I've had an issue with my left knee for prob a year now. I was a runner on pavement for 20+ years, I imagine that may have caused my issue but not positive.
The problem started this year jogging. When running I had pain when I would come down on the knee so I quit running. About a month ago I did some hiking on very rocky, uneven terrain. I could lift off the knee without any problem at all. The pain would come when I would come down on the left leg and have to plant. That would cause a lot of pain. I have trouble going down my stairs as planting my left knee is can be very uncomfortable. Again there is no problem at all lifting off the knee to go up the stairs.

A few weeks go by and I do another hike and this time the knee was much better, although the terrain was much flatter so not as much planting.
This past Sunday I bought a brand new Giant Defy 1 which has the cages on the pedals. Yesterday I rode 11 miles mostly flat with one tough hill . Afterwards the same knee was really sore. I rested and ( perhaps stubbornly ) went on another ride today, same 11 mile rout. Afterwards the knee was in pretty bad shape. Very sore and when I started looking at it I could see that it is swollen to the right of the patella (medial side). I sat on the bed and tried to extend the knee fully. Towards the top of the extension the knee clicks and I can see the patella actually move to the side. I'm not sure which side but I think it moves inward. I only did this once and it was painful so I did not try again.

I should say this click is not my typical creaking in my knees that I've become used to. This is a very pronounced click, far different from the usual clicking that I've had in both knees forever.

So now I've got a brand new bike that I can't ride. I have until Tuesday to take it back to the store for a refund if the bike is still in brand new condition. I have a doc appt with a knee specialist on Friday. I really don't want to take the bike back....
Just wondering if anyone else may have experienced something like this or has any insights. I'm really bummed out. ( tks

PS one thing I notice about the pedal cages is that it mostly covers the end of my foot over the toes, and not the entire foot. So when I pedal and I'm lifting, I'm lifting using the front of my foot, rather than the entire foot. I don't know if this has anything to do with my issue.

PPS: I could be way off but after doing a little reading this condition seems to possibly fit what I'm dealing with
https://www.mdguidelines.com/patella-chondromalacia

Go see a doc. Don't waste time self diagnosing, like i did.


my opinion:

if its a really loud, pronounced, and very tangible click, thats a tracking issue. Might be patello femoral syndrome.

My clicking, and knee problems (my right knee would feel like jelly after long climbs, unstable) went away after i did vastus medialis exercises to strengthen the inner quad

see a doc for sure…I stayed at the holiday inn and vote something with the patella as well or maybe meniscus.

Yea, I have a doc appt Friday. Just wanted to get other's feedback who may have gone through something similar. Tks

hehe "don't self diagnose" but listen to my non medical opinion.

medical opinion:

could be tendonitis ... going down stairs hurts more than going up.

"pedal cages is that it mostly covers the end of my foot over the toes, and not the entire foot."

that is how toe clips work, so that is normal. clipless pedals and shoes could help since everything becomes more of a unit.

don't bring the bike back.. biking is great rehab from knee problems if done correctly once you work up to it.

Yup, see a doc!
I used to be an avid runner/jogger, knee problems turned me intonan avid cyclist.
Keep the bike, but deal with your knee issue(s) 1st.

It could be any number of things, but the main thing is that it's injured, and you should probably rest it, ice it, and elevate as much as possible until you get it examined. The click could be caused by the swelling and tightness in the joint, so I don't think it's necessarily a direct indicator of the type of damage.

I agree that keeping the bike is the best course of action, and that it will be great for rehabbing the knee.

I seriously doubt the toe clips have anything to do with the injury, and I wouldn't be concerned with them one way or another.

I had surgery last year for torn cartilage in the knee, and cycling was not only recommended for the recovery, but was essential to it, I feel.

i get acute tendonitis in my right knee if and only if i descend (walking or running) an incline of more than about 8-10 percent for more than about 150 yds. it happens every time those conditions are met. so i don't do it very often. if have to i'll even descend backwards to avoid the pain. fortunately, i've never, ever, had a problem while riding my bike, which i do a lot.

i'm pretty sure i know when and how i got it (1982, descending too fast down a mountainside into Gardner Mt carrying a heavy backpack, after several days of overextending my physical limitations with said pack ) and i think it could probably be fixed with a little arthroscopic surgery, but i have no plans to do so.

good luck with the doctor.

You gotta go to the Doc - For your CT and MRI - To see if anything can reasonably be fixed - And if not then understand that you are now like allot of us who can no longer run, jog, hike, or even walk...

But that's OK - Its Road Bike time...

You did not post your size and weight - Understand that the knee is only able to withstand 110 pounds on the joint without strain - This means that if your coming in at >220# just taking one step harbours potential damage - (Orthropods have long observed miraculous healing in patients as soon as they get under 220 pounds) - Also remember that as you get older you loose your DOWN - That means when your walking up your OK but walking or running down hill puts pressure on that Tibial head causing damage - There are even special excursions where geriatric hikers hike up mountains with full packs but have to get rides back down off the mountain - Don't mash your pedals - Especially on a mountain bike as that mechanically puts your body into the walking downhill position...

OH - Did I mention go see your Doc...