Knee Question
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Knee Question
Hey everyone,
So a little bit of history first. I recently bought a fixed gear bike (about 3 weeks ago) and have been doing road rides on it to start getting in shape and losing a little bit of weight etc. I bought it mainly for getting around in Boston, but I'm currently living in CT for the summer. I've been riding between 3 and 5 times a week, distances anywhere from 15-30 miles, so nothing too long, although a decent amount of it is rather hilly, or at least to me it is.
Today on my way back from a 20 mile ride, probably somewhere around mile 15, my knees started to hurt, not terribly bad, but I definitely noticed it. I can't exactly pinpoint where, but its in the front and kind of just feels like they're... overly sore. This is the first time its happened, so I don't think theres any need for a doctor yet, and I've suspected my saddle was a little bit low anyways, so I'm going to adjust that first. However, my bigger fear is my gearing. I've been riding 46x16, and although theres nothing I haven't been able to get up yet, I'm not flying up anything. Does it sound like I'm putting too much force on my knees? In Boston I suspect it would be fine because most everywhere is pretty flat around me, however should I change to something else for the summer and these longer/hillier rides?
Thanks in advance for your help.
-Dan
So a little bit of history first. I recently bought a fixed gear bike (about 3 weeks ago) and have been doing road rides on it to start getting in shape and losing a little bit of weight etc. I bought it mainly for getting around in Boston, but I'm currently living in CT for the summer. I've been riding between 3 and 5 times a week, distances anywhere from 15-30 miles, so nothing too long, although a decent amount of it is rather hilly, or at least to me it is.
Today on my way back from a 20 mile ride, probably somewhere around mile 15, my knees started to hurt, not terribly bad, but I definitely noticed it. I can't exactly pinpoint where, but its in the front and kind of just feels like they're... overly sore. This is the first time its happened, so I don't think theres any need for a doctor yet, and I've suspected my saddle was a little bit low anyways, so I'm going to adjust that first. However, my bigger fear is my gearing. I've been riding 46x16, and although theres nothing I haven't been able to get up yet, I'm not flying up anything. Does it sound like I'm putting too much force on my knees? In Boston I suspect it would be fine because most everywhere is pretty flat around me, however should I change to something else for the summer and these longer/hillier rides?
Thanks in advance for your help.
-Dan
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Fixies are for flat terrain. Hills require gears if you want to save your knees.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
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A saddle too low could definitely cause it, as well as just starting to bike a ton of mileage. Your gear inches are around 75 which isn't too outrageous. It is better to spin at a higher cadence than to mash so if your knees continue to ache, you may want to start at something like a 42x16, which is more around 70 gear inches.
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I had issues on my geared road bike caused by a combination of the saddle being a tad too low, too far back, and a cleat I needed to move outwards. It healed and I commuted for a week on my fixed gear. 3 days into it and the pain resurface in the same knee 10 times worse. I have a decent amount of climbing on my long commutes. I am hereby changing it to a single speed. The chance that riding a FG will trash my knees is not worth it no matter how remote said chance is.
If I still have issues with it as a SS I will add gears. The bike is a salsa casserole. Meaning that it can use gears as well.
If I still have issues with it as a SS I will add gears. The bike is a salsa casserole. Meaning that it can use gears as well.
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Thanks for the responses. I rode a pretty decent length ride yesterday with the saddle adjusted a little higher and it seemed to help. My knees were still a bit sore, but I think Nickel was pretty right on in saying that it may just be a combination of a few things. I'm riding lot more than I ever have before, getting used to a new bike and trying to get the fit right, riding fixed, and may have to adjust my gearing. We'll see what happens. Thanks a lot.
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I am in exactly the same position you are. I was riding a road bike for a few months without any trouble, but when I switched to fixed I got excited and started taking long aggressive rides more often. Soon enough my knees started to ache. It probably has a lot to do with the added pressure on hillier terrain, but I think a lot of it has to do with muscle conditioning. After a few weeks my knees are definitely starting to get better.
A common knee soreness a lot of cyclists get is Patello-Femoral Syndrome, here is a linky: https://www.spinalhealth.net/inj-pat.html
There are some exercises listed here that can help develop the muscles around the knee joint, which should help to strengthen it and take some pressure off.
A common knee soreness a lot of cyclists get is Patello-Femoral Syndrome, here is a linky: https://www.spinalhealth.net/inj-pat.html
There are some exercises listed here that can help develop the muscles around the knee joint, which should help to strengthen it and take some pressure off.