Frustrating knee pain (argh.)

[lyca]

Hi, all! Here's my dilemma:

When I started cycling, I was slightly worried about my knees because of an injury from childhood. They held up wonderfully, though, even after I went clipless.

And then,

One day, on a very flat route, I had to adjust my shoes. They seemed to be too loose, so I strapped them extra-tight.

Silly, silly me.

After riding for about 10 miles in that way, I could really feel the strain on my knees. On every ride since I've had some knee pain, especially going up hills or starting again if I've forgotten to shift down.

Should I try adjusting my cleats? The pain is on top of the knee and feels like I have to "crack" the joint but can't because I'm clipped in.

[KnottedYet]

Is your saddle too low or too far forward for your knee mechanics?

Do you need more float in your clipless set up?

It almost sounds like you were using loose shoes to substitute for more float, and when you tightened the shoes you "lost" your "float" and ticked off your knee.

I have a grumpy knee, but keep it happy with a saddle set farther back and super-floaty clipless and medial-wedged shoes.

[Zen]

Fit & Float

[TsPoet]

Fit & Float

+1
if tightening your shoes did it, sounds to me like you need more float.
Fit never hurts.

[Julibird]

fit+float...and arch supports in your shoes and Speedplay cleats and pedals. That does the trick for me. I too used to keep my SPDs loose - until one fell off! Lovin' my Speedplays. If you wear an orthotic for running or other sports, don't forget to use them in your bike shoes too.

Good luck!

[lyca]

Is your saddle too low or too far forward for your knee mechanics?

Do you need more float in your clipless set up?

It almost sounds like you were using loose shoes to substitute for more float, and when you tightened the shoes you "lost" your "float" and ticked off your knee.

Hmmmmmm......perhaps!!! There really isn't a ton of float in my set up right now...I have spd pedals...I'll see if I can loosen them any.

I was pondering my saddle situation on my ride today and wondered if I needed to take it back a bit. I'll fiddle with it and see if it makes a difference. After reading a bunch of threads on pro bike fittings, I'm beginning to realize that I should probably go get one.

And thus begins my quest for the lost float....

(Thanks, knott!)

[WindingRoad]

I have had some experience with the knee pain issue. I finally had a custom fitting done and that helped tremendously. I found out that my arches are uber high and clipping in and forcing them flat was causing the pain. After getting some shims put under my cleats, my knees have been doing much better. You might want to consider a fitting.

[Mr. Bloom]

I feel your pain - unfortunately.

There are many posts if you do a search for "knee pain".

Here's a helpful site that was referenced on one:

http://www.kneepaininfo.com/

[onimity]

I have bad knees and accordingly have great love for the bike fit guy at my LBS. He positioned my cleats for me based on my knee position/rotation and adjusted my saddle just a tiny bit...made a huge difference.

Anne