Aching knees?

"Ken Bessler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently changed from trying to maintain a 90-95 rpm cadence to holding a 80-85 rpm cadence. It
seemed to be working good for me as my average speed went up about 33%.

However, now my right knee is aching - not too bad on my Bianchi but going down stairs is torture!
My age is 39.

My questions -

Is the abuse on the knees temporary or cumulative?

Both. If you give it a rest it should recover, but if you keep doing it until it hurts, over the
months and years I'm sure you'll permanently damage your knees.

Quoted message said:

Should I go back to the higher cadence?

You should make sure your knees recover. Then you should work in smaller increments toward the type
of riding you want to do. I would note that just because you went faster at lower cadence, it
doesn't necessarily mean that the higher one won't work out better for you in the long run.

Also, make sure your bike adjustments are correct. This problem might be fundamentally coming from a
bad fit and not from the extra force.

Quoted message said:

Would'nt low cadence strain effect both knees?

Not necessarily. Each knee has different limits.

Shayne Wissler

is that the knee you usually clip out first?

my personal experience is that clipping out with my foot at the top of the crank puts all the
unclipping stress on a twisting action pivoting at my knee and it would hurt badly. i've since
changed the habit and unclip with by foot at the bottom, so the twist comes from my hip and all my
knee problems have disappeared.

just a thought.

Ken Bessler said:

I recently changed from trying to maintain a 90-95 rpm cadence to holding a 80-85 rpm cadence. It
seemed to be working good for me as my average speed went up about 33%.

However, now my right knee is aching - not too bad on my Bianchi but going down stairs is torture!
My age is 39.

My questions -

Is the abuse on the knees temporary or cumulative? Should I go back to the higher cadence?
Would'nt low cadence strain effect both knees?

Ken

If you're going faster with a slower cadence, it sounds to me like you're pushing higher gears. If
they're too high this can cause knee strain. If this is the case, and speed is what you're after,
you may want to stick with the higher spin.

Otherwise, shift down so that your pedalling effort in the slower cadence s the same as it was in
the higher.

"May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!"

See you on the road. Chris Chris'Z Corner geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

I have had aching knee problems, usually only the right one and I have found PK5 ( www.pk5.com ) to
work well for me.

The most important thing is applying it properly and I always wipe my knee with rubbing alcohol,
prior to using it.

--
Lewis.

tinyurl.comr3r6Open ↗ .........................

*******************************

"Ken Bessler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently changed from trying to maintain a 90-95 rpm cadence to holding a 80-85 rpm cadence. It
seemed to be working good for me as my average speed went up about 33%.

However, now my right knee is aching - not too bad on my Bianchi but going down stairs is torture!
My age is 39.

My questions -

Is the abuse on the knees temporary or cumulative? Should I go back to the higher cadence?
Would'nt low cadence strain effect both knees?

Ken

Quoted message said:

Should I go back to the higher cadence? Would'nt low cadence strain effect both knees?

Maybe these links will help....

icehouse.netknees.htmlOpen ↗ ...I got my help at this link after installing a pedal
extender on my right pedal....If that didn't work, I planned to look for an Orthopedic guy that was
a cyclist.

See the rec.bike faq at faqs.orgpart5Open ↗ Go to section 9.25

google.comsearchOpen ↗

groups.google.comgroupsOpen ↗

Ken Bessler said:

I recently changed from trying to maintain a 90-95 rpm cadence to holding a 80-85 rpm cadence. It
seemed to be working good for me as my average speed went up about 33%.

However, now my right knee is aching - not too bad on my Bianchi but going down stairs is torture!
My age is 39.

Check your position on the bike, especially saddle height.

For more on knee pain, see: sheldonbrown.compain.htmlOpen ↗

Art Harris

"Art Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ken Bessler said:

I recently changed from trying to maintain a 90-95 rpm cadence to holding a 80-85 rpm cadence.
It seemed to be working good for me as my average speed went up about 33%.

However, now my right knee is aching - not too bad on my Bianchi but going down stairs is
torture! My age is 39.

Check your position on the bike, especially saddle height.

For more on knee pain, see: sheldonbrown.compain.htmlOpen ↗

Art Harris

Thanks, Art

Must have been the weather as it has gone now, despite my continued riding. We had a cold front move
in the day before this happened. Knees are fine now.

Ken