. During one of my laps around the park on the MUP I noticed a couple of kids on BMX bikes headed towards me. Although they were more than 100 feet away, I mentally noted them and thought, "OK Neil, be careful. Kids on bikes are liable to be stupid when riding." Sure enough, the fatter and bigger of the kids saw me coming, and decided to cut across a gravel patch between the trail and a nearby picnic pavilion. He turned and slowly headed between two poles. And hit the heavy chain hanging between the poles. He went off the bike, over the chain, and lay crying and clutching his stomach on the ground.

I pedaled over as the boy's mother and friends arrived. While the kids asked if he was OK and the mom checked her son for broken bones, I searched my panniers for first aid material. All I could come up with was an anti-bacterial cloth. She took it, but returned it with thanks as her son had no scratches from the collision or fall. (For the record, none of the kids were wearing helmets.) It looks like the kid took the impact in his lower stomach when his belly hit the chain. The grateful mom took her kid and his bike away, and I continued my ride, although seeing the kid clutch his belly sent chills up my spine. No guy, even one who hasn't gone through puberty, wants to get hit 'there.'

That crash was an omen of bad things in store for me. While riding I felt a slight twinge in my left knee. I don't know if I had an awkward dismount and twisted it slightly, or had my left foot in an odd position, but after the ride I had a touch of what probably is tendonitis. Walking was a little painful, although I had little or no trouble riding. The pain was, and is, under the kneecap, and in the joint, not the surrounding muscle. As a precaution I scratched my trip and 50 mile ride in Lehigh Gorge on Sunday and merely rode some 8 miles on the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River Trails. Again little or no pain riding, more so when dismounting or walking.

Country road near Limerick, PA.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP0xSDcWbI/AAAAAAAABIA/EPwDkBW-rFo/s800/100_6143.jpg

Large and in charge Historian.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP05XDS_sI/AAAAAAAABII/KIqDv0-EQ-g/s576/100_6145.jpg

Limerick Community Park.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP1apyjriI/AAAAAAAABJE/WqiNHrl5BSY/s800/100_6159.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP1VWCqL_I/AAAAAAAABI8/rPVVqJdqAYY/s800/100_6157.jpg

Lead mine at Mill Grove, on the Audubon Loop trail.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP2vvXfUnI/AAAAAAAABK4/w2tGe9VAAPg/s576/100_6186.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP2YXNfdvI/AAAAAAAABKg/8zMFmgxpRWQ/s576/100_6181.jpg

Audubon Loop trail, just before the 9 per cent grade downhill.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP22OYHVuI/AAAAAAAABLA/R4MKRMNeraY/s576/100_6188.jpg

J. J. Audubon's home itself.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP1-cf2reI/AAAAAAAABJ8/W87hvUjsCtk/s800/100_6172.jpg

Field of wildflowers, err, "native plants", maintain by the Audubon Society on the grounds of Mill Grove. One of many improvements made by the Audubon Society when they began managing Mill Grove instead of the county. The Audubon Loop Trail was Montgomery County's project, and they deserve all credit for that, however.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_l92fsIHYK-s/SuP3HcOzEgI/AAAAAAAABLU/xXRuKTuTh0Q/s800/100_6193.jpg

If your over 50, get it looked at. Since hitting the magic number I have had two tendon tears on really stupid things. There is a difference between torn and severed. Slight tears, like tendinitis are very uncomfortable and go away with icing and motrin. But a slight tear will really hurt if you tear it again.

If your north of 50 and have health insurance, use it, you need an MRI.