Knicker seams causing pain?

Has anyone experienced pain or bruising from seams on your knickers/longies pressing on your knees after cycling for a long period of time?

I get prints that can sometimes last for hours after a ride, but that's it - and they're more on fatty areas than bony ones.

Are you prone to bruise otherwise? Could you be banging your knees against your top tube? Is the pain like the pain from a bruise, or is it like maybe your tights are pulling your kneecaps off track or cutting off your circulation or something?

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Is the pain like the pain from a bruise, or is it like maybe your tights are pulling your kneecaps off track or cutting off your circulation or something?

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I am thinking that the knickers are causing my knees to go off track. I was riding up to 65 miles, wearing my shorts with no knee pain at all. Then, I rode my first century wearing my knickers and my knees have been hurting since. I will take a few days off and my knees will feel like they are okay to ride, but as soon as I throw my knickers on, ride, and get home, I am back to icing/heating my knees for 2 days. I did notice small bruises where the seams pushed on my knee cap, so I wasn't sure if it was the norm.

Hmmm.. maybe it is time to invest in some looser running leggings worn over my shorts? I think I will try that and see if the problem subsides. Thanks!

Maybe they are too tight?

My knee warmers are too tight. I don't think they let the patella move normally. It gets worse when my muscles start to swell during an intense ride. Overall, they are the "right" size (bigger and they'd fall down), but they aren't really that ergonomically designed. I'm always tugging at them to try to get them looser over the patella. I got leg warmers from a different brand that are made much more contoured to the leg. I have no problems with those.

I don't have any cycling garments that affect my knees. But I've never liked the idea of compression tights on the bike, and now that I think about it, that's exactly why.

My Adidas "unisex" knee warmers are fine on my knees, but too tight in the calf grippers, and they cut off my circulation and give me leg cramps. :mad: Any larger and they wouldn't stay on my thighs. Two weeks ago on CFC I borrowed some PI knee warmers from a (male) friend of a friend, and they fit perfectly. Should've looked at the size.

I got some wool tights to wear over my cycling shorts. They're really comfy, warm enough, but not too warm. My varicose veins probably wouldn't be too thrilled with cycling knickers.

Deb

The seams on my Shebeest pedal pushers leave red marks behind my knees and the elastic is a bit more snug around my calves then I would like, but I haven't had bruises.

Thanks for all of your replies! I ended up snagging some Under Armour Coldgear tights on the clearance rack at a local sports store that I will just wear over my shorts. Hopefully that will do the trick. :cool: