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Continuing problems

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Cycling Equipment
Published
27 March 2006
Last activity
4 April 2006
Original author
William O'Hara
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  1. Good morning to all.

    I have been very frustrated for awhile. I think that I put stress on my
    body from other activities such as walking. Right now, I have mild
    tendonitis in my right achilles tendon. Five years ago, I had baker cysts
    in my knees because I tore my knees slightly. Last year I had knee
    problems and I spent a month off the bike and I raised the seat post an
    inch. It made a big difference and I didn't have any problems until now.

    In January I did notice my right heel bothering me. It was painful to
    walk on barefoot. I put alot of lotion on it and afterawhile the pain
    subsidided.

    Two weeks ago I had trouble with my tendon. Both of my tendons were red.
    I could see a blue spot on my tendon about where the lip of the shoe
    touches the back of my foot. It is also red and slightly inflamed below
    this point, right now.

    I have my knees slightly ahead of the pedal axis. I'm wondering if my
    shoes have become too tight and my frame needs to be bigger.

    I'm at least 6'2" and I weight 200 lbs. I have a picture of my heel at
    http://www.billohara.com/leg.tif

    http://www.billohara.com/bike.jpg
    http://www.billohara.com/onbike.jpg

    I would love suggestions regarding if my bike fit is correct. When I look
    at my sneakers, I think that I slightly wear the inside of the LEFT shoe
    too.
    Does anyone have ideas? I need help. I have post before. My riding
    buddy thinks the frame is too small for me. Others think the frame isn't
    too bad.

    thanks
    bill

    --
    ---
    William O'Hara

  2. William O'Hara said:

    Good morning to all.

    I have been very frustrated for awhile. I think that I put stress on my
    body from other activities such as walking. Right now, I have mild
    tendonitis in my right achilles tendon. Five years ago, I had baker cysts
    in my knees because I tore my knees slightly. Last year I had knee
    problems and I spent a month off the bike and I raised the seat post an
    inch. It made a big difference and I didn't have any problems until now.

    In January I did notice my right heel bothering me. It was painful to
    walk on barefoot. I put alot of lotion on it and afterawhile the pain
    subsidided.

    Two weeks ago I had trouble with my tendon. Both of my tendons were red.
    I could see a blue spot on my tendon about where the lip of the shoe
    touches the back of my foot. It is also red and slightly inflamed below
    this point, right now.

    I have my knees slightly ahead of the pedal axis. I'm wondering if my
    shoes have become too tight and my frame needs to be bigger.

    I'm at least 6'2" and I weight 200 lbs. I have a picture of my heel at
    http://www.billohara.com/leg.tif

    http://www.billohara.com/bike.jpg
    http://www.billohara.com/onbike.jpg

    I would love suggestions regarding if my bike fit is correct. When I look
    at my sneakers, I think that I slightly wear the inside of the LEFT shoe
    too.
    Does anyone have ideas? I need help. I have post before. My riding
    buddy thinks the frame is too small for me. Others think the frame isn't
    too bad.

    thanks
    bill


    Hi Bill,

    The picture of you on the bike would be more helpfull if it showed you
    with your pedal all the way down, and also with you shoes on.

    I'm 6'3" 225 and it may just be my inseam, but my bike seems WAY bigger
    than yours. What is your inseam (crotch to floor)? What is your seat
    height? Also where is the ball of your foot relative to the pedal
    spindle? Moving your foot forward on the pedal a bit will redude the
    strain on the achilles tendon a bit.

    I have had very good results with using inseam x 0.883 for seat height,
    or inseam x 1.09 for seat height + crank length. (usually works out to
    about the same for normal sizes). This is not a rule, just a suggested
    starting point for personalization.

    As for frame sizing, I suggest inseam x 0.62 for a center-center
    starting point. Then have a look at top-tube length to really determine
    which frame suits you, and adjust up or down accordingly. As you are
    pretty tall, I'd guess you would adjust upward if anything.

    I believe that the fore-aft in terms of knee over the pedal has more to
    do with your fore-aft balance than anything else. More forward puts
    more weight on your hands, more aft put more weight on your butt. I
    don't think it really has any bearing on strain or anything. Seat
    height, how bent over you are, and how limber you are are much more
    relevant.

    Joseph

  3. Quoted message said:


    The picture of you on the bike would be more helpfull if it showed you
    with your pedal all the way down, and also with you shoes on.

    I'm 6'3" 225 and it may just be my inseam, but my bike seems WAY
    bigger than yours. What is your inseam (crotch to floor)? What is your
    seat height? Also where is the ball of your foot relative to the pedal
    spindle? Moving your foot forward on the pedal a bit will redude the
    strain on the achilles tendon a bit.

    I have had very good results with using inseam x 0.883 for seat
    height, or inseam x 1.09 for seat height + crank length. (usually
    works out to about the same for normal sizes). This is not a rule,
    just a suggested starting point for personalization.

    As for frame sizing, I suggest inseam x 0.62 for a center-center
    starting point. Then have a look at top-tube length to really
    determine which frame suits you, and adjust up or down accordingly. As
    you are pretty tall, I'd guess you would adjust upward if anything.

    I believe that the fore-aft in terms of knee over the pedal has more
    to do with your fore-aft balance than anything else. More forward puts
    more weight on your hands, more aft put more weight on your butt. I
    don't think it really has any bearing on strain or anything. Seat
    height, how bent over you are, and how limber you are are much more
    relevant.

    Joseph

    The ball of my feet are just a little bit before the pedal axle.
    I have a thing of wearing 34" pants. My inseam is 35" after I quickly
    measured it with a tape. The bicycle frame's toptube is 23" from the
    center to center.

    My seat height is at 31.5". Converting it by .883 produces 30.905.

    If I multiply the 35" by .62 then I get 21.7. I also have a longish
    stem on there.

    So I'm very confused!!! I did run across a coach that told
    me one that I should lower my seat a little, but my riding buddy
    thinks that it isn't high enough. I used to bounce at high RPM
    with the lower seat.

    I was thinking of moving the pedal forward. I'm using the new
    LOOK Keos. I had my fit looked at by a good guy at Harris Cyclerly.
    He thought that my biking was only aggravating something else, but
    people tell me that I don't look right on the bike. If I move
    the pedals forward than I would have to do that on both sides
    and possible drop the seat, correct?

    bill

    --
    ---
    William O'Hara

  4. William O'Hara said:
    Quoted message said:


    The picture of you on the bike would be more helpfull if it showed you
    with your pedal all the way down, and also with you shoes on.

    I'm 6'3" 225 and it may just be my inseam, but my bike seems WAY
    bigger than yours. What is your inseam (crotch to floor)? What is your
    seat height? Also where is the ball of your foot relative to the pedal
    spindle? Moving your foot forward on the pedal a bit will redude the
    strain on the achilles tendon a bit.

    I have had very good results with using inseam x 0.883 for seat
    height, or inseam x 1.09 for seat height + crank length. (usually
    works out to about the same for normal sizes). This is not a rule,
    just a suggested starting point for personalization.

    As for frame sizing, I suggest inseam x 0.62 for a center-center
    starting point. Then have a look at top-tube length to really
    determine which frame suits you, and adjust up or down accordingly. As
    you are pretty tall, I'd guess you would adjust upward if anything.

    I believe that the fore-aft in terms of knee over the pedal has more
    to do with your fore-aft balance than anything else. More forward puts
    more weight on your hands, more aft put more weight on your butt. I
    don't think it really has any bearing on strain or anything. Seat
    height, how bent over you are, and how limber you are are much more
    relevant.

    Joseph

    The ball of my feet are just a little bit before the pedal axle.

    If it is already forward, I guess there isn't much room. Probably 3/4"
    forward is about as far as you can go. Just a guess.

    Quoted message said:

    I have a thing of wearing 34" pants. My inseam is 35" after I quickly
    measured it with a tape. The bicycle frame's toptube is 23" from the
    center to center.

    Take a hardcover book about 1.5" think. With no shoes, in your cycling
    shorts stand with your back against a wall and cram the book as far up
    into your crotch as it will go. Keep an edge of the book against the
    wall to keep it square. Use that to measure your inseam. I'll bet it's
    more than 35".

    Quoted message said:

    My seat height is at 31.5". Converting it by .883 produces 30.905.

    If I multiply the 35" by .62 then I get 21.7. I also have a longish
    stem on there.

    23" top-tube sounds pretty long. Maybe that is what made we think the
    frame looked so small due to the short head tube. What size is the
    frame?

    Quoted message said:

    So I'm very confused!!! I did run across a coach that told
    me one that I should lower my seat a little, but my riding buddy
    thinks that it isn't high enough. I used to bounce at high RPM
    with the lower seat.

    Bouncing at high RPM could be all sorts of things, like practice.

    Quoted message said:

    I was thinking of moving the pedal forward. I'm using the new
    LOOK Keos. I had my fit looked at by a good guy at Harris Cyclerly.
    He thought that my biking was only aggravating something else, but
    people tell me that I don't look right on the bike. If I move
    the pedals forward than I would have to do that on both sides
    and possible drop the seat, correct?

    I'd say it depends on how far forward they already are. See if your
    inseam is really 35". Also any changes will be hard to judge the
    efficacy of due to your already being injured. Light gears and keeping
    the area warm would probably be good therapy.

    All that said, you can also try the "just guess" method. I tried all
    sorts of things before I got comfortable, including having my riding
    buddy pick random settings while I looked away. Sometimes he didn't
    change anything, but told me otherwise, or told me the opposite of what
    he had done to try to remove any bias in my head. We stopped about 8
    times, but eventually I found a position I am very comfortable with.

    If you have developed a stress injury, things may be more complicated,
    as changes could make things worse, or at least be difficult to assess.

  5. The injuries could also come from overtraining, or increasing volume or
    intensity too quickly. If you think of top athletes doing 10,000 hours
    per year, and taking ten years to get to that level, that's a pretty
    gradual increase in volume that allows their bodies to adapt. I have
    no idea what you have done, but maybe look at the hours over the year,
    and see if you have allowed a gradual increase. If you're like me, you
    ride when you have time, and sometimes that's lots after 6 weeks of
    nothing.

  6. Quoted message said:

    I'd say it depends on how far forward they already are. See if your
    inseam is really 35". Also any changes will be hard to judge the
    efficacy of due to your already being injured. Light gears and keeping
    the area warm would probably be good therapy.

    All that said, you can also try the "just guess" method. I tried all
    sorts of things before I got comfortable, including having my riding
    buddy pick random settings while I looked away. Sometimes he didn't
    change anything, but told me otherwise, or told me the opposite of what
    he had done to try to remove any bias in my head. We stopped about 8
    times, but eventually I found a position I am very comfortable with.

    If you have developed a stress injury, things may be more complicated,
    as changes could make things worse, or at least be difficult to assess.

    I have felt pretty comfortable with the bike for awhile, now.
    I do have a tendency to go too fast too quickly in training.
    Thanks for the replies. I'm still not too sure about anything.

    In terms of my mileage schedule I have hoped to do serious amounts
    of mileage during the summer, but I haven't been able to build up
    to 200 or 250 miles a week. Since 2003 when I bought the Motobecane
    from the LBS, I have done about 2200 miles per year. In 2004, I had myself
    upto a peak of 174 miles one week, which includes a few days tapered off
    before one century. I did a century in 2005, but I took
    more rest days before it. I have been hoping to do more centuries perhaps
    3-5 this year. I've been looking over the excel spreadsheet
    that I use to keep track of things.

    I've put 27 hours on the bike since January 1st versus 10 to 11 hours
    in the same time period over the lasttwo years. I have been putting
    in 45 miles weeks for basically 5 straight weeks, with one off week
    due to timing or whatever. The week prior was another 45 mile week.
    I've been riding in the cold regardless any concern versus the prior
    two years in the Sunday ride for 30 miles plus any time I can get in
    before darkness. I've ridden in some 50 degree weather on Christmas
    day and on a few days of this year, but most of my riding has been in
    twenty to thirty degree weather. What I did that was kind of stupid
    after looking at my spreadsheet is that I did two weeks of approximately
    73 miles after the weeks of 45 miles.

    I had originally planned to increase by 10% every week to build to
    a peak of 120 miles similar to last year. I didn't do this!

    I've tried measuring myself again, but I was in the bike shorts.
    So, perhaps you are right. I can't admit to myself that it is so
    difficult for me to measure myself properly! My inseam is really
    around 36". I used a book on Oppenheimer for a nuclear opinion
    on the matter. So this would convert to 31.75" or there abouts.
    I'm wondering if I should raise myseat post even more. I would have
    to bring the seat forward. I think that it might get close to the
    rear axle, if I didn't. However, I'm not sure. I also have a toe
    downish style that seems to come naturally.

    The motobecane was suppose to be a 59cm frame when I bought it
    from the LBS. I don't see any darn markings on the bike to tell
    me its' size and there is nothing on the sparse and dull Motobecane
    website.

    thanks for your continuing help,
    bill

    --
    ---
    William O'Hara

  7. William O'Hara said:
    Quoted message said:

    I'd say it depends on how far forward they already are. See if your
    inseam is really 35". Also any changes will be hard to judge the
    efficacy of due to your already being injured. Light gears and keeping
    the area warm would probably be good therapy.

    All that said, you can also try the "just guess" method. I tried all
    sorts of things before I got comfortable, including having my riding
    buddy pick random settings while I looked away. Sometimes he didn't
    change anything, but told me otherwise, or told me the opposite of what
    he had done to try to remove any bias in my head. We stopped about 8
    times, but eventually I found a position I am very comfortable with.

    If you have developed a stress injury, things may be more complicated,
    as changes could make things worse, or at least be difficult to assess.

    I have felt pretty comfortable with the bike for awhile, now.
    I do have a tendency to go too fast too quickly in training.
    Thanks for the replies. I'm still not too sure about anything.

    In terms of my mileage schedule I have hoped to do serious amounts
    of mileage during the summer, but I haven't been able to build up
    to 200 or 250 miles a week. Since 2003 when I bought the Motobecane
    from the LBS, I have done about 2200 miles per year. In 2004, I had myself
    upto a peak of 174 miles one week, which includes a few days tapered off
    before one century. I did a century in 2005, but I took
    more rest days before it. I have been hoping to do more centuries perhaps
    3-5 this year. I've been looking over the excel spreadsheet
    that I use to keep track of things.

    I've put 27 hours on the bike since January 1st versus 10 to 11 hours
    in the same time period over the lasttwo years. I have been putting
    in 45 miles weeks for basically 5 straight weeks, with one off week
    due to timing or whatever. The week prior was another 45 mile week.
    I've been riding in the cold regardless any concern versus the prior
    two years in the Sunday ride for 30 miles plus any time I can get in
    before darkness. I've ridden in some 50 degree weather on Christmas
    day and on a few days of this year, but most of my riding has been in
    twenty to thirty degree weather. What I did that was kind of stupid
    after looking at my spreadsheet is that I did two weeks of approximately
    73 miles after the weeks of 45 miles.

    I had originally planned to increase by 10% every week to build to
    a peak of 120 miles similar to last year. I didn't do this!

    I've tried measuring myself again, but I was in the bike shorts.
    So, perhaps you are right. I can't admit to myself that it is so
    difficult for me to measure myself properly! My inseam is really
    around 36". I used a book on Oppenheimer for a nuclear opinion
    on the matter. So this would convert to 31.75" or there abouts.
    I'm wondering if I should raise myseat post even more. I would have
    to bring the seat forward. I think that it might get close to the
    rear axle, if I didn't. However, I'm not sure. I also have a toe
    downish style that seems to come naturally.

    The motobecane was suppose to be a 59cm frame when I bought it
    from the LBS. I don't see any darn markings on the bike to tell
    me its' size and there is nothing on the sparse and dull Motobecane
    website.

    thanks for your continuing help,
    bill

    Sound slik eyou ride enough for it not to be a shock to your system to
    be riding.

    For your inseam I'd suggets a 57cm or 58cm center-center frame as a
    starting point. If your bike is a 59cm center-top that's about the
    same. It should be fine.

    I think you should move the saddle up a bit to accomodate your inseam,
    particularly if you are toes down. Fore-aft maybe to get your knee over
    the spindel or a bit back once you are done with height.

    Are you limber? Can you touch your toes? Important! Also keeping warm.

    Joseph

  8. mtb Dad said:

    The injuries could also come from overtraining, or increasing volume or
    intensity too quickly. If you think of top athletes doing 10,000 hours
    per year, and taking ten years to get to that level...

    10,000 / 24 = 417 days.

    What planet are you from?

  9. Kenny said:
    mtb Dad said:

    The injuries could also come from overtraining, or increasing volume
    or intensity too quickly. If you think of top athletes doing 10,000
    hours per year, and taking ten years to get to that level...

    10,000 / 24 = 417 days.

    What planet are you from?

    Your math is jacked up. He just means training 27.4 hours a day.

    HTH, BS

  10. William O'Hara said:

    The motobecane was suppose to be a 59cm frame when I bought it
    from the LBS. I don't see any darn markings on the bike to tell
    me its' size and there is nothing on the sparse and dull Motobecane
    website.

    Manufacturers have various ways of specifying frame size. Was the 59 cm
    the largest size available? If your inseam is really 36-inches, you
    need a big bike. My inseam is 35.5" and I ride a 63 cm frame.

    In the photo your arms are straight and hands on the tops. Normally,
    you'd want to have your elbows bent and hands on the hoods or drops.
    Possibly the bars are too low relative to the saddle. Can you ride
    comfortably in the drops?

    Quoted message said:

    I'm wondering if I should raise myseat post even more. I would have
    to bring the seat forward.

    No! Raise the saddle as necessary. Adjust fore/aft position as
    describled below

    To set up the bike, first set saddle height so that your leg is
    slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke, but hips aren't
    rocking. Make sure the saddle is level. As a starting point, your knee
    should be directly over the forward pedal spindle when the pedals are
    horizontal. Cleats should be adjusted so the ball of the foot is over
    the spindle or _slightly_ forward, never behind the spindle or you'll
    have achilles tendon problems. When you get the saddle adjusted
    properly, experiment with handlebar position (height, reach, tilt).

    See:
    http://www.sbraweb.org/setup.htm

    Art Harris

  11. Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    The motobecane was suppose to be a 59cm frame when I bought it
    from the LBS. I don't see any darn markings on the bike to tell
    me its' size and there is nothing on the sparse and dull Motobecane
    website.

    Manufacturers have various ways of specifying frame size. Was the 59 cm
    the largest size available? If your inseam is really 36-inches, you
    need a big bike. My inseam is 35.5" and I ride a 63 cm frame.

    In the photo your arms are straight and hands on the tops. Normally,
    you'd want to have your elbows bent and hands on the hoods or drops.
    Possibly the bars are too low relative to the saddle. Can you ride
    comfortably in the drops?

    Quoted message said:

    I'm wondering if I should raise myseat post even more. I would have
    to bring the seat forward.

    No! Raise the saddle as necessary. Adjust fore/aft position as
    describled below

    To set up the bike, first set saddle height so that your leg is
    slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke, but hips aren't
    rocking. Make sure the saddle is level. As a starting point, your knee
    should be directly over the forward pedal spindle when the pedals are
    horizontal. Cleats should be adjusted so the ball of the foot is over
    the spindle or _slightly_ forward, never behind the spindle or you'll
    have achilles tendon problems. When you get the saddle adjusted
    properly, experiment with handlebar position (height, reach, tilt).

    I have raised the seat an excessive amount. I haven't
    moved the seat forward. I don't know how much seat post
    that I have left. I often ride on top of the hoods and
    I do ride a little bit in the drops. I'll put my hands
    all over. I don't know how far back my posterior is. It
    might be hanging over the rear axle by now.

    I clipped in with just my left foot and I could spin it.
    I had some mild shin pain. If I have to get a new bike
    then it is fine with me. I would rather do such.

    As to Joseph's question, I can touch my toes. I do a
    little bit of stretching. I'm also doing the runner's
    stretch now to work the ankles.

    The bottom bracket to the top of seat has been raised to
    32". I have a 4" stem on front. The handlebars are
    about 5" above the top tube and the seat is about 9"
    above.

    thanks
    bill
    --
    ---
    William O'Hara

  12. William O'Hara said:

    The bottom bracket to the top of seat has been raised to
    32". I have a 4" stem on front. The handlebars are
    about 5" above the top tube and the seat is about 9"
    above.

    If the vertical drop from the top of the saddle to the top of the bars
    is 4" as indicated by your measurements, that's quite a lot. Some
    experienced riders may prefer that much drop, but many other riders
    prefer the saddle and bars to be at the same height. Most prefer it
    somewhere between those extremes. There are ways to get the bars up
    higher:
    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/handsup.html

    It sounds like you really need to visit a good LBS and get properly
    fitted.

    Quoted message said:

    From your original post, it sounds like your main concern is Achilles


    tendon pain. By far, the greatest cause of Achilles pain in cycling is
    having the feet too far back on the pedal (i.e., pedaling with the
    toes).

    Here's a good site for troubleshooting all kinds of bike related pain:
    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html

    Quoted message said:

    If I have to get a new bike
    then it is fine with me. I would rather do such.

    Don't give up on the bike yet. Unless it's a gross mismatch, you should
    be able to fine tune the fit. Just don't go about it haphazardly. Get
    some in-person help from someone who knows how to do a bike fitting. It
    sounds like you're fairly new to road biking. There's a wide variation
    in what constitutes proper fit depending on your flexibility, type of
    riding, etc. After a while you'll get to know what works for you and
    what doesn't.

    Also, don't try to do too much too soon this early in the season. Build
    up your mileage base and speed gradually.

    Art Harris

  13. Quoted message said:

    Don't give up on the bike yet. Unless it's a gross mismatch, you should
    be able to fine tune the fit. Just don't go about it haphazardly. Get
    some in-person help from someone who knows how to do a bike fitting. It
    sounds like you're fairly new to road biking. There's a wide variation
    in what constitutes proper fit depending on your flexibility, type of
    riding, etc. After a while you'll get to know what works for you and
    what doesn't.

    Also, don't try to do too much too soon this early in the season. Build
    up your mileage base and speed gradually.

    I'm chucking the bike out the window. It is up for sale.
    I'm going to get a 62cm Allez. I just went to the bike
    shop down Route 18 from me. I've heard mixed things about
    them, but I rode the Allez and it felt much better! I'm
    thinking that we're shortening the stem a little bit and
    it will work really good.

    My height is in the same range as the fitter, but my legs
    are much bigger than his. I never knew that I so out of
    kilter with the rest of the population. The 62cm has
    a much bigger head tube and the handlebars come up much
    higher.

    I don't think that I was overly aggressive on my mileage,
    but I did too much of a jump. I went from 45 miles to
    two weeks of 75 miles. I then suffered the pain. So,
    I think that I need to slowly build back up.

    I'm hoping to get in a few five mile rides and
    jump back into the club ride on Sundays for 30 in the
    next two weeks.

    thanks

    bill n1ey

    --
    ---
    William O'Hara

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