Knee, Achilles Tendon, back...what doesn't hurt?

[OakLeaf]

At the risk of beating the same drum yet again... How long are your crankarms? +1 on ankling, IT band, seat height ... But when a saddle is simultaneously too high and too low, that means your cranks are too long.

[Owlie]

At the risk of beating the same drum yet again... How long are your crankarms? +1 on ankling, IT band, seat height ... But when a saddle is simultaneously too high and too low, that means your cranks are too long.

172.5.

[OakLeaf]

Don't know how long your legs are, but at 5'3" I can't ride anything longer than 165 without irritating my kneecaps and Achilles.

[indysteel]

I can use 170s at 5'4. 172.5's would be pushing it. Did your fitter talk to you about that? Still, the fact that only your right ITB seems irritated is still consistent with a q factor issue. The right pedal is further offset than the left because of the chainrings. So, sometimes only the right ITB gets irritated.

But, honestly, I think the best thing is to revisit the fitter and talk about what's happening. A few tweaks might be in order.

[Crankin]

I have never been able to ride anything except 165s. I am short, but still, when I tried the 170s it was torture.

[Owlie]

Don't know how long your legs are, but at 5'3" I can't ride anything longer than 165 without irritating my kneecaps and Achilles.

I'm a 5'6.75" with long legs. Fitter never mentioned crank length as being an issue.

Indy, that definitely made sense. My fitter knows I don't want to put too much money into the bike right now, as I'm saving up for a new one (a de facto compact double), but encouraged me to get a CD when I bought a new bike or upgraded the drivetrain on this bike.

I went on a short, slow ride (12.5 miles, or thereabouts) this evening. Honestly, the "sit bone" pain (which isn't actually on my sit bone, but slightly further forward) and chafing were bigger issues than the knee pain today. I now have an explanation for about half the stuff that's been bothering me. Apparently I'm not actually sitting on the "sit spots" on the saddle. I'm sitting weirdly...I don't even know how, since I can't replicate it on the trainer or with the bike against the wall. There is definitely a sweet spot on the saddle where my sit bones are in the right places and the knee pain is nearly gone, my left side isn't as irritated and my weight is more normally distributed on the saddle. Once I find it, the issue is keeping myself there.
I have a feeling that the weird position I'm sitting in has something to do with my overall position on the bike. It seems I prefer to be somewhat more aggressive than the bike will let me. The fitter did say that the stem I have on there is about 5mm too short, and I think that might have something to do with it, since I feel like a slight tweak lengthwise would help my shoulders as well. I'll have to give him a call and see what we can arrange.

[Owlie]

Did another ride today. My knee is still very unhappy with me.

I'm calling the fitter/LBS tomorrow. Since it's in Cincy, I need to schedule it for my day off. I'm contemplating new pedals and shoes anyway. Thoughts? (I'm thinking either Look Keos or Speedplays.)

Is there anything I can do in the meantime, beyond rest, ice and NSAIDs if necessary?