Oh my poor knees

[Ayesha]

http://www.kneeclinic.info/knee_sports_ ... ycling.php

"Touring cyclists often develop a knee overuse injury during or after one specific usually long ride. These sporadic high-mileage riders often do not train adequately."

Hmmmm...

[snibgo]

Gosh, this cycling lark seems painful. I'd better stop doing it.

[dewi1]

After my orthoscopy last year, the doc said I should avoid cycling and I'd be better running or playing football (my other sins) - so it seems to depend on where in the knee the wear and tear has happened. In all honesty, I do less than 2000 miles a year anyway so I don't think it matters, but I do try to ride at a higher cadence

[xpc316e]

My pal's wife injured her knee very badly whilst horse riding. Cycling for her is excellent therapy, as her joint is held in a jig while she gets non-weight bearing exercise. I am no orthopaedic surgeon, but I fail to see how either the impact of running, or the direction changes of football, could ever be preferred over cycling. Cycling is fantastic; it's the only form of exercise I know that can be undertaken while seated.

[Tonyf33]

As a rugby league man the stats show that lower limb injuries particularly knees and ankles are far more prevalent in soccer than a full contact sport such as ours (and pretty much all other sports I think). This is something we mention when talking to parents when trying to get their kids to be involved.
Running is high impact made even worse with incorrect running shoes (Or none at all).

[hexhome]

After my orthoscopy last year, the doc said I should avoid cycling and I'd be better running or playing football (my other sins) - so it seems to depend on where in the knee the wear and tear has happened. In all honesty, I do less than 2000 miles a year anyway so I don't think it matters, but I do try to ride at a higher cadence

Well I had an Arthroscopy procedure last year and the consultant surgeon thoroughly approved of cycling. I was told to avoid high impact exercise such as running and football. As I fully recovered from the procedure in 6 weeks, and bearing in mind that he could spell Arthroscopy, I'm sticking with his advice.

[gilesjuk]

My pal's wife injured her knee very badly whilst horse riding. Cycling for her is excellent therapy, as her joint is held in a jig while she gets non-weight bearing exercise. I am no orthopaedic surgeon, but I fail to see how either the impact of running, or the direction changes of football, could ever be preferred over cycling. Cycling is fantastic; it's the only form of exercise I know that can be undertaken while seated.

You need impact and weight on the bones though, or your bone density can suffer.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/24009 ... e-density/

[Ayesha]

Cycling is the second most strenuous exercise that is performed in a seated position. The leader is rowing. Especially when the Emporer wants to waterski
The strenuous parts of cycling are performed in the standing position. If you can ride a bike up a hill and remain seated, the hill wasn't steep enough

Running is an 'impact' sport when technique is abysmal. One's heels should rarely make contact. One 'bounces' along using the knees, hips AND ankles as a 'Z' frame.
Remember Dr Alice Roberts' "Origin of us" TV show? What an utter load of crap. Most of distance running stamina comes from the calves... ; and its an easy and pleasingly fluid movement with correct foot placement.
When you see a runner's heel hitting first, they're wasting energy with every stride.

Once correct running technique is learned, riding a bike become even more easy, as you have a predisposition to 'Ankling'. Especially climbing hills.

[mattsccm]

My arthroscopy was just over 3 years ago. I was cycling within a week with the consent of the medic . It gives me virtually no grief when cycling but running is out of the question. Walking down long hills hurts.
Funnily enough the one bit of cycling that can hurt is a highish cadence. I push big gears through choice anyway. Also a relatively short frame brings me over the crank more which helps whereas my full suss MTB which places me more behind the crank hurts my knees.
My milegae this year went from about 2 thousand to over 5 with a few 10 hour days or 100 miles plus with no probs.
I reckon its very much a case of suck it and see.

[Phil_Lee]

I can't walk without crutches, and anything over a few hundred yards (or considerably less if there's no opportunity to rest) means using the wheelchair.
But I can still cycle, and my orthopaedic consultant (who did my arthroscopy) , physiotherapist, occupational therapist and GP have all recommended and encourage cycling as transport, therapy and aerobic exercise.
I can't even get started or stopped on an upright any more without a launcher and catcher, but I'm getting a recumbent sorted out that I can manage to ride.

As for

If you can ride a bike up a hill and remain seated, the hill wasn't steep enough

I'd be interested in any other way of doing it on a recumbent bicycle - I'd love to see video of someone standing on the pedals to climb a hill on a Bacchetta Café

[Russcoles]

Running is an 'impact' sport when technique is abysmal. One's heels should rarely make contact. One 'bounces' along using the knees, hips AND ankles as a 'Z' frame.

So you can bounce without any sort of impact?

[Michael R]

The strenuous parts of cycling are performed in the standing position. If you can ride a bike up a hill and remain seated, the hill wasn't steep enough

.

So the Wrynose isn't steep

[tyred]

If you can ride a bike up a hill and remain seated, the hill wasn't steep enough

So I'll write a letter of complaint to God for not making the hills in my area steep enough

[karlt]

If you can ride a bike up a hill and remain seated, the hill wasn't steep enough

So I'll write a letter of complaint to God for not making the hills in my area steep enough

You can have some of ours. I'd like to keep the nice pretty ones that the moors are on and the ones around Dronfield, because it makes the Drone valley look nice and we need somewhere for the Freeview transmitter, but you're welcome to the one up to Brimington and the ones on the Staveley-Eckington road which don't really serve much of a useful purpose.

[Ayesha]

Running is an 'impact' sport when technique is abysmal. One's heels should rarely make contact. One 'bounces' along using the knees, hips AND ankles as a 'Z' frame.

So you can bounce without any sort of impact?

The uninitiated call running an 'impact sport' because they strike the heel before the mid-foot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx6x2cD6Y8Q