Banged up knee - can I still ride?
 

Hi fellow Clydes,

I took a clipless fall today, landing on my left knee. Nothing appears to be broken, and I was able to pedal the seven or so miles back to my car, and then drive to the bike shop to have my bike worked on. There's spots of road rash, a little blood, and now some swelling and stiffness. I'm icing it and taking aspirin.

I'm scheduled to ride in a charity event tomorrow morning - 15 miles. I'd rather not withdraw from it. Should I try to complete it? Or ride in the 5 mile group instead?

hard to say. swelling is pretty normal reaction to banging your knee but if you twisted anything you really need to be careful. A little light exercise is actually good for recovery if it is not serious. I'd probably play it by ear and be prepared to stop imediatly if the knee feels weird. Oh and it will probably hurt more tomorrow than today so it will be hard to actually tell if anything serious is going on and hard to jusdge if you are doing damage. as disapointing as it may be it might just be better to skip this one and ride another day. If in a week it is still hurting go see a doc.

I'd plan on the 5 mile group, then see how you feel. Making an injury worse will only keep you out of the saddle longer in the long run, I've found.

Just read your blog and I'm sorry to hear of your fall. I'm no expert on knees, other than that's one joint I'd want to take care of. I developed my own knee problem on Friday half way thru what became a 40 mile ride. I started getting pains across top of knee with every down stroke. I pedal thru it as pain was very mild, but in last 10 miles it was worst. I know we're scheduled to be at same ride on Sunday, and at end of Friday's ride I was also thinking of cutting back the distance for Sunday. However I had no swelling, and although I didn't ride today, everything feels ok now. Will find out by first hill on Sunday if I will go the full 25 miles. In your case, with the swelling, I'd be very cautious with any riding.

Realisitcally, if you would have done real damage, you would not have been riding back to your car:cry: . However you get pain and swelling for a reason, when you injure a joint, pain suggests you not move it and swelling stiffens the joint so that it can heal properly without movement doing more damage. My suggestion, take a few days off bike, until the swelling goes down, keep your feet up, and let your spouse/kids do the running around, use a couple of personal days from work, enjoy your injury:D

speaking of Agincourt
 

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve (uh, pant legs) and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day.

Thank you. This speech is familiar in my mouth as household words. While on the subject:

Look, what a bike should have he did not lack,
Save a proud rider on so proud a back.

Meanwhile, I've decided to screw my courage to the sticking place, and ride at least the five mile if I can ride at all. A few turns around the bike path tomorrow morning will let me know. Worse come to worse, I can help out at the event, and probably win sympathy from the 'Girls with Gears' present.

Banged my knee after getting hit by a car 3 weeks ago. Just getting to relatively pain and swelling free riding now, but I still commuted 3-4 days a week. You'll know pretty quickly if it's a mistake.

I would try to ride and spin a bit avoiding the big gears. :)

Make sure to stretch and warm up really really well, take some ibuprofren the night before and the day of to help with the swelling. Hope it helps. God Bless :)

As a precaution I rode the 5 mile route. It was a mistake; I could have easily handled the 15 or more. As it stands between riding on the bike path and getting lost on the route I managed to ride 11 miles in a 5 mile ride.