samersereau

Lately I have been experiencing a "popping sensation" in my achilles after a long ride. Its not necessarily painful or anything, but it does cause me concern. I normally feel it more as I am going up or down stairs of something. I experience it in both legs and It last for about a day or so, then its gone.

I am a relatively new rider, should I worry about this?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Kuma

I've had the same thing. It only happens (to me) after a long, usually hilly ride, when I'm increasing mileage. I wondered about it also, but it has happened often enough and then going away by the next day that I've just chalked it up to fatigue.

nathbdp

Could be Achilles tendinitis.

It is one of the symptoms I've had before my left achilles tendon became inflamed. I''m currently off the bike for 2 1/2 weeks now trying to get over the tendinitis in my left foot.

No idea how long this will take to get over, but don't take the popping lightly, unless you want to develop tendinitis and be off the bike for months.

Figure out what is causing it and fix it.

Start off by stretching the legs sufficiently, especially the tendon and calve muscle. Look at seat height-- What caused it originally for me was riding in clips and straps with my foot too far back on the pedal, causing a lot of Achilles tendon flex, especially on the down stroke. My seat was also too high.

Also you might want to try these exercises to strengthen tendon and surrounding ligaments.

https://www.finishlinept.com/achilles.html

jamiewilson3

Sounds like tendonitis to me as well. I had a multi-month fight with it this winter. Dont be too bold in riding while symptoms persist.

nathbdp

Curious what you did for it Jamie, and how is it holding up?

jamiewilson3

Basically I went to the doctor while it was inflamed, told him the history of when it started and what inflames it. He said to not do that for a while. Running and doing allot of high power stuff on the bike agitated it, so I did more easy spinning type stuff and sort of modified my pedal stroke temporarily with much less movement at the ankle. This worked and it compoletely went away in about 3 months from when I first hurt it and 6 weeks after addressing the problem. Constant, easy stretching is very important as well.