TinyBear

Well been back on the bike for a bit now and really enjoying it. A few weeks ago i did a 20km ride witch felt great. It was a great mini accomplishment for me and i really now want to work up to see 40kms. But a couple days after that 20km ride my left knee started hurting (thats the knee i smashed way back when i stoped ridding). So i took it easy for a bit keeping the rides short and trying to nurse it a bit.

Now its been like three weeks and i have not been on the bike now for a couple days cause my knees bothering me the more i ride (always feels fine on the bike though).

I WILL NOT give up riding again i enjoying it but i dont know if i should give it a break till my knee stops hurtin or suck it up and keep goin. I can deal with the pain its not supper bad but it is uncomfortable and sitting down and gettign back up causes pain (walking even running and cycling causes no pain).

I gotta doc visit to scedule surgery on my hand (old injury as well LOL) and probly ask for advice then but figured you guys might have some advice as well.

Unfortunetly keeping weight off and my leg elevated is NOT an option as i am a Diesel truck mechanic for a living and pretty much specalize in the grunt work (anything heavy is my job LOL). But i trying to be smarter at work and use the special lifting tools for know at least till i am healed up.

Anyways sorry for yet another long winded question but i will not give this biking thing up and figured ya guys been spot on all the other questions.

Wogster

Knee problems can be cycling related or simply an aggravation of a previous injury, which can be caused by anything, including lifting something heavier then you should at work. Weather can also cause pain from an old injury.

Cycling related knee pain comes from two sources:

1) Saddle is not high enough or low enough, essentially pain on the front of the knee is a saddle too low, on the back of the knee, too high. If you sit on the saddle, and straighten your leg out, with your heel on the pedal, your knee should not be bent. If it is, your saddle is too low.

2) Riding in too high a gear, many new and returning riders do this. Try riding a gear or two lower and spinning, this may also help.

bdinger

+1 to what Wog said. Ironically enough, my knee problems have gotten significantly better since I switched to clipless pedals, which I attribute to the fact that they have made me spin more. The only times I get knee issues are the days when I'm either going into the wind all day, or out climbing - I've still got to work on spinning in those situations.

Also, saddle height/bike fit played a huge factor for me. The spinning, though, is amazing in the difference it can make.