Will getting clipped in help my knees?

[joyrider]

Thank you all again for all of your incredible support!

[CorsairMac]

I've been taking the glucosamine/chondri-something for about two weeks and what a difference! Knee problem? What knee problem?
I even worry that what's happening is that the supplements are "masking" my knee pain and what I'm doing now is just grinding the crap out of my cartilage while under the influence of powerful painkillers...
Still going to get clipped in - probably taking the plunge early next week. Got the shoes. Got the spandex. Can't wait but afraid of falling!

Good for you Joy - sounds like you got the knee pain under control. And great good luck on your pedals - let us know how it goes. Like someone around here said - don't be afraind of falling - it'll probably happen so just accept it! I'm beginning to think it's a rite of passage - if someone tells you they've "never" fallen, they probably ain't using clipless! :-D

[spazzdog]

Hey joyrider; good to know you're doing well on the GLU/MSM combo.

I've had 2 scopes done on my left knee (1 to repair a dislocation and 1 that was supposed to be a torn meniscus; turned out to be a 70% surface fracture of the tibia). Needless to say, I've had chondromalachia for years.

I've found that certain exercises really help the tracking issue. Basically it invovles working all 4 of the quadraceps muscles and stretching the iliotibial band. If you cat "train the muscles" they will naturally keep the patella tracking correctly.

Let me know if you want the exercises (or you may already know this).

spazz (who's friends used to call her Festas)

[Bike Goddess]

Hey SD- Everything you say about cycling and nutrition (except for the meat part) is a mirror of what I believe as well. I wish I could cycle with YOU as well as the other great people I cycle with out here in Cali-for-nia!

I think you should be a coach- seriously.

[spazzdog]

Thanks BG... I like to coach, but I do it from the perspective of "them that can, do and them that can't, coach"

I've always been a mediocre athlete, but love all the sports I've participated in. Part of my MO is researching every teeny bit of a sport, so I end up with lots of info in my little pee-brain.

Having never been an "elite" athlete, I always come from the "common grrls" place of beginning at the bottom rather than the top.

It'd be nice to live out there where you can get more ride time in due to more cooperative weather. I know folks out here ride in the cold and the rain, but I just hate the stuff... so I wait for the warm days.

spazz

[Bike Goddess]

Well, SDog, I was thinkin that since you were lookin for some kind of monetary profession... fill in the rest!

I always say, find something you love and do that for a living!

[CorsairMac]

Well, SDog, I was thinkin that since you were lookin for some kind of monetary profession... fill in the rest!

I always say, find something you love and do that for a living!

cept I can't seem to find anyone that wants to pay a short,middle-aged, slightly overweight woman (me) to ride my bike!

[Susan126]

Let me know if you want the exercises (or you may already know this).

spazz (who's friends used to call her Festas)

Hey SD, could you pass along those exercises and stretches for the quads and iliotibial band. After a slacking winter I find my right knee and inner thigh tight this spring. I have started off easy and I am slowly building my strength and endurance back up to what it used to be like way back in October (before my winter hibernation began). This was the first winter that I did nothing. I'm ashamed of myself for allowing this to happen. Needless to say it will not happen this winter! But getting back in shape at (51) is not like it used to be at 31 or even 41!!!! But my legs do have "memory" and I find improvement daily!

Thanks . . . Sue

[spazzdog]

WE could start our own pro racing team... self-supported like a little cottage industry.

Names:

Just Fixin To (JFT) Spinners
Cookie Dough Moms (CDM)
Neener Neener Neener (NNN) Pastya
Martini Mashers


And to bring back around... we'll do it with good heathy knees.

[DirtDiva]

After all, I can drink faster than I can ride.

[nuthatch]

Why don't we work on getting the feds or state govs to let our women's cycling team tour the country sharing the joys and benefits of cycling to America's youth - it would reduce our health care costs, reduce type 2 diabetes in the young, provide an economic boost for the cycling industry, strengthen the cycling lobby's efforts to encourage communities to make themselves more cycle-friendly, etc. Everyone's a winner. Part of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Hmmm, perhaps Martini Mashers would need to be reconsidered....

Along the knee question theme - do any of you Glucosamine/MSM users experience any stomach problems when you take it? I tried it for about a week and had to quit because my reflux and IBS got so bad. Any alternate forms of it around that address that problem? I've got bad-ish knees and want to protect what knee health I've got. I can't imagine life without cycling! In fact, I'm hoping I'm out riding a bike when I keel over at 95.

[RoadRaven]

I absolutely recommend glucosamine too, but sorry nuthatch, I don't know of alternatives... although I do remember hearing of an arthritis study conducted somewhere in the States (LOL, that REALLY narrows it down) where people due for a hip replacement (as in chronic, top of the operating list) were given a tablespoon of powdered chicken cartilage in a glass of orange juice for three months and less than 5% still needed an operation or had any pain at all... dunno if that product has been developed or marketed in the States - haven't seen it here.

I find that hill riding (going up) makes my knees work hard, and I never do two days of hills (for hills, read the upward inclines that make you work, whther they are mountains or hillocks) in a row - give your knees time to recover.

As you ride more, you develop the muscles around your knees, and they give support and help protect...

As you ride more, you begin to lose weight, and having lost my first half stone, I feel easier climbing hills, I mean, thats half a stone I don't need to drag along with me!

And I have def found cleats on my pedals/shoes help
- going up because I can pull a little...
- going along a straight because I have better momentum and both legs seem to do less work for the same effort, if that makes sense...

Take it easy and be patient... hopefully your body will strengthen to supportt those joints and riding will be a joy...

[joyrider]

Nuthatch - I find the glucosamine/chondroitin supplement I take makes me queasy if I don't take it on a full stomach OR if I try to take it at the same time I take my vitamins, fish oil, etc. Ick. But I don't have reflux issues... Wondering, though, if maybe taking the supplements in the form of a powder mixed with liquid or a smoothie (Trader Joe's carries something called "Joint Powder") would be easier on you? Maybe not hang out in your stomach causing trouble for too long? Also, the bottle I have says to take up to three a day and I take only one. Trying to seek the minimum level, you know!
I'm also assuming some weight loss will help with me. I use the semi truck vs. Porsche analogy - it's not that the Porsche's greater power makes it zip up the hills faster than the truck, it's just that it's carrying A LOT LESS CARGO!

[spazzdog]

I always took mine (with my assorted vitamins) with one of those drinkable yogurts (Stoneyfield) or a SLimFast drink (royal chocolate...mmmm). I liked the SlimFast drink best because it made for a good pre-ride drink.

No problems!

[RoadRaven]

A good exercise to strengthen knees...

Lie on the bed on your back... put a couple of pillows under your knees...

Lift your legs to straight (no higher - don't lift your thighs)

Repeat up to 100 times...

As your legs get stronger - or if they are already strong, attach a weight to your ankles (just a small one) for extra resistance... a pillow balanced on top can be enough

Have fun working out!

LOL... Time to workout... I'm just off to lie down