PaulS wrote:Thanks Gearoidmuar, I checked that thread - very informative. Looks like flats are a good idea for a few weeks, once I can get back on a bike again. At the moment I'm struggling to stand or walk, never mind ride. 2 weeks ago my knees ached a bit after a 100km ride, so I took a few days rest. Last Saturday they ached again, but instead of taking a rest day on Sunday I did another 100km with a friend. Knees sore a bit to start, but I went anyway. (Isn't hindsight wonderful?!) My left knee hurt a lot, and was worse the next day. I am still struggling a few days later. The pain is on and above the knee cap. The knee cap was quite swollen and hot. It is getting better with rest.
My first thought was that my saddle is too high. But this article suggests my saddle is too low (Area 1: Anterior knee pain) :
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitnes ... lem-areas/
Paul Hewitt did a bike fit for me last year, so saddle height, etc. should be good (he raised the saddle 32mm).
Flats might be the answer for a few weeks, or maybe I should go to flats permanently. Shame, I quite like SPD pedals, used them for about 15 years, used clips & straps before that. I've always ridden about 100m a week. But this year I've been doing 100km (and sometimes 100m) rides a couple of times a week, maybe the longer rides are flushing out the smaller problems.
So, next steps.
- Saddle higher.
- Saddle lower.
- Flats for a while.
- Flats forever.
- Move cleats back.
- Move saddle back.
Haha. Or maybe I'm just getting old - 52. Any other ideas gratefully received. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, and don't really know where to start.
i doubt age has anything to do with it, i have 5 years on you, do about 300-400km a week using spds or Look Keo pedals, i've used step in systems almost exclusively since 1989 and TC's with shoe plates for 15 years before that. The knee issues (barring breaking my left patella) i've had over the years have each time been caused by strain on an over enthusiastic ride - either more climbing than i'm used to or much further than my usual ride at the time. The most severe incidence had me hobbling and unable to ride for several weeks, rest was the solution, i certainly didn't start moving things about.
So yes, it probably is the longer rides but rather than 'flushing out the smaller problems', the resultant pain etc is a reminder to not overdo things. If you started labouring for a job after years of sat in an office you'd hurt a fair bit, the extra stress/effort of the longer rides is the same thing. Oh and that bad incident was when i was 25! 300km so far this week with exactly the same cleat/saddle position i've used for 40 years.