Achy knees after fitting....(long!)

[Starfish]

I just went through something like this. Had a bike that worked pretty well for me, but bought new shoes, pedals, and had a total fitting at the same time. LOVED several things about the newer fit (more aero, delighted that my back was happy with the lower position, etc.).

BUT, knee pain that I have never had on the bike before. Messed with everything from cleat width, angle, shimming, etc. Saddle fore/aft, etc.

Finally, I am back to the old shoes/pedals/fit...and knee pain is slowly going away. We just never did figure out exactly what part it was...as everything like plumb lines and so forth seemed to be "OK."

I still would like to make some adjustments and see about the new shoes, and a more aggressive bike...but, it is more important to me to just be able to get out and ride! So...back to the old position/fit.

Sorry...kinda long winded...just wanting to affirm that even small seat changes can make a big difference in knee comfort, and it might make sense to just put the bike back to where it was comfortable.

[KathiCville]

Thanks, Starfish!....After I posted my question, I remembered seeing some recent posts by you about knee problems. And was wondering if you're feeling better. Glad to hear that you're on the mend---or at least are finding your way back to comfort on the bike. I've already moved my seat back to the old spot, but I'm going to give my knees another day or two before I go out for a spin. That will give them a chance to recuperate before I test whether putting the seat back makes the key difference. Killin' me, however, not to be out on a pretty country road on my bike, 'cause it's GORGEOUS today, LOL! Ah well, my garden needs as much TLC as I can give it this weekend.......

[ehirsch83]

Hey Kathi-
Off Topic here, but where along the blue ridge are you? My wonderful BF is from up that way and we might be venturing up that way at some point to visit(he is from the northern neck area). I have no idea if that is anywhere near you and IfJane, but I know he always talks about how he used to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway....

[KathiCville]

Hi Emily.....I'm based in Charlottesville, about 20 miles from where Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway meet (Afton, off I-64). BRP heads south at that point; Skyline Drive heads north. Jane is about 40 miles north of me, in Madison County, so she's close to where Route 33 crosses the mountains and Skyline Drive.......I'm still a pretty slow/new rider, but Jane and her gang are speed demons, LOL!

[IFjane]

Hi Emily.....but Jane and her gang are speed demons, LOL!

WHO???? *lol*

Emily - no we aren't!

I am originally from the Northern Neck, and I know another TE'er who spends weekends there. The nothern part of the NN is about 1.5 hours from here (Madison); and a little more from Kathi. In fact, Charlottesville is exactly 100 miles from my mom's house (she still lives in the NN in the house where I grew up).

Please keep us posted on your travel plans - there are several of us up here and we'd love to hook up with another TE'er!

[KathiCville]

Someone commented recently in a post that TE'ers often hear about people's bike-related problems, but rarely about the outcome. So I thought I'd report back that my knee ache resolved itself very nicely and very quickly.

All it took was moving my seat back a bit, taking it easy for a few days, and following the excellent advice of the LBS that did the fitting: icing the knee, wearing long tights until the weather warms up, and not trying to up my speed and mileage simultaneously, LOL! Good lesson learned! I need to remember that my almost 50-year old body isn't quite as resilient as it was at 25! (Doh!) For good measure, I've added a knee strengthening exercise to the core strengthening stuff that IFJane and others have recommended. I'm already noticing a big difference in how much better I'm sitting on the bike, thanks to the fitting and the exercises. Amazing, what a bunch of mechanical tweaks of bike and body can do!.......So, a verrrrry happy ending! Thanks, Jane!

[Starfish]

Hey KathiCV, what a wonderfull outcome! Very nice of you to post, too. Thanks!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I need to remember that my almost 50-year old body isn't quite as resilient as it was at 25! (Doh!)

I started roller skating 3 months ago at the age of 54. Even though I bike thousands of miles a year, my knees were quite sore after skating for the first few weeks. I was just using my knees slightly differently than in biking (you need to skate with your knees slightly bent) and it took a while for my knee strength to catch up. But it did and now I have no knee issues when either skating or biking.

[ehirsch83]

Hey Kathi-
Off Topic here, but where along the blue ridge are you? My wonderful BF is from up that way and we might be venturing up that way at some point to visit(he is from the northern neck area). I have no idea if that is anywhere near you and IfJane, but I know he always talks about how he used to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway....

On the knee pain, a little tiny adjustment can create a huge amount of pain. I would have it checked out. Also remember that everyone's insides are different, so what might not cause pain for one person could cause pain for you. You might want to have them move the seat back to where it was, but tilt it up.