TrojanHorse

So I'm trying to resuscitate my cycling "life" this year... my goal is to average 300+ miles a month and see if I can top my previous yearly high of 2970 miles. So far so good, I'm at about 520 miles for the year (Jan was a bit slow) so I think I can catch up fairly easily.

Anyway, I went for a nice hilly ride Saturday AM and later in the afternoon I was volunteering at my daughter's school yesterday building some sets for the school play and all of a sudden WHAM, I crumpled to the floor. I spent the rest of the day limping pretty badly on my left knee, which has NEVER given me problems (I have had a life's worth of problems with my right knee). I had left ankle surgery last summer and my wife had total hip replacement in August so I was really looking forward to a year of no medical issues (ha!).

I went for an easy family ride this morning with my wife and son and my knee was definitely twinging for the first couple hills but settled down... and by the end of our 10 mile ride I forgot about it. I hit the gas hard on the home stretch, a 1/3 mile hill leading up to my drive way at about 7% average and somehow managed to even best my PR for that stretch... and no knee pain at all. So I'm pretty excited about that, not to mention beating my skinny son up a hill.

Anyway, phew.

2 wheeler

Take some "vitamin I" (ibuprofen) as a precaution, to reduce inflammation.

TrojanHorse

I've been enjoying vitamin aleve. Good idea though.

PhotoJoe 

Or if those don't work, try Vitamin V.







No, not that. I meant Vicodin.

HIPCHIP

Knees have so many different structures that it can be anything. Do some careful stretching of the knee area, and ice it for 20 minutes on, and at least 40 minutes off after activity. This will help reduce any inflammation. If it keeps causing problems, get it checked by a good sports orthopedist. It sounds like it was just a mild strain of the quads at the insertion, but it could be a meniscus problem, or cartilage behind the kneecap or anything else. All can go from being a minor problem to something that sidelines you for some time, so get things checked if you can.

dm83

Ever got fit by a pro on your bike ?

TrojanHorse

Good tips. Every time I go see a sports orthopedist I end up having surgery so I'm trying to avoid them this year. Knee seems perfectly fine today.

Yes, last February. I'm tempted to go do it again with one of those places that hooks you up to a guru machine so that he can tell me I'm riding the wrong bike.

Null66

Please be gentle with it for a while.

As previously mentioned, Bike fit can cause and alleviate problems.

Also spinning vs. mashing though others have other ideas..

jsigone

hills are bad on sore knees, IBU, ICE and rest is needed. Spin a lighter gear on the hills if you can.

Did you adjust the seat height correctly after you installed the new saddle?

TrojanHorse

Yes, the shop measured everything and put the new saddle at the same height as the old one. It felt perfect when I hopped on it.

CommuteCommando

Good job on the miles. I have been having hip pain lately, and hope it is from working my glutes harder. Will be seeing the doc soon to check it out. As for the knees, no problems yet, knock wood, but kinda wish I went with the 12-30 instead of the 11-28 cassette when I got the new bike.

TrojanHorse

Thanks... funny you say that, I just went the opposite direction and took a 11-28 off and put a 11-26 on. My rationale was that I've been grannying it too much lately. I'm keeping it for emergency use for a few roads around here though.

If your RD can accommodate 30 teeth, just swap it out. I think Shimano RDs can manage 30.

bbeasley

Hey TH, sorry to hear this but it sounds like you're doing okay on the bike. Just goes to show how dangerous projects and things like house work can be. Probably should be avoided

TrojanHorse

Best recommendation yet!

StephenT 

+1

If it continues to happen go see a good Ortho.