Bike fit and knees

[Phil H]

I've been having some knee pain recently (outside of knee at the back). I played with saddle/cleat positions on the turbo in the middle of the week but it's still painful after today's CR. I notice Corridori do a bike fit thing but it's £120.

I reckon cold is a factor - it started on the Blenheim 100 mile sportive which was freezing - so I'll pick up (yet more Addiscombe) bib tights this week.

If fiddling with position, clothing and resting during the week doesn't do it, what do people reckon? The options are: expensive bike fit at Corridori, bike fit somewhere else, take it to the GP or keep necking Ibuprofen and pretend it isn't happening.

Of course, losing a couple of stone wouldn't hurt ...

[Keith]

[quote="Phil Hawkes"]I've been having some knee pain recently ...

[Antloony]

Knee pain is something I've been suffering from on and off for a number of months. I had a bike fit done and though it helped it didn't cure it altogether. I've found keeping my knee warm helps, warming up properly and if it starts to hurt too much then I ease back on the effort I'm putting through it till it gets more comfortable to ride on. I also take glucosamine and chondrotin tablets (all in one) which I swear have really helped. Using this combination I've found has really helped and my knee is finally starting to behave itself allowing me to enjoy my time on the bike.

[Andrew G]

I use a few simple rules of thumb I use which may work for you.

Knees: Keep 'em warm. Knees have no muscle or fat on them to insulate them so always keep them covered once the temperature drops. Knee warmers or 3/4s.

Cleat position: Ball of foot over centre of cleat. Cleat positioned dead straight so that foot is parallel with the centre line of the bike. Once you have your cleat position accurate mark it, draw round with a marker pen for example, so that you can always refit new cleats in the same position.

Saddle height: Wearing cycling kit and shoes hold the bike upright between a door frame, or stick it in a turdo, and pedal backwards with feet not clipped in. I get it so that I can just about flick the pedal over the bottom point with my heel in a natural pedal stroke, not stretching or over-reaching. This tends to get the saddle height pretty much spot on for me, maybe the odd minor adjustment up a touch from there after a ride to test. Once perfect take measurements, and put a bit of insulating tape around the seatpin as it helps you tell if the post slips at all as the tape will wrinkle up.

You shouldn't have knee pain unless there's something wrong with your knees, riding a bike shouldn't cause pain if it's set up correctly.

[Phil H]

Thanks all. The message I'm getting is that "bikefit isn't magic".

I suspect that this is a muscles/tendons thing. My cleats make me feel a bit "heels out" so I'll move those and get some tights during the week - I can't put if off, even though my wife has (correctly) pointed out that I've psent more on cycling clothing this year than regular clothing. I had the saddle a bit down for yesterday's ride but, since it didn't seem to help, I've put it back (this seatpost has handy lines and numbers on it for easy repositioning). It did seem to kick off when it got cold.

[Sylv]

I've had random kneepain coming out of nowhere and bad enough to take me off the bike for a while at about this time of year (not that it might necessarily matter) two years in a row, think first time was four years ago. First time I took enforced time off and it went away by itself. Second time I went for a Cyclefit and the most important fit change (saddle height was ok etc) was custom footbeds and wedges under my cleats. Haven't had an issue since. I'd say it's worth the money if you have an issue like that.

[Marcus]

[quote="Andrew G"]Saddle height: Wearing cycling kit and shoes hold the bike upright between a door frame, or stick it in a turdo, and pedal backwards with feet not clipped in. I get it so that I can just about flick the pedal over the bottom point with my heel in a natural pedal stroke, not stretching or over-reaching.

[Andrew G]

Glad to have been of some help. Some of the old tricks work, you don't always need fancy gadgets .

[Ivor]

[quote="Andrew G"] you don't always need fancy gadgets .

[Jon H]

After many years of experimentation I've concluded that to avoid knee pain it's best to have one in the middle of each leg, and one on each side of the bike.