Using a goniometer to measure knee angle

[Presto]

I can go by feel, but wanted to get a little closer to optimum 'cause I need all the help I can get climbing .

"Feel" is optimum. One person's optimum is another person's agony. Fred's optimum might be 37 degrees for max output, while Fredwina's optimum might be 43 degrees for max output. (pain decreases output, too) If I set either at 40 degrees and told them it was perfect, they'd be back at the shop in a week and unhappy with me.

The most important goniometric measurement was the one you had with the coach, which showed your current angle well outside the 35-45 degree range. You raised your saddle, and felt the good power change. You needed to raise the saddle and you felt the improvement when you did. Now you just need to fiddle with it so you aren't irritating your knee. Where your saddle actually ends up is determined by your unique body.

Trust yourself. You can do this!

[Presto]

This is the goniometer I use. http://www.frenchcreekmedical.com/pr...p/do-gon12.htm

Make sure you line it up with the correct bony landmarks. (lateral malleolus and greater trochanter) Center the axis of the goni on the axis of the knee joint itself. Remember that the patella is not part of the axis. Make sure your ankle is in its comfortable position. Changing the flex of your ankle will completely change your knee angle, so watch it. Keep your hips level during measuring.

Even highly trained people can vary in their measurements by 5 degrees, so take any number you get with a 5 degree grain of salt.

Then fine tune it by feel. Trust yourself, really!

[tctrek]

Thanks for the advice. That makes perfect sense. I guess being in IT that I'm too much of a math geek and always looking for the algorithm/logic that works!

[Tokie]

We use a piece of electrical tape wrapped around the seatpost for a starting point. A tiny change in seat height can be very significant -(as you just found out) - go slow! Tokie