Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Knee injuries

Old 03-16-09, 05:10 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Knee injuries

I would like to know if riding single speed or fixed gear can cause knee injuries because we need to push harder going uphill. Thinking of getting one but I'm concern.Thanks in advance
paulimym is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 05:20 AM
  #2  
Sheriff of Nottingham
 
seanile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boston
Posts: 189
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
its more the stopping thatll get ya over time
seanile is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 06:08 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
ZiP0082's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,703

Bikes: 2008 Mercier Kilo TT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I believe that good bike fit and fairly low gearing on fixed gear will reduce any knee damage. If I've adjusted my bar height/saddle height/saddle positioning, sometimes I'll notice more of a strain until I get it into the sweet spot.
ZiP0082 is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 09:38 AM
  #4  
Lifer
 
vegipowrd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 250
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Every once in a while I accidentally run myself into the ground over the weekend. I just switch to my geared bike for a few days and get back to normal pretty fast. If you are having more serious problems it may be from fit or gearing too high/low. Braking only with your legs will mess you up bad if you're not ready for it. It seems to use a different set of muscles than normal riding develops.
Take it slow for the first few months and you should be fine.
vegipowrd is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 09:41 AM
  #5  
Lifer
 
vegipowrd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 250
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by dougland89
48x19 safe/ fairly conservative?
Is that a question or a statement?
I wouldn't call that conservative, but that's because I haul a bunch of stuff and live in a hilly town. If I was going to a coffee shop in Chicago on a windless day, then sure, it would be conservative.
vegipowrd is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 10:02 AM
  #6  
FNG
 
Jabba Degrassi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 2,313

Bikes: 2008 IRO Angus, 2008 Jamis Exile 29er

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
A nice low gear ratio and front/rear brakes and you should be fine.

Depending on how hilly your area is, fixed may or may not work for you. The easier it is to climb a hill, the faster you will have to pedal downhill. Depending on the condition your knees are in, fast spinning may be completely out of the picture, so a low-gearing single-speed may be the best compromise until your knees feel better.
Jabba Degrassi is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 11:52 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 310
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
will resisting the pedals screw up your knees? i know skidding can over time
Dustintendo is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 11:59 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 848
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
well considering that it's the same force, i would say probably
iansmash is offline  
Old 03-16-09, 05:01 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thank you guys for your opinions and comments. Really appreciates. The bike I have in mind comes with front and rear brakes, so I don't need to use pedal braking. It also comes with flip flop wheels.
I'll start off with the free gear first before flipping it to fix gear. So as long as I get the sitting/height position right and not to over strain I should be fine. Thanks again friends for your valuable input.
Btw this is the bike I have in mind. Its SE bike, manufacturer is more into BMX bikes
Attached Images

Last edited by paulimym; 03-17-09 at 03:35 AM.
paulimym is offline  
Old 03-17-09, 06:03 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
ZiP0082's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,703

Bikes: 2008 Mercier Kilo TT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The Lager should be fine, I'd just stay away from their lowest-end model, the Draft.
ZiP0082 is offline  
Old 03-17-09, 09:50 AM
  #11  
Lifer
 
vegipowrd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 250
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by dougland89
question asking if that is too harshf or my knees or not?
The operative part is "my". It just depends on how you ride, what you carry, how long you ride and where you are going. Watch out for early warning signs: pain behind the knee, tightness around the knee, pain below the knee, etc. Take it easy (switch bikes) for few days if you get any of that. Think about switching gears if it happens often. If problems get worse you will have to take more time off and that sucks.
vegipowrd is offline  
Old 03-17-09, 10:08 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 253

Bikes: 09 Giant TCR Advanced 3, 05 Felt TK2

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by ZiP0082
The Lager should be fine, I'd just stay away from their lowest-end model, the Draft.
I agree. I saw a Draft at my LBS ysterday and the components looked so cheap. Especially the crankset.
exhumed is offline  
Old 03-18-09, 04:33 AM
  #13  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by vegipowrd
The operative part is "my". It just depends on how you ride, what you carry, how long you ride and where you are going. Watch out for early warning signs: pain behind the knee, tightness around the knee, pain below the knee, etc. Take it easy (switch bikes) for few days if you get any of that. Think about switching gears if it happens often. If problems get worse you will have to take more time off and that sucks.
Thanks for your advise. Will certainly keep it in mind.
paulimym is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.