Knee pain as the miles increase?

Gixermark

Hi guys,

Still very new to this game.... Started riding in July, only doing 10-15 miles a time until sep/oct when I started to ramp a bit more.

I've done 20's, 30's 40 milers budding up since then, and today did a 51 miler :-) fitness felt surprisingly not too bad.... Butt pain, bearable! But knees getting mild to modate pain for last 15 miles or so.

Bike fit seems reasonably good.. But not had it down professionally.... Likely to be knees getting used to it? Or do the increas miles genally just highlight issues more?

Feels great to do the first half century... :-)

elderone

hi gixer,could be any of the above you mentioned and maybe try it again to see if it happens again.I have read on here that if your foot is locked into your peddle at an odd angle then this can cause knee problems.
btw what gixer have you got.R1 rider myself.

wishitwasallflat

http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

Gixermark

Very helpful wishit.... Sounds like it could well be a mix.... The route is a hilly bugger, so maybe not the best to do, plus bolt on extra miles at this stage... Will try 50 next time on a more undulating route and see...

@elderone.. No (motor) bike at the mo.. Last gixer I had was a k6 thou... Have pretty much given up on the bikes now (used to race em too) but I do have a k6 gixer thou engined single seater which I race... And is a bit of a blast!

Peddle Up!

Could be that your cleats aren't set correctly. Search my posts for my experiences.

Gixermark

Thanks mate.. Will have a search

CiB

Agree re cleats.

Cleat Eastwood

Cleats or saddle height are good places to look.

I was chatting to physio at a recent sportive about an achy knee, and he told me that with some there is a rotation of the knee which can cause knee pain and muscle ache - he told me that its hard to diagnose as the aches only become apparent after longing rides when the motion of the knee has been repeated many many times. Which kinda makes sense.

#david2012

Congrats on the 50 miler! Did mine the other week. I'm experiencing the exact problem myself mainly on the right knee only though which makes me think its something to do with my physical make up / shorter leg maybe. It has got a lot better though with just putting the miles in on the bike. Where about is the knee pain?

HasselHough

I do mention him a lot on here but you should have a look on Steve hoggs bike fitting website, he knows his gravy that bloke. Knee pain could be many many things, saddle height, saddle fore /aft, cleat set up, ITB issues. If you do make changes don't make too many or make them too severe. Good luck.

Gixermark

cheers guys - i am going to take a better look at my bike set up...... and maybe ease the miles on gradually... i had done 42 miles before this - but the route at the wk end was pretty hilly for a fair bit - so was damn tough.. and long distance (for me)

its nice to actually do the half century though - the niggles in my knees seem to be ok.. next day my shoulders were relaly quite sore - maybe all just muscles getting used to the position etc... will keep buliding miles over the winter and see

danowat

"knee pain" is very broad, to determine what is causing it, and why, you need to specify where on the knee it is, what the pain is like, and if there is any other pain or weakness (i.e. weak glutes, sore quads/calves etc etc)

giant_man

front of knee pain or back of knee?

inkz

Funny you should post this, I did exactly the same yesterday. Rode my first half century, knee pain for the last few miles and today my knee is killing me. Cycling to work really hurt

I adjusted my cleats when I got knee pain before and haven't had it since, but this is the first time over 35 miles and it's come back. Also oddly enough it's the first ride where my back hasn't killed me, so looks like I've got rid of one problem and got a new one lol

Maybe I adjusted the cleats too far in the other direction...

marcusjb

As others have mentioned, there are many variables that can cause knee pains, but as well as working on your position on the bike, remember to stretch and warm up properly and also (especially at this time of year) keep your knees warm (knee warmers surprisingly! Even with tights on, at this time of year I will often have knee warmers on as well).

Hope you get it sorted as it can be miserable when you get knee pains.

nath_vts

did this fix it? i have the same issue

Gixermark

Hi guys, set up the fore/aft position of the saddle better... Literally 5mm forward was all it took :-)

I watched some of the YouTube videos to get an idea - the plumb line fromp the knee down to pedal axis being the key thing for me.

I did a 71 mile cycle on Friday... No pain! Unreal...... Pushed out a hard 25 mile cycle today too... No leg pain nor knee pain following the big run 2 days prior.

I'm sure it's just getting used to things... But I had no shoulder/neck strain/pain either now..... Getting a bit addictive though!

tiredofwhiners

Don't forget that if the saddle has dropped gradually while in use, your knees will not be extending the right amount with each pedal rotation and will be under greater stress without being able to extend.