Health Nutrition and Supplements · Public discussion

Knee Issues

jri4 · 2011-07-25T05:05:30+00:00

Hey all, first time posting here... I'm a 23 year old, 5' 8", 175 pound male. I've just recently gotten into cycling--I have ridden about 200 miles in the past 4 weeks. Average ride for me consists of 10-30 miles at a 15.5-16.5 mph average pace. On Thursday (my last ride) we went 15 miles..by the end, my legs were about done. Then I had to work Friday and Saturday, which consists of frequently going up and down a three step ladder. Which leads to another story. Don't worry, it will all come together in the end! I started out riding a POS Walmart Road Bike, the GMC Denali. Size 56cm. I had gotten fairly comfortable on it--not feeling too fatigued after rides, until that killer one on last Thursday. Well, tonight I purchased a 54cm 2007 Trek 1500--a night and day difference from the GMC Denali! I am very pleased with the bike. I am trying to get everything properly adjusted on my new Trek so that my legs extend enough but not too far. I am also getting used to strapped pedals. So I took it for a quick test ride, less than 6 miles. My pace remained about average, but I noticed I still had soreness in my legs from my previous ride. Especially in the front region just above my kneecaps, it aches even now just sitting here. I am trying to get everything properly adjusted on my new Trek so that my legs extend out enough--but not overextending. I am also getting used to strapped pedals. Even the 6 miles were fairly tough, even though they were just a small portion of a larger route I do regularly. Any ideas on what I can adjust on my bike to prevent this from happening in the future? Of course, what can I do to heal up my lower quad (?) / upper knee (?) region so I can be ready to ride again? Maybe I just need to toughen up...I don't know... Thanks for any and all help on this! ~James

Started by jri4 · 25 July 2011 · Last activity 14 November 2011 · 8 posts · 1,218 views

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Original section: Health Nutrition and Supplements
Published: 25 July 2011
Last activity: 14 November 2011
Original author: jri4
Posts: 8
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 1,218
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Cadence

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Original post
jri4
Archived post

25 July 2011, 05:05 UTC #1

Hey all, first time posting here...
I'm a 23 year old, 5' 8", 175 pound male. I've just recently gotten into cycling--I have ridden about 200 miles in the past 4 weeks. Average ride for me consists of 10-30 miles at a 15.5-16.5 mph average pace. On Thursday (my last ride) we went 15 miles..by the end, my legs were about done. Then I had to work Friday and Saturday, which consists of frequently going up and down a three step ladder.
Which leads to another story. Don't worry, it will all come together in the end! I started out riding a POS Walmart Road Bike, the GMC Denali. Size 56cm. I had gotten fairly comfortable on it--not feeling too fatigued after rides, until that killer one on last Thursday. Well, tonight I purchased a 54cm 2007 Trek 1500--a night and day difference from the GMC Denali! I am very pleased with the bike.
I am trying to get everything properly adjusted on my new Trek so that my legs extend enough but not too far. I am also getting used to strapped pedals. So I took it for a quick test ride, less than 6 miles. My pace remained about average, but I noticed I still had soreness in my legs from my previous ride. Especially in the front region just above my kneecaps, it aches even now just sitting here. I am trying to get everything properly adjusted on my new Trek so that my legs extend out enough--but not overextending. I am also getting used to strapped pedals. Even the 6 miles were fairly tough, even though they were just a small portion of a larger route I do regularly.
Any ideas on what I can adjust on my bike to prevent this from happening in the future? Of course, what can I do to heal up my lower quad (?) / upper knee (?) region so I can be ready to ride again?
Maybe I just need to toughen up...I don't know... Thanks for any and all help on this!
~James

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jpr95
Archived post

25 July 2011, 13:24 UTC #2

What is your typical cadence?

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PalmettoRider
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30 July 2011, 22:14 UTC #3

The best advice I could give is to have a local bike shop (LBS) provide you a proper fitting. Just got back into road biking myself. At 55, I really wanted to ensure that I had the fitting right to avoid injury. During my fitting, the LBS said that when your pedal is parallel to the pavement, your pedal should be right beneath the patella. We made the adjustment and so far, no pain when I ride. My rides are mostly in the early morning, about 8-10 miles, avg speed about 13, and cadence in the low 70's.
Getting a proper fitting is key to injury free riding. I would invest the $$.
Good Luck! Sounds like you've got a great bike!

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Nukuhiva
Archived post

31 July 2011, 13:44 UTC #4

Pain above the knee suggests you're probably just a little sore from doing something your legs aren't used to.
Pain in the knee itself might be something worse.
Play around with saddle height/orientation, stem height, handlebar position.
Consider platform pedals for more foot freedom and more natural and varied foot placements.
And take that WalMart heifer to the crusher!

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jri4
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31 July 2011, 16:33 UTC #5

Quoted post said:
Originally Posted by jpr95 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
What is your typical cadence?
Right between 80 and 100 on the Trek. I do believe my cadence was too low when riding the 'el cheapo.
After having knee issues, I have started looking more closely at my diet, actually. More fruit and vegetables and lots of protein to help recover. I actually believe I did not have enough Potassium in my system, which was causing soreness. The evening of my OP, I ate a banana and some other fruit, woke up the next day feeling great and went on a 35 mile ride! No knee issues!
I have realized the importance of warming up with easy spinning, and making sure to keep my cadence up. On the walmart bike I just power pedaled in the highest gear...It wasn't difficult, but I am never in my top gear on the Trek. I also believe the Trek fits me better and that I have it properly adjusted! Thanks for all the help everyone!

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Phoenix15
Archived post

17 August 2011, 06:16 UTC #6

Very bad guy.
I have bone-on-bone. I have always found the recumbent no different on the knee, by rather on the back. I choose a standard bike for both riding and in the gym.

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alienator
Archived post

9 November 2011, 09:35 UTC #7

Quoted post said:
Originally Posted by chiropractors [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
for knee problem take an advice of a doctor...
More details visit chiropracticoflasvegas.com
It's sweet that you advertise your quackery practice in every single one of your posts.

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hogger453
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14 November 2011, 22:32 UTC #8

If you're having knee problems and as long as it's not too bad, don't ride on large front chainring. Just stay on your low chainring. Your body, legs, knees etc, need to get conditioned to your new activity.
Stay on your lower chainring atleast the first 500 miles.

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