wca@ut-ngp.UUCP (William C. Anderson) (08/15/84)
------------- Here are four tips for folks who ride and want to avoid sore knees: 1 - Cycle so that your toes point inward ("pidgeon-toed") slightly. Note that this may require adjustment of your cleats if you use them. 2 - Use toe-clips which are slightly shorter than the usual size for your foot. 3 - Use a gear where your cadence is comfortably high (e.g. 70+ rpm) and avoid slow cadence and hard pushing like the plague. 4 - If pain persists, see a doctor. He may prescribe aspirin (a excellent anti-inflamatory agent for knees) and perhaps a weight-training program to build up the muscles which support and protect the knee. This same weight program would also make you go faster :-> . I hope that this helps. William Anderson - University of Texas - CompCenter - ..!ut-ngp!wca
smk@wxlvax.UUCP (Simon Kao) (08/21/84)
I have to disagree with some of Mr Anderson's solutions for people prone to sore knees: 1. It is quite unwise to cycle with your toes pointed any way but the way they normally point. For instance, if your toes normally point slightly outwards, cycling with them forced inwards really puts the strain on your knee. Which makes them sore. 2. Toe clips. The only size you should get is the size that places the ball of your foot over the pedal spindle. Actually, there is room for variation, but only towards the long side. If the clip is so short that the ball of your foot does not reach the spindle, you are only making it much more difficult to cycle efficiently. 3. I do agree with spinning at high cadences. At least 70rpm, which to prevent sore knees is a bit on the slow side. And, a doctor's advice is always a good idea if the pain persists.
dave@zinfandel.UUCP (08/22/84)
#R:ut-ngp:-84100:zinfandel:20500005:000:726 zinfandel!dave Aug 20 09:51:00 1984 Re: avoiding sore knees.... Certainly maintaining a high spin rate (item #3) and strengthing the muscles around the knee (item #4) are valid, but I question the other two points. Setting your cleats so that you pedal slightly pigeon-toed (item #1) is not really the point. I think you should be set up so that your knees travel in the most 'natural' rotational path possible. Forcing your knees to travel in some arbitrary path could only worsen the situation. Item #2 (using one size 'too small' toe clips) confuses me. What is this supposed to accomplish? Dave Funk Zehntel, Inc. 2625 Shadelands Drive Walnut Creek, CA 92598 (415) 932-6900 x309 ....!decvax!sytek!zehntel!dave ...."zehntel!dave"@BERKELEY
wca@ut-ngp.UUCP (William C. Anderson) (08/23/84)
My points for avoiding sore knees came from an orthopaedic surgeon friend of mine ( also a cyclist ), Mr. Kao. I certainly can't claim that I know all the theory behind the human geometry. I DO know that all the tips I gave have worked for me. William Anderson CompCenter - The University of Texas at Austin wca@ut-ngp.{ARPA UUCP} "Monsters, John! Monsters from the id!"