My knees are killing me...

[violette]

I went on a 70km bike ride on Sunday. I've been riding for about 5 yrs, doing longer rides with hills, shorter rides without hills. About half way through the ride, my knees started throbing, and I mean pain!!! This has never happened to me before and I didn't do or change anything in my ride, seat same height, same shoes... What is wrong???

[beccaB]

Which part of your knee hurts and is there swelling? That might make a difference if it's cartilage or connective tissue.

[Andrea]

I get pain under my patella occasionally on long rides. I usually try to scoot my butt back on the saddle a little bit then take an anti-inflammatory when I get home if it's still hurting.

[violette]

It's below my knee cap and travels behind my leg, behing the knee.

[Aggie_Ama]

I get pain and swelling of the knees on most rides. Having a good bike fit is key, I really hated riding before I got my bike re-fit. Still I do have problems with the knees but not as severe. Mine stems from prior injury from bowling competitively and running.

For the swelling I take 4 ibuprofen, this dosage was recommended by my doctor. I would definitely consult yours before popping that much ibuprofen! Otherwise scooting back on the saddle does provide minor relief, sometimes I just get too far up on mine and that is not how my bike was fitted for me.

[beccaB]

It's below my knee cap and travels behind my leg, behing the knee.

Do you have your seat high enough or too low? Maybe you could have your local bike shop look at you on your bike. Typically if the seat is too low there's pain in the front of the knee, and too high results in pain in the back of the knee, but that is a broad generalization.

[violette]

That is what I was thinking. My seat feels lower than before but I thought it was just my imagination. I'll adjust it tonight and see what happens. Thanks

[aicabsolut]

Are your hamstrings abnormally tight?

[Smilie]

Take precautions while riding your bike wear knee caps each time you ride.

What are knee caps? Besides the obvious ones that come with us each day.

[tulip]

The only time I've had knee problems is when I rode 100 miles in two days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was so worried about all the climbing that I kept my gearing in the granny gears. The second day was the worst. My riding partner suggested that I push slightly harder gears (not mash, just not spin with abandon) and that really helped. It seems counter productive to push harder gears to keep knees from hurting, but it worked for me. Were you spinning with abandon on your long ride?

[malkin]

Every now and then my knees are uncomfortable on a ride, and every now and then my knees get puffy after a ride. I don't see a consistent connection with the length of the ride. The ice bag is my friend. Beyond that, I guess I'd want a doc to take a look.

[Mr. Bloom]

Here's a good site:

http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

[arielmoon]

Here's a good site:

http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

That article was super helpful. I am going to take "Dara" in for a fit check. I think my seat may be too high or too far back!

[VeloVT]

I rarely get knee pain from riding, but when I have, it has been related to bad fore/aft positioning (in my case, this usually means being too far forward, but that will depend on your body and your bike).

[arielmoon]

I have arthritis in both knees, my orthopedist said I have a 60 year old's knees, but I have never had this type of pain before.

At mile 60 in the century I felt posterior tension in my right knee. I am not sure what it says about the fit of my bike to have one knee hurt and not the other. It is still sore 4 days later but improving steadily although I have not been back on my bike.