Cycling "knock knees"??

[RoadRaven]

Sorry Velo... what I meant when I chimed in on the "knock knees", I was not referring to true 'diagnosed' knock knees...

I just meant that when you cycle, if you are aiming for aero position, you try and "aim" your knees inwards to reduce the bucket effect - in the same way aero bars reduce the bucket created on the tops or drops.

You are very right, Velo, you still want comfort for the rider and position should not compromise comfort.

[SouthernBelle]

Would properly positioned cleats, assuming your are riding clipless, help alleviate some of this?

[aicabsolut]

If the knee issue is stemming from the foot being allowed to toe-in or out due to bad cleat alignment, then yeah, it would help.

If the problem is in the way the foot is making contact with the pedal (a varus or valgus abnormality), then moving the clips won't make much difference. In that case, you'd need a forefoot wedge to help align the leg. From what I've read, it's those kind of issues that can generate knee pain under load. Wedges and arch support can also help people whose tibia curve slightly (usually outward from the ankle--like my right side).

Then there are issues with the hips and pelvis: flexibility, muscle imbalances, alignment etc.

[Melstar]

Ok ok.. so from what i gather after reading everyones posts, is that knees inwards to bike frame isn't necessarily a bad thing in fact its good for racing... as long as the knee tracks a uniform path during its course of pedaling? Right? Wrong? No?

To knotted_yet: My knee doesn't wobble erratically through the pedal motion. The knee does however angle inwards for segments during a ride where i'll pedal with that form for some distance.

Perhaps weak muscles? I'm not exactly very strong so i'm not sure. hmm

Okie.. thanks for the feedback tho.

[CycleChic06]

I went out for a short ride yesterday and was thinking about knee position. I noticed a huge difference when I made a consience effort to keep my knees in, and even rub against the bike frame like you were all discussing. It was a good thing, I felt a lot more comfortable (no knee pain like I've been experiencing lately) and felt like I also had a lot more power in my pedal stroke.

[Bad JuJu]

Be careful about trying to correct knee movement through pedal cleat position--when I tried to do that to correct the way my knees (and consequently my feet) want to point outboard, the result was knee injury and 6 weeks of physical therapy.

Also, read this thread, about dealing with knee issues:
Looping Knees

[SouthernBelle]

After reading this and Mimitabby's post, I realize that I tend toward the knock-kneed. This dawned on me after realizing when I have tried to attach something to the top tube for storage, it's in the way.

So, in weight training, should I work my adductors more because they need the strength, or my abductors in an attempt to compensate?