Problems standing (left knee is weak)
 

When I stand to pedal, my left knee (TKR) used to feel very weak and ready to collapse. It's gotten stronger - it feels slightly weak. Maybe someone has suggestions on how I can improve my current actions and choices when I stand.

• I try to stand when 10-20 cranks will crest the climb
• I choose a gear that puts my cadence at 70 or under
• When I sit back down, I usually shift down 1-2 gears
• I don't worry about my speed - I might stand and crank hard at 20 MPH in unusual conditions (I average around 15)
• I try to stand erect, not lean over the bars (and I find it squirrely to try this from the drops)

Other notes that may pertain:

1. There is a limit as to how often I can stand and for how long, but that is getting better and I am making an effort to do it more often.
2. My weight (228) is a big problem, but I've been around that weight for almost all my years cycling. (I am actually losing weight.)
3. I had a total knee replacement 18 months ago. There were problems during my recovery and the knee has limited flex, but I can get just enough flex to ride the bike, although if I don't stretch it HARD before I go out I can't clip in for the first mile or two. I think because of the flex problem, the knee feels weak.

So, how are you at climbing stairs?

You can analyze this to death, or you can simply out flank it by avoiding the limited situations where it arises.

If standing is an issue, and you're only doing it as you crest hills, why not simply drop down a gear and crest the hill seated?

Go see a physical therapist. They can give you exercises to improve strength and stretches for flexibility that will help fix the underlying issues.


I had a knee issue a few years ago and the PT really helped me out. I still use the information given to me in PT to this day to maintain my knee health.

I agree with FB. Why is standing so important to you? Just stay in the saddle if you have trouble standing. Standing is only an alternative way of accomplishing the same thing as staying seated. There is no penalty for staying seated.

OP, forgive me, but I was just reminded by your inquiry of that classic scene from the vintage movie "Duck Soup" with Groucho Marx as a quack doctor. The dialogue goes something like this:

Doctor: Have you had this before?
Patient: Yes.
Doctor: Well, you have it again.
Doctor: Does it hurt when you do that?
Patient: Yes
Doctor: Well, don't do that.

I think you will get my point.

Maybe you're just not a stander? I can stand, but am not comfortable doing so as it spikes my HR in a short period of time. I also produce less watts standing than I can seated. I stand mostly to change things up a bit. When climbing, I'll stand part way up the hill as long as I am able (around 80rpm) then sit in the same gear to finish over the top. Most of the time in the same gear, but if I go to long I need to drop a gear to rest a few revolutions before shifting back up a hill to finish.