first day back on the bike after my epic mountain biking the week before.

did 20miles+ today. knees are stilled shagged.

Hmm... I have tried something new when getting back on the bike this week. Ive been "spinning" instead of grinding, realised that my speed is actually up when im spinning rather than just in a high gear. Even on the flat.

So Ive been trying it up hills on my commute, its certainly giving me a workout heart pumps so hard I can feel it pulse through my head. Though Ive started to notice a slight pain in my right knee... running down the side of it.

Dont know if its just because I had 3 weeks of no cycling and getting back into it, or if its the spinning hurting my leg, but it definately caused a twinge on the ride home this evening. Hmm... any ideas?

Quote from: M3ta7h3adHmm... I have tried something new when getting back on the bike this week. Ive been "spinning" instead of grinding, realised that my speed is actually up when im spinning rather than just in a high gear. Even on the flat.

So Ive been trying it up hills on my commute, its certainly giving me a workout heart pumps so hard I can feel it pulse through my head. Though Ive started to notice a slight pain in my right knee... running down the side of it.

Dont know if its just because I had 3 weeks of no cycling and getting back into it, or if its the spinning hurting my leg, but it definately caused a twinge on the ride home this evening. Hmm... any ideas?

could be a number of things...

1) is your seat the right height? (knee should be slightly bent on the downstroke of the pedal.)
2) your body is just getting back into cycling again after a lay off.
3) general wear and tear/fatigue exacerbated by cycling.
4) Depending on how fast you are spinning you may have just over-extended a muscle or something...

I (and i am sure other heavy duty cyclists) get pains all the time, its an occupational hazzard, i guess.

aye seat is right. I did feel like my feet werent comfortable on the pedals though, like it was always either too far forward, or too far back, I could never get them "comfy" like I remember my position being.

Pah, im sure its just "your a lazy arse" pains, but may have a check see if my saddle didnt get shifted when I crashed or something.

Quote from: M3ta7h3adaye seat is right. I did feel like my feet werent comfortable on the pedals though, like it was always either too far forward, or too far back, I could never get them "comfy" like I remember my position being.

Pah, im sure its just "your a lazy arse" pains, but may have a check see if my saddle didnt get shifted when I crashed or something.

spinning is a good way to cycle, i used to be a f*cking gear masher when i was younger, id sit on the smallest cog on the back and push a ring on the front the size of a bin lid - it did reap dividends - id smoke lads twice my age by simply cranking the bike for all it was worth, but it doesnt work out good in the long run on the knees and i suppose its just harder over the space of a long ride - id be thumping along for the first 20 miles then hanging off the back for the last 20.  

Spinning is good to a degree. My SS is geared so that a comfy spin lets me cruise at about 20mph at 100rpm or so. Faster than 24mph, and I have my issues with starting to bounce in the saddle.

Sounds like just regular pains. Make sure your hips arent rocking like Little Richard, and that your legs arent hyperextending. Pedal with the balls of your feet over the pedal axles, yadda yadda bing bong.

Bottom line: spinning requires more focus on form than mashing, as youre repeating mistakes more often.