Bike fitment and knee problems
Discussion
Morning all,
I have had a problem with my knees over the past few weeks, which I am attributing to my recent increased amount cycling to and from work.
I am seeing a physio and have an MRI booked, but I have been informed by my consultant that ironically, cycling is the recommended exercise for this. My knee caps are not too happy going up and down and are sitting towards the outside of my legs.
Now obviously I dont want to just leap back on my bike as I expect the problem comes from my poor technique. I need to see someone that knows their stuff and can advise me if the bike fits correctly, if I am using it right, if I should get the clip in shoes etc etc.
I just spoke to a few places on the phone, Evans didnt offer the service, and neither did the local place. The Specialized concept store do offer this service but are recommending the clip in shoes and pedals and then a further £120 for half a days fitting and setup. This seems like quite a lot to me and so I want to ask the advice of PH. I am not willing to cut corners where my health is concerned, and so I want to make sure I am doing the right thing - as well as not being ripped off!
Thanks a lot, Chris.
I have had a problem with my knees over the past few weeks, which I am attributing to my recent increased amount cycling to and from work.
I am seeing a physio and have an MRI booked, but I have been informed by my consultant that ironically, cycling is the recommended exercise for this. My knee caps are not too happy going up and down and are sitting towards the outside of my legs.
Now obviously I dont want to just leap back on my bike as I expect the problem comes from my poor technique. I need to see someone that knows their stuff and can advise me if the bike fits correctly, if I am using it right, if I should get the clip in shoes etc etc.
I just spoke to a few places on the phone, Evans didnt offer the service, and neither did the local place. The Specialized concept store do offer this service but are recommending the clip in shoes and pedals and then a further £120 for half a days fitting and setup. This seems like quite a lot to me and so I want to ask the advice of PH. I am not willing to cut corners where my health is concerned, and so I want to make sure I am doing the right thing - as well as not being ripped off!
Thanks a lot, Chris.
As you don't have clipless pedals/shoes at the moment, saddle height would be my first point of call. With your HEEL on the pedal and the pedal to the bottom of the stroke, your leg should be straight when you sit on the saddle.
This means that when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal and ride normally you'll have a slight bend in your leg.
This means that when you put the ball of your foot on the pedal and ride normally you'll have a slight bend in your leg.
I had the Specialized BG fit done a couple of weeks ago. Well worth the money imo.
It took about 2.5 hours in total and I left with instructions to try it out, get used to it and see how I got on and then to return for adjustments and tweaks, try that out and come back for more if needed. I feel confident that the £120 will get me properly fitted to my bike, regardless of how much fiddling or swapping of parts may be required (nothing replaced so far thankfully).
In some ways I may not have gotten as much benefit as others may because the physical assessment determined that I'm super flexible, fit and healthy so I can slam the bike in a super aggressive efficient pro position and I don't need to worry so much about comfort because I can cope, though I did find out I have a 6mm difference in lower leg length which had to be catered to through saddle and cleat adjustment.
The next day I went out on the bike and it really was night and day in terms of putting the power down. It's made me noticeably faster and more efficient, particularly at seated climbing.
The main reason I wanted to have the fit done was because I used to have dodgy knees and wanted to be sure that although they don't give me many problems on the bike, I wasn't unknowingly done them harm, I had problems with numbness in my soft parts that was worrying me and any performance benefit would be a bonus. Haven't had a single twinge from the knees since having had it done, no problems with numbness (though I'm yet to get a decent 100+ mile day in) and the performace increase has been awesome.
It did seem a lot to pay to have someone move my saddle up and back, flip my stem and move my cleats, but for the price of a decent seatpost or pair of bib shorts, I'd say it was money well spent. And a lot cheaper than somewhere like Cyclefit or The Bike Whisperer though I'd have paid their prices (£250/£200 IIRC if they were local since the thing with those are that this is their area of expertise whereas the only negative I could say about the BG Fit is that it's clear Spesh run a training course and their dealers get sent away for x days of training and then get sent back to start fitting. But then again, the one I went to had only just started offering the service and while it felt a bit new and 'out of the text book', I didn't feel that I suffered for it. Hopfully will get a proper ride in on Saturday and then get back to the shop next week for feedback and adjustment if required. They're also happy to give you sheets with all the measurements and dimensions on so that you can set up your other bikes to match without paying anything extra.
It took about 2.5 hours in total and I left with instructions to try it out, get used to it and see how I got on and then to return for adjustments and tweaks, try that out and come back for more if needed. I feel confident that the £120 will get me properly fitted to my bike, regardless of how much fiddling or swapping of parts may be required (nothing replaced so far thankfully).
In some ways I may not have gotten as much benefit as others may because the physical assessment determined that I'm super flexible, fit and healthy so I can slam the bike in a super aggressive efficient pro position and I don't need to worry so much about comfort because I can cope, though I did find out I have a 6mm difference in lower leg length which had to be catered to through saddle and cleat adjustment.
The next day I went out on the bike and it really was night and day in terms of putting the power down. It's made me noticeably faster and more efficient, particularly at seated climbing.
The main reason I wanted to have the fit done was because I used to have dodgy knees and wanted to be sure that although they don't give me many problems on the bike, I wasn't unknowingly done them harm, I had problems with numbness in my soft parts that was worrying me and any performance benefit would be a bonus. Haven't had a single twinge from the knees since having had it done, no problems with numbness (though I'm yet to get a decent 100+ mile day in) and the performace increase has been awesome.
It did seem a lot to pay to have someone move my saddle up and back, flip my stem and move my cleats, but for the price of a decent seatpost or pair of bib shorts, I'd say it was money well spent. And a lot cheaper than somewhere like Cyclefit or The Bike Whisperer though I'd have paid their prices (£250/£200 IIRC if they were local since the thing with those are that this is their area of expertise whereas the only negative I could say about the BG Fit is that it's clear Spesh run a training course and their dealers get sent away for x days of training and then get sent back to start fitting. But then again, the one I went to had only just started offering the service and while it felt a bit new and 'out of the text book', I didn't feel that I suffered for it. Hopfully will get a proper ride in on Saturday and then get back to the shop next week for feedback and adjustment if required. They're also happy to give you sheets with all the measurements and dimensions on so that you can set up your other bikes to match without paying anything extra.
I lost 2" out of my leg through the knee joint and taking up cycling again is definitely the best thing I ever did. My knees are better than they have been in over 25 years. You may not instinctively know when you're at the right height but you'll certainly feel it when you're at the wrong one 
There are plenty of websites with details on how to fit your bike properly.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_...
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_...
White-Noise said:
Thanks for all the advice chaps.
I popped out on the bike at lunch for a gentle shake down. I found that I was at the right position after I had raised the saddle by around 1.5 inches.
I am optimistic for the recovery and gagging to get back out there!!
Google for how to set the fore/aft position too. Basically saddle dead level (spirit level) and you should be able to drop a plumb line through the centre of your knee and the lead pedal at the quarter to three position.I popped out on the bike at lunch for a gentle shake down. I found that I was at the right position after I had raised the saddle by around 1.5 inches.
I am optimistic for the recovery and gagging to get back out there!!
Bud sit on a table and let your legs dangle,now look down and note the way your feet naturally face,they will both rest at different angles.Once you have noted the angles set your cleats etc so when you pedal your feet are at these approx angles and not set straight as many people do.Hope this helps
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