OP
OP
Sellyb
Active Member
- Location
- Sayers Common, Sussex
It is definitely better with my saddle lower, thank you. I guess that was the problem.
Knee problem...any idea what this is?
- Thread starter Sellyb
- Start date
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Badgeroo
Regular
- Location
- Audenshaw, Manchester
This describes the same issue I've been suffering for the last few weeks... Didn't notice it on the first ride when I'd raised the saddle, felt it on a longer ride (halfway through) but continued on, and then it comes on quickly in the last few rides, meaning I've cut them short 
I'll be dropping my saddle a bit as a result of this thread!
I'll be dropping my saddle a bit as a result of this thread!
OP
OP
Sellyb
Active Member
- Location
- Sayers Common, Sussex
It has made a huge difference to me! I did the longest ride I have ever done last weekend, a good 25 miles over and above what I'm used to, only a week after suffering with this knee problem. I was really worried about the knee, but with a lower saddle, not even a twinge!! It's such a relief, thank you all for your advice.
Generally, the first thing to check if you have a "straining" pain at the back of (and "inside") the knee is that the seat is too high. But be careful that you don't lower the seat too much, else you'll potentially swap one type of knee pain for another on the front of the knee, and lose power also. Lowering the seat by small increments at a time (e.g. 2-3 mm), and marking the post with (say) insulation tape so that you have a reference point to work to is the way to go about it. Once you have a height that works, mark that point so you can return to it without future trial and error.
If your budget ever stretches to it and you can justify it, consider having a professional bike fit such as that offered by Adrian Timmis @ Cadence Sport
http://www.cadencesport.co.uk/bike-fitting/
(no connection, except v satisfied customer a few years ago; some of the best cycling money I've spent)
If your budget ever stretches to it and you can justify it, consider having a professional bike fit such as that offered by Adrian Timmis @ Cadence Sport
http://www.cadencesport.co.uk/bike-fitting/
(no connection, except v satisfied customer a few years ago; some of the best cycling money I've spent)
OP
OP
Sellyb
Active Member
- Location
- Sayers Common, Sussex
I am now very confused. I joined up with the local road cycling club yesterday for the first time, and towards the end of the ride, a guy, who I have to say looked like he would have been in the road cycling world for some years, told me that my saddle looked a little high, and I was pedalling toe down, and suggested lowering it a 1/4 inch. He looks like he would know what he was talking about.
However, I have had no more problems with my hamstrings, but today the front of my knee is hurting, so I am a little worried about lowering my saddle any more.
However, I did go further yesterday at a faster pace, so could it be that my knee is just not used to going that far? I am a little bit worried about lowering my saddle any more, as I did put it up a few mm a week or so ago, as I thought I was getting twinges in the front, so was taking the advice as above..
However, I have had no more problems with my hamstrings, but today the front of my knee is hurting, so I am a little worried about lowering my saddle any more.
However, I did go further yesterday at a faster pace, so could it be that my knee is just not used to going that far? I am a little bit worried about lowering my saddle any more, as I did put it up a few mm a week or so ago, as I thought I was getting twinges in the front, so was taking the advice as above..
if your saddle is too high your btm will move a bit - as your left foot goes down, your left buttock goes down a bit, and the same with the right. The difficulty is that you might not know you're doing it, and it might pay to get somebody to follow and observe - and, trust me on this, there's be no shortage of volunteers on Cycle Chat.
But.....there's a difficulty here. Saddle height is no less a fashion thing than anything else in cycling. The oldies in the CTC tend to have their saddles a little lower than the more sprightlier items who started cycling in the seventies and eighties (sprightly is a relative term in the CTC). Road cyclists tend to have big thigh muscles, and can cope with a lower saddle - if I move my saddle down to the level that most road cyclists employ my knees would pack in after twenty miles.
Then again.....it might be that you're putting too much on the back of the bike and not enough on the handlebars. Your saddle may be at the right height but too far back - again, road cyclists with big muscles can manage this, but mere mortals struggle.
Worse still - you're a woman, which makes your geometry different. And, for what it's worth, I wouldn't rule out the cleats, because the only time that I have the kind of difficulty you describe is when (like now) I find myself using cleats with 'float' - and switching back to 'no-float' cleats cures it instantly. So....while all the advice you can get on the internet is worthwhile there's no substitute for having someone with an experiecnced eye look over the entire set-up.
My advice - go out with this mob http://www.horshamandcrawleyctc.org.uk/ - they're not superspeedy and they come in all shapes and sizes, and, better yet, both genders. And they've been doing it for a while.
But.....there's a difficulty here. Saddle height is no less a fashion thing than anything else in cycling. The oldies in the CTC tend to have their saddles a little lower than the more sprightlier items who started cycling in the seventies and eighties (sprightly is a relative term in the CTC). Road cyclists tend to have big thigh muscles, and can cope with a lower saddle - if I move my saddle down to the level that most road cyclists employ my knees would pack in after twenty miles.
Then again.....it might be that you're putting too much on the back of the bike and not enough on the handlebars. Your saddle may be at the right height but too far back - again, road cyclists with big muscles can manage this, but mere mortals struggle.
Worse still - you're a woman, which makes your geometry different. And, for what it's worth, I wouldn't rule out the cleats, because the only time that I have the kind of difficulty you describe is when (like now) I find myself using cleats with 'float' - and switching back to 'no-float' cleats cures it instantly. So....while all the advice you can get on the internet is worthwhile there's no substitute for having someone with an experiecnced eye look over the entire set-up.
My advice - go out with this mob http://www.horshamandcrawleyctc.org.uk/ - they're not superspeedy and they come in all shapes and sizes, and, better yet, both genders. And they've been doing it for a while.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I think my saddle is set quite high, efficiency wise for me it works, it was determined by a bike fit (based on 172.5mm cranks) but at the same time I was riding an older bike with 175mm cranks and gradually I felt my calf (not sore, just weird if you know what I mean); I decided to drop the saddle by 2.5mm and forward by 2.5mm and the feeling went away. IMO its amazing what a small difference can make. My fit was in a shop but I've also out of curiosity tried an on line one and it broadly agrees, I used www.wrenchscience.com .
