great to get out on the bike again, but my knee!

[Pascale]

So either my knee has changed since the last time I rode more than 5 miles on my road bike, or my shoes have been messed up - but after 20 miles, the outside of my right knee was in so much pain, i could barely pedal (and I was still 20 miles away from home!). My left knee felt great the whole time - but my right foot does toe out a lot (ducklike??) but I think my clipless pedals force them to point forward. It sucked that I didn't feel it until I was 20 miles into the ride - I managed to get another 10 miles closer to home, then started to walk my bike. When walking was too slow and became too painful, I finally put aside my pride and called my husband for a ride (which still meant walking/limping/attempting to painfully pedal) back another 2 miles to a spot that I could be picked up since I was on a rail trail.

I've had this bike 4 years and have had long rides before and never had this kind of pain - do people have to occassionally mess with their pedals?

[redrhodie]

The thing I'm wondering is, could your saddle have slipped lower? I had that happen recently. But it could be cleats, too. Does it look off compared to the good side? If your screws are loose (no pun intended ) it could have slipped to a weird angle, I suppose.

[Pascale]

Well, my screws are definitely loose, but that's a different issue altogether I'm sure it's entirely possible that the cleats loosened up, since I use the shoes on my MTB, which has clips on one side and are flat on the other, and I'm way too afraid to clip in so far on a MTB trail. I played with them a bit on the ride back when my knee first started to hurt, but I'm not sure at this point if I should set them to force my right foot forward (which is NOT it's natural angle and will really pull on the knee) or set them to point out. Or trash them and get floating pedals like Speedplays. In either case, I'm out of commission for cycling or tennis for the foreseeable future - stupid me!

[Abarnes]

more background please!
mileage before? pain or injuries lately in other sports (you mention tennis)?
have you had a bike fit?
it could be your cleat shifted, screws DO come loose (although I always say that it's the loose NUT on the saddle! )

[bellissima]

I've had this bike 4 years and have had long rides before and never had this kind of pain - do people have to occassionally mess with their pedals?

Unless you can see that your cleats have actually moved you and prior to the pain you were able to ride your bike on long rides without any problems it may not be a bike or pedals issue. The pain on the outside of the knee is usually caused by IT Band syndrome, and this can happen to anybody specially if poor flexibility is present. You can find a lot of info on IT band Syndrome on the web, that way you can see if that is your problem.

[tulip]

40 miles is alot, particularly if you've been off the bike for a while. You could simply have overdone it. Ouch.

[Pascale]

Good advice from all, thank you - and the more I think about it, I think I agree that it's a flexibility issue/biting off more than I was ready to chew issue. My rides this year have been either MTB'ing (where I seem to be able to coast as much as pedal) and road biking w/hills under 6 miles. This rail trail is 100% pedaling - it's so flat that there's rarely an opportunity to coast. I have had a bike fit (when I purchased the bike about 3 years ago) - I think I really did just overlook the fact that it's been a crappy summer and I haven't been out nearly enough to tackle that ride (the heart was willing, just not the one knee!). That being said, I'll rest that knee up, take the bike in for another check for fit and have the shoes looked at and try not to let my pride get in the way of common sense next time!

[redrhodie]

Sounds like a good plan. I hope you get it worked out quickly!

Is that a Borzoi in your avatar?

[Pascale]

That IS a Borzoi in my avatar - my very first one, my heart dog, Spice - she's been gone now for about 6 years, and I miss her daily - but I do have 3 others now who keep me company, keep me busy and keep her spirit alive