lvleph

Okay, I am not trying to be an @$$ here, but I hear many people talk of knee pain. I have never had any knee trouble, even riding my fixie. Why do people get knee pain? I am just confused about what I am doing so differently than others. I am thinking that 16 years of skateboarding has made it where I don't have this problem? Is it athletic ability, or just bad fit? Maybe a combination of the two? I would imagine that I am not in that great of shape for it to be just athletic ability, but maybe I have a skewed idea of "in-shape". I do have a bit of a beer belly (I do brew), however my legs have always remained in decent shape. What is the deal?

FixdGearHead

One of many possibilities: Some people don't have their position dialed in correctly...saddle too low = knee pain.

svidrod

i'm sure age has a lot to do with it. i'm a younger guy, but i get the impression most of the regular posters on here are 40+ which would lead to aching joints in general

lvleph

Yeah that could be. I am just 29, so... However, in the fixie forum you hear it too.

Snuffleupagus

A lot of riding can cause muscle imbalances, particularly between the VMO and VL muscles of the quadriceps. Illiotibial band syndrome can further complicate this, causing knee pain.

Other people try to push gears that are too big, or increase their volume/intensity too much in one shot - both of these can cause knee pain.

And, of course, the numbero uno culprit is probably bad fit.

FIVE ONE SIX

i've been asking myself the same question since April, because my left knee has been bothering me every single ride i've done since april, and i didn't change a single thing on the bike. i've been increasing my cadence, because some riders have told me it could be from pushing too tough of a gear, but it still happens. i've tried 3 different cleats, with 3 different floats, and it still happens. and it's only my left knee, my right knee's fine, so maybe an injury i didn't notice? and i only really ride on weekends, so it's not like i don't give it 5 days or so to heal...

Snuffleupagus

Are you stretching and cross training?

A solid 10 minutes of hamstring/quad/calf/IT band stretching after a ride, along with one day per week in the gym doing lower body or walking/running could be a big help.

Psydotek

I'm 26 and i've had the knee pain. It's always been due to improper adjustment with my cleat position and saddle height. I always take care of it ASAP though (never "tough it out"). I'm not out of shape either (5'8", 130 lbs).

There was one time i had it on the back of my knee though i think it wasn't the joint but the tendons/ligaments instead but that was because it was a cold morning and i didn't wear my knee warmers... That pain took afew months to go away.

Az B

Knee issues run in my family. I think it has something to do with being tall. I have no problems, but I'm the runt at 6'1".

Also, age is a huge factor. At nearly 50, I can easily inspire knee pain by doing stupid crap while I never had any problem 20 years ago.

As for the original poster, you are young. And you may also have good genetics (as far as knees go). Give us a call back in 20 years and I'll bet your story will be different.

Az

lvleph

Best answer I have seen ever on the knee issue. I knew there had to be more to it than just fit.

In 20 yrs I will be lucky if I am walking. I have broken over 30 bones. It hurts to get out of bed in the morning. Some how my knees are fine though, even after hyper extending both a couple times. Just wish I could say the same for my hands, ankles, and sternum.

Coyote2

I spent my teen and twenties running lots on paved roads, backpacking with 50-lb loads, etc. I am now much older and yes, one of my knees occasionally aches. My body is wearing out.

shnapper

Go out and ride like a typical male in 53-12 for 30 miles hammering the pedals like you want to split the BB in half and get back to me, not them me........You want knee pain I'll give you manageable knee pain

You ride like a spinning little girl Mr. powell peralta........

cuski

I'm 29. My knee problems very likely stem from the 12 years of performance tennis and repeated knee impacts from soccer. Next question?

lvleph

My fixie has a 46x16 gearing. I wouldn't call that spinning when I go up hill. In fact, I can't ride up a hill with that bike unless I am out of the saddle. But then again I am the worst climber on the planet.

FIVE ONE SIX

i'm just curious, how would stretching after a ride help if i'm feeling it during the ride? i will admit i rarely ever stretch after a ride, but i stretch (hamstring/calf/quad/hip flexors) after every spin class in the winter, most likely because i use the bike to stretch and it's right in front of me. my friend said something to me about stretching before a ride, but i wouldn't know what stretches are good pre-ride, and would they even help?

rbart4506

Bingo, Bingo, Bingo...And add to that age and genetics and you have problems...I being one of them...I have everything listed above, plus am bowlegged which adds to the problem...

However with patience and proper stretching/strengthening and physio routines you can fight through it...

jimbud

One word, Hockey. One torn ACL and a messed up meniscus at a very young age will come back and haunt you in your 40's.

phoenity

I'm 22 and I just went to see a sports medicine ortho last week. He checked out my knee and said I had patella-femoral syndrome. Basically there's a rough spot under my knee cap that is causing a bit of discomfort sometimes.

It's actually been getting better and better since I have been back into cycling this past spring. I just wanted to make sure nothing was wrong and that I wasn't doing permanent damage to my knee.

He is sending me to a physical therapist who is supposed to show me some exercises to strengthen the vastus medialus. He said a common cause of knee discomfort to athletes is a muscle imbalance that allows one quad muscle pull the kneecap off track. As in my case, it seems to be the vastus lateralis pulling on the kneecap.