Shin splints from cycling?????

Hi All,

I rode a hilly 24 hour ride a couple of weeks ago and was forced to stop after 175 miles due to horrible pain in my knees. Extremely sharp pain with every pedal stroke. Even off the bike I could hardly walk. I THOUGHT I had prepared for this ride having done 2 centuries earlier this spring but we had a really crappy spring so my training WAS a little compressed. Anyway, the pain mow feels like shin splints even after resting for over two weeks of rest and. motrin. Can you get shin splints from cycling. We have nice weather now and I am just dying to get out there. Advice anyone?

Diane s

It sounds like you may be pointing your foot down towards the pavement.

AFAIK shin splints present as pain along the tibia (shin bone), not the knee?

Patellar tendinitis from cycling isn't uncommon. Is it possible that's what you have? Definitely get a good fitting.

may also be IT band issues. Roll out the side of your hip and leg from ankle to waist. Special attention to the areas tat feel sore. Work extra on hip abductors and outside of the thigh in strength and flexibility. Any muscles that you lose to throw your leg upand over the seat are vulnerable. Also do some hamstring work to keep it all balanced. Most bikers tend to have strong quads with moderate flexiility and stiffer weaker hip and hamstring muscles. Don't ask me how I know.