Bloody knees…

[bearlymoving]

I'm thinking I might be touch and go for the WRT.

Three weeks ago I went on a 4 day bikepacking trip on forest roads and country lanes, wearing a new pair of cycling shoes.

A couple of days before I set off I fitted the cleats to my new shoes in the same position as they were in on my old shoes (which happens to be as far back towards the heel as I can get them), then went on a 40 mile test ride.

A couple of miles in, it was clear that my saddle was too high (I now suspect the new shoes have thinner soles than my old ones). I dropped it 5mm. For the rest of the ride everything seemed fine.

The next day, pedalling was a bit painful, but dropping the saddle another 3mm seemed to help. Throughout the following week I was in mild pain in the mornings, but it disappeared whenever the hills got serious. I'm guessing the body can anaesthetise itself when there's hard work to do?

4 days later (after a long train journey) I was surprised to find I could barely turn a pedal. I assumed I'd just overdone it a bit after the initial injury, and that it'd sort itself out. I've been off the bike for a couple of weeks.

Things have definitely improved. This afternoon I went on a 10 mile ride, just to check the bike worked. The bike was fine, but my knee hurt after a mile of average riding.

So I'm after a second opinion. Riding the WRT right now would be daft, wouldn't it?

I'm tempted to come to the pub for the craic, kip in the field, and stand around drinking tea regardless. This'd be the second year on the trot that a dodgy knee so early in the year would have kept me away…

[Lawmanmx]

ive got a knackered ankle so im gonna smother it in Volterol gel and pull my Neo-G support and try n enjoy the experience, if it gets too much i will lymp back at a very slow pace :)

so man up and join us

[Wilkyboy]

Have you still got your old shoes with the cleats still attached in the same positions? If so, switch back to them, raise you saddle 8mm back to its original position and give that a go — if it works then there's your answer. If still in pain then maybe the damage is done, or it's something else entirely.

I had knee issues back in 2013 and learned how to use medical/sports tape to balance my ITB (ilio-tibial band) after having to ride "unclipped" and on my heel for 100km, as well as abandoning a 200km ride halfway. With this knowledge I was able to strengthen the muscles around my knee to the point it has been stable since then and I stopped with the tape after two months.

At the end of the day, you must look after your knees, but with careful analysis and remedial attention you could be okay for a low-intensity WRT, but if you're like me then it will be weeks/months before your knees are stable enough for a full-on event.

This is just my opinion — obviously a sports-injury specialist would be a safer opinion to follow.

[Matt]

I've not been able to walk all week

On Monday and yesterday I've had to crawl down the stairs backwards on my hands and knees.

Riding the WRT this weekend is very 'daft' but I wouldn't miss it

Just do what you fancy,,,

[Lawmanmx]

seriously now, get a rolling pin and roller your legs until you find the sore spots then work on them, do it now and 3 times at least tomorrow, i swear by the power of the pin

[bearlymoving]

ive got a knackered ankle … if it gets too much i will lymp back at a very slow pace :)

so man up and join us

You make a good point. Turning up doesn't guarantee that I'll make the problem worse…

Have you still got your old shoes with the cleats still attached in the same positions? If still in pain then maybe the damage is done, or it's something else entirely.

I've got pictures of the cleats in place, but I've also got a bike whose saddle I've not messed with and my winter boots that have historically been fine with it (and they're looking like the ideal footwear right now).

I had knee issues back in 2013 and learned how to use medical/sports tape to balance my ITB (ilio-tibial band) after having to ride "unclipped" and on my heel for 100km, as well as abandoning a 200km ride halfway. … At the end of the day, you must look after your knees, but with careful analysis and remedial attention you could be okay for a low-intensity WRT, but if you're like me then it will be weeks/months before your knees are stable enough for a full-on event.

I'm aiming for (perhaps "was aiming for" would be a better way of thinking about it) Mark W's LHC group, which isn't a walkover. I think I'll investigate some shorter options tomorrow so I can pootle about at my own pace – cheers for the reply, for some reason I hadn't thought of that option.

[bearlymoving]

On Monday and yesterday I've had to crawl down the stairs backwards on my hands and knees.

Classic! I'll keep an eye out for you…

seriously now, get a rolling pin and roller your legs until you find the sore spots then work on them, do it now and 3 times at least tomorrow, i swear by the power of the pin

I'm a big roller fan, but this is in the patella. Not sure it'll have the desired affect!

[adjustablewench]

This thread has reassured me no end, on top of my myelopathy fun of dodgy arm and leg and neck issues I have also developed a cold and broke a tooth.

I shall be there with strong pain killers and last resort lemsip

[Bearbonesnorm]

Maybe pop a pair of flats on - much more forgiving on the knees.

[Scattamah]

If you want to be out there, Vitamin I + KT tape to give your knee support.

And if you don't have one, get an Ergon cleat positioning tool. Helps you get the right setting every time. Pricey for a bit of plastic, but worth it to get it right and cheaper than a fitting.

Greetz

S.

[Richard G]

I'll still be there with my screwed hamstring. Hopefully it'll be healed enough not to do long term damage.

[bearlymoving]

Maybe pop a pair of flats on - much more forgiving on the knees.

An excellent suggestion. Unfortunately I've only got clipless pedals because they allow me to put wedges between the cleat and the shoe that make my knees track up and down properly, which prevents my knees from giving up after 25 miles (but in a different way to their current grumblings). I got them during a bike fitting a couple of years back, and it totally transformed my riding.

And if you don't have one, get an Ergon cleat positioning tool. Helps you get the right setting every time.

I'll investigate, cheers.

I also came across this video yesterday, that shows you how to use a sheet of paper taped to the kitchen workshop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmN5KxcZLfw&t=3s

I'm not sure that cleat position was the problem though (I use speedplay frogs with a ridiculous amount of float). I think it was more the effective saddle height caused by a thinner sole in the new shoe. But I'm guessing, even though there don't seem to be any other variables.

[bearlymoving]

With a heavy heart, I've decided I have to sit this one out. It's my only option really.

I'd come along just for the craic, but my van's at the garage so getting there would mean riding at least 35 miles. Plenty of them are up hill, and given that the knee hasn't healed properly in 4 weeks I'd be jeopardising all the riding I've got planned over the next few months.

<insert sad panda>

But I'm looking forward to seeing the photos…

[Scattamah]

Sorry to hear that. Don't discount the cleat position...I'm an Eggbeater kinda guy with, as you say, ridiculous amounts of float, and I've borked the fore/aft positioning before and toasted my knees. Crashing and not getting my saddle straight again also screwed things royally. I couldn't say 100% for sure, but I'm game for a wager that not all shoes have the cleat slots in identical positions in relation to toe 'n heel.

Greetz

S.