Road Cycling - Question about knee pain

ok let me start by giving you as much information as I can think of.

1. Bike fit. I was professional fitted to my bike by the pros at Bicycle Ranch in Scottsdale, Az. This was a 2 hour process that included adjusting my seat, changing my stem, adjusting my cleats and lots of measurement before and after each adjustment. They also had my on the bike pedaling for alot of this to check my position and asked me tons of questions.

2. I have been increasing my distance each week a little bit at a time. The last 3 weeks I did a total of 64, 65, and 80 miles. Doing 3 or 4 rides during the week of 10-15 miles and long rides on the weekend. This last weekend I did 30 miles on Saturday and 20 on Sunday.

Today I have a slight pain at the bottom front area of my knee, just below the knee cap. This is ONLY on my left leg. This morning I did a very easy ride of an average speed of around 10 mph and only went 6 miles, but my knee does seem to feel better now then it did last night.

I have never had any knee pain before when riding, but would often get knee pain if I played too much raquetball.

Any thoughts? Did I just over do it a bit? Is this just my knees getting used to the miles?

If I'm not mistaken it's anterior cruciate ligament pain, brought about by inflammation. If it were me, I'd ice it anytime after a ride when there was pain and monitor it closely.

Dave

If I'm not mistaken it's anterior cruciate ligament pain, brought about by inflammation. If it were me, I'd ice it anytime after a ride when there was pain and monitor it closely.

Dave


Just to clarify, I don't feel any pain while riding. It was only after I was done and walking around or walking up or down stairs. I did not have time to ice it this morning before leaving for work but I will try that the next time it flairs up.

I have taken some Ibuprofen and I hardly feel any pain now. So I am hoping it was/is a very minor thing

This last weekend I did 30 miles on Saturday and 20 on Sunday.

Today I have a slight pain at the bottom front area of my knee, just below the knee cap. This is ONLY on my left leg. This morning I did a very easy ride of an average speed of around 10 mph and only went 6 miles, but my knee does seem to feel better now then it did last night.
I have never had any knee pain before when riding, but would often get knee pain if I played too much raquetball.
Any thoughts? Did I just over do it a bit? Is this just my knees getting used to the miles?

did you stretch properly before and after? or at least after? anyway since i don't knwo anything about ACL's all i can say is the pain might be saddle related; raising the saddle may help. google turns up a nice page: http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

it could be getting used the miles. but if you're goin everyday at a decent rate, 30 and 20 is within your usual range. how's your cadence?

sd

did you stretch properly before and after? or at least after? anyway since i don't knwo anything about ACL's all i can say is the pain might be saddle related; raising the saddle may help. google turns up a nice page: http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

it could be getting used the miles. but if you're goin everyday at a decent rate, 30 and 20 is within your usual range. how's your cadence?

sd

I did not stretch as much as I should have, I am pretty sure of that. Trying to improve my stretching habits as they are pretty poor at the moment.

I generaly ride at a cadence of 90 or so unless sprinting or on a hill. and on the hills I try to maintain a high cadence but I am still weak on hills and my cadence slows down even though I downshift to try and maintain it.

I did not stretch as much as I should have, I am pretty sure of that. Trying to improve my stretching habits as they are pretty poor at the moment.

I generaly ride at a cadence of 90 or so unless sprinting or on a hill. and on the hills I try to maintain a high cadence but I am still weak on hills and my cadence slows down even though I downshift to try and maintain it.

sounds good..i'd say raise your saddle a couple mm's at a time (raise it, then bike it for 3 days or so) and see how that works out...

sd

Knee pain can be a for/aft issue with saddle, set height issue, or pushing to big of gears ect.just because you got fit on the bike does not meen it is correct. i myself had 2 fits done by elite coaches on 2 differant bikes, both times after putting in some long miles had to make adjustments myself to correct the problems, it can take several weeks of riding to get the bike dialed in.

Sorry one more thing, knee pain in front of knee is most likely saddle to low, pain in back of knee saddle to high, not to say this is your problem only something to consider looking at.

Sorry one more thing, knee pain in front of knee is most likely saddle to low, pain in back of knee saddle to high, not to say this is your problem only something to consider looking at.

It would seem that my knee pain was just from over doing it last weekend. The pain is completely gone now, even though I have ridden every day since the pain started.

The first 2 days were easy recovery rides, this morning I went for a short but intense ride and so far no problems

It would seem that my knee pain was just from over doing it last weekend. The pain is completely gone now, even though I have ridden every day since the pain started.

The first 2 days were easy recovery rides, this morning I went for a short but intense ride and so far no problems

I wouldn't worry too much. I get occasional pains that seem to work their way out.

FWIW, I rarely stretch either.

-murray