Knee pain and pedal systems---Zeros, Quattros, Frogs, others?

[Pedal Wench]

Speedplays have two basic models - the 'X' series, with unlimited free float, and the 'Zero's' which let you adjust the amount of float. This eliminated the 'ice-cube' feeling that the 'X' series give. I have the Zero's, and my knees love them!

[Kathi]

HappyAnika and RedCanny when you had acl/menicus repair was you graft a hamstring/patella graft or a cadaver graft. My ortho recommended a cadaver graft for me, he said that with a hamstring or patella graft I could have pain from time to time.

FWIW, I had acl surgery on Feb 28th and started riding with clipless on June 7 and notice no pain when I ride. Apparently, the speedplays are still keeping my knees happy.

[HappyAnika]

HappyAnika and RedCanny when you had acl/menicus repair was you graft a hamstring/patella graft or a cadaver graft. My ortho recommended a cadaver graft for me, he said that with a hamstring or patella graft I could have pain from time to time.

FWIW, I had acl surgery on Feb 28th and started riding with clipless on June 7 and notice no pain when I ride. Apparently, the speedplays are still keeping my knees happy.

Mine was a patella graft, but I swear most of my pain is due to my meniscus. A year after the initial surgery I had to have another scope just to work on the meniscus which was continuing to tear. Almost had another scope a couple years ago but I toughed it out and the severe pain ceased, however its always somewhat troublesome. I see you're in CO too, and your surgery was in Feb, was it skiing? Mine was. You must be recovering well, hopefully the cycling is helping! The stationery bike has always helped my knee and I just started riding "for real" this spring, so far so good.

[Kathi]

Mine was a patella graft, but I swear most of my pain is due to my meniscus. A year after the initial surgery I had to have another scope just to work on the meniscus which was continuing to tear. Almost had another scope a couple years ago but I toughed it out and the severe pain ceased, however its always somewhat troublesome. I see you're in CO too, and your surgery was in Feb, was it skiing? Mine was. You must be recovering well, hopefully the cycling is helping! The stationery bike has always helped my knee and I just started riding "for real" this spring, so far so good.

Yes, it was skiing, well, I ran into a closed rope at the Super B lift at Copper. It's a bungy cord and it catapulated me backwards. My skis tracked on the inside edges and I didn't stop until my legs could stretch no farther.

I tore my right MCL/ACL, lucky I didn't hurt the left one too! My ortho let me ride the trainer right after the injury. He wouldn't do surgery until the MCL healed so it was 6 weeks on the trainer. I was back on the trainer 9 days after surgery and riding outdoors 4 1/2 weeks after surgery. However, I was not allowed to use clipless pedals until June 5. Speedplay has a platform pedal that clips over the X pedal so I used those. I climbed Vail pass and did Turquoise Lake with them.

I managed to maintain my cardio conditioning and rebuild strength. It was the muscle endurance that took so long. It must be coming back, I rode 40 miles today and don't feel like I need to sleep for hours.

I just finished my PT sessions, but will continue the exercises. In the fall I will start a maintence program that Health South offers. Ortho says I will ski this coming winter.

My partner tore his ACL/Menicus 4 years ago and he complains about pain too. He has Look pedals with some float. He adjusted the float and feels better. He just did Ride the Rockies and the knees didn't bother him that much.

What part of Colorado do you live?

[GreenLady]

I have the Speedplay Zero pedals, and it was very nice to be able to adjust the float. Apparently a lot of riders with knee pain use them. I haven't had any trouble yet.

[RedCanny]

Also make sure that you are not mashing your pedals... keep your cadence high (90-100). Mashing on the pedals can cause knee pain too.

Thank you- I've been getting better at spinning- though DH made a recent observation that his cadence is still faster than mine.

[RedCanny]

Mine was a patella graft, but I swear most of my pain is due to my meniscus.

Mine was also a patella graft. Doc also ended up making an additional incision to go in and clean up the mess that was my meniscus... so most likely I don't have a lot of it left!

Surgery was 11 years ago, and until now I haven't much of a problem with it, even during/after the additional 2 years of rugby play and several mountaineering trips (as long as I did sufficient resistance training).

I went to LBS yesterday & had them adjust the angle set on my cleat, so we'll see how that goes.