humboldt'sroads

Over the past 12 months or so, I've developed a seemingly chronic case of what seems to be medial hamstring tendonitis (self-diagnosed). The pain is just below the knee where the hamstrings tendon meets the bone and it always surfaces after either long rides, or rides with climbing. The pain sticks around for a few days to a week or so; doesn't resurface if I ride really easy in the flats, but always comes back during hard efforts, climbing or distance.

My fit is good (at least I think it is) and my seat doesn't seem too high. (I can fully extend through my heel on the downstroke while maintining a slight bend in the knee). I do ride with my seat a little more forward than many do, as this seems to help the pain somewhat, and I used to ride fixed gear and have a preference for a more "forward" position in relation to my bottom bracket.

Who here has had this problem before, and have you been able to resolve it? I'd just go to the doctor, but don't have insurance at the time. Any advice is appreciated - thanks!

Carbonfiberboy 

What cadence do you maintain on the flat and climbing? I take it that you are currently riding a geared bike. I recommend starting with a saddle height where your knee is completely locked out with the heel on the pedal, or maybe a gap of up to 4mm under the heel.

humboldt'sroads

I don't have a cadence meter, so I can't be exactly sure, but somewhere between 90-100 rpm sounds about right. I maintain cadence while climbing until I run out of gears. My saddle height seems about as you described above, perhaps a mm or 2 lower.

gfactor

measure. lower your saddle for a few weeks. see how that feels.

the mwb

I'm having what sounds like the exact same problem. In one leg only, just below the knee and on the outside of the leg. I had a growing ache over the past few weeks that only last night turned into a very strange grating/grinding feel in the same area when I got to the top of my pedal stroke.

About to see physio at the end of the week, I'll post anything that may be of help... sigh

Carbonfiberboy 

Yours is probably ordinary ITB syndrome. See the "Another knee pain thread" further down the page. The OP's problem sounds different.

Carbonfiberboy 

I concur about trying the saddle a bit lower. Try 1/2 a centimeter. Try stretching and ibuprofen. It's very possible that you strained something which will heal in time if you take it easy.

twobadfish

Check the horizontal position of your saddle as well. If you are too far back you will overuse your hamstrings.

rmr1923

as carbonfiberboy said, check out the thread i started a few days ago... "another knee pain thread". your issue sounds very similar to mine, which is related to inflexibility in my IT band and hips. there are several stretches you can do for your IT band, and i'd work on your hips too. i didn't have much pain above the knee (occasionally it crept up higher) but stretching my hips helped the pain as much (if not more) than stretching the IT band.

the mwb

Ah yes. Have had IT band issues recently but am concerned that tight ham has led to pain at the top of my shin on the outside of leg. Thanks for the tips!