Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
How's the saddle height? Too high and it could hurt the back of the knee, too low and it could stress the front. Multiply your inseam by 0.883 and that should be the length from the bottom bracket axle along the seat tube to the top of the saddle (max 5 inches seat post showing).
There's a whole section on bike setup (and another one on knee pain) in 'Serious Cycling' a book by Edmund Burke.
My bike's a lot more comfy from having applied the rules, before I had the saddle way high thinking it was a good way to get the power down from the legs.
Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
How's the saddle height? Too high and it could hurt the back of the knee, too low and it could stress the front. Multiply your inseam by 0.883 and that should be the length from the bottom bracket axle along the seat tube to the top of the saddle (max 5 inches seat post showing).
There's a whole section on bike setup (and another one on knee pain) in 'Serious Cycling' a book by Edmund Burke.
My bike's a lot more comfy from having applied the rules, before I had the saddle way high thinking it was a good way to get the power down from the legs.
HTH,
Duncan
I'm about an inch too low according to that formula. I'll try raising the saddle a little and see how that goes.
Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
Thanks
Adam
See a sports physio.
I know nothing about your case but knee problems are common for cyclists. I think alignment problems are more likely than arthritis.
in article [email hidden], Duncan Smith at [email hidden] wrote on 21/10/07 22:18:
Quoted message said:
Adam Lea said:
Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
How's the saddle height? Too high and it could hurt the back of the knee, too low and it could stress the front. Multiply your inseam by 0.883 and that should be the length from the bottom bracket axle along the seat tube to the top of the saddle (max 5 inches seat post showing).
My saddle's over an inch higher than what this formula gives- but it doesn't take into account how big your feet are- mine are size 13/48.
Duncan Smith said the following on 21/10/2007 22:18:
Quoted message said:
(max 5 inches seat post showing).
That's a bit outdated these days.
Is that because more modern frames typically have a more compact geometry? I take it the inseam * 0.883 method still hold true? When I did that, it just so happened that about 5" of seat-post was showing which was reassuring. Have to say it's lower than I would've chose for myself, but now the bars are within 5cm of saddle height too - so far it feels pretty good - better than before.
Another thing you could look at is KOPS (Knee Over Pedal Spindle), sit on the bike with cranks horizontal at 3 and 6 O'clock - as a base, adjust the saddle fore and aft so the bony protusion of the knee is directly over the centre of the pedal's spindle. Then for road use take the saddle back a cm or two so the knee is behind the spindle.
in article [email hidden], Duncan Smith at [email hidden] wrote on 21/10/07 22:18:
Quoted message said:
Adam Lea said:
Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
Quoted message said:
How's the saddle height? Too high and it could hurt the back of the knee, too low and it could stress the front. Multiply your inseam by 0.883 and that should be the length from the bottom bracket axle along the seat tube to the top of the saddle (max 5 inches seat post showing).
My saddle's over an inch higher than what this formula gives- but it doesn't take into account how big your feet are- mine are size 13/48.
Ben
Hm, formula said to take 3mm off for SPDs - which would still leave you 23mm or so off the guide - maybe Paul is right and the seat-post bit should be ignored these days.
It also makes a difference if you go straight up from BB or follow the slope of the seat tube, I think you should be following the slope, unless the angle is extreme, then maybe I'd scientifically pitch for somewhere between the two :-)
Duncan Smith said the following on 22/10/2007 10:31:
Quoted message said:
Is that because more modern frames typically have a more compact geometry? I take it the inseam * 0.883 method still hold true?
I think so, because the basic saddle to pedal position is still fixed by the rider's leg length. It's just that many frames have sloping top tubes, not just MTBs, so there is often more seatpost sticking out.
I use the "heel on pedal with almost straight leg" method to get the saddle height right for me, then tweak from there. The x0.883 method does come out fairly close to how I have the saddle though.
In article <[email hidden]>, Duncan Smith [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
How's the saddle height? Too high and it could hurt the back of the knee, too low and it could stress the front. Multiply your inseam by 0.883 and that should be the length from the bottom bracket axle along the seat tube to the top of the saddle (max 5 inches seat post showing).
Apart from the comedy value of applying such precision to a rule of thumb, that doesn't allow for fore/aft saddle position (obviously you should measure to the middle of the top of the saddle, rather than along the seat tube), thigh/shin proportion, foot size, pedalling style, crank length/pedal height (and why does the seat post length matter?) ...
Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
Could it possibly be that the minor twisting to release from the clipless pedals is the problem?
I had a painful knee for a good bit of the summer --- and none of the usual runner's overuse stuff like runner's knee or jumper's knee that have troubled me a lot.
I was new to clipless pedals and didn't know that I could loosen the attachment thingy or put a little oil on it. Mind you, releasing was so difficult that I once fell off when stopping at a roundabout--- but that wasn't the cause of the pain.
I think knees dislike twisting more than any other movement, no matter how minor.
Ah, left knee no problem? Which do you detach when becoming stationary?
In article <[email hidden]>, Duncan Smith [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
How's the saddle height? Too high and it could hurt the back of the knee, too low and it could stress the front. Multiply your inseam by 0.883 and that should be the length from the bottom bracket axle along the seat tube to the top of the saddle (max 5 inches seat post showing).
Apart from the comedy value of applying such precision to a rule of thumb, that doesn't allow for fore/aft saddle position (obviously you should measure to the middle of the top of the saddle, rather than along the seat tube), thigh/shin proportion, foot size, pedalling style, crank length/pedal height (and why does the seat post length matter?) ...
Don't suppose the seat post does matter, perhaps it was mentioned as a 'belts and braces' approach? Book also said if your saddle is a long way off only adjust it by 2mm a week until you get it right which suggests they think every mm is improtant - personally I don't and did it all in one hit, and if the saddle is +- cm or so then that's fine too.
Over the past month or so, I have had a problem with my right knee which occurs after I have been cycling on the road bike with clipless pedals. It seems to be a sharp pain which occurs whenever I bend the knee significantly, and appears to be coming from a tendon (it is not a muscular pain). I have had clipless pedals for several months now and I had no problems throughout the summer. I have tried adjusting the cleat which seemed to help at first, but the problem is coming back again. It is odd because there is some freedom of movement when I am clipped in). I seem to be fine when riding the Birdy which has ordinary pedals. The left knee has no problems whatsoever. Has anyone any ideas what to try? I hope I am not on a one way journey to a knee replacement operation in my fifties.
Could it possibly be that the minor twisting to release from the clipless pedals is the problem?
I had a painful knee for a good bit of the summer --- and none of the usual runner's overuse stuff like runner's knee or jumper's knee that have troubled me a lot.
I was new to clipless pedals and didn't know that I could loosen the attachment thingy or put a little oil on it. Mind you, releasing was so difficult that I once fell off when stopping at a roundabout--- but that wasn't the cause of the pain.
I think knees dislike twisting more than any other movement, no matter how minor.
Ah, left knee no problem? Which do you detach when becoming stationary?
Best regards,
Jon C.
I do have a tendency to detach the right foot preferentially. Maybe it is the twisting action that is aggrivating my knee. I must admit that is something I hadn't thought of.
Perhaps I should make sure to detach carefully in future.
Duncan Smith said the following on 22/10/2007 17:17:
Quoted message said:
personally I don't and did it all in one hit
Likewise - I just realised that the saddle on my commuter has been slipping down ever so gradually over time (achy knee was the clue!). Last night I hoiked it back up half an inch.
