Lateral movement in left knee

[King Boonen]

I'm a mountain biker and while I don't race I do like getting up to a decent speed when the track allows it.

 

[veganrob]

I'm a mountain biker and while I don't race I do like getting up to a decent speed when the track allows it.

Describe what is going on

 

[King Boonen]

Describe what is going on

Damn, my post seems to have shortened before i hit send.


Background:

When going down stairs my left knee will click with every step. It is not painful and is a fairly recent thing.

I was on the spinning bike in the gym last night and when I looked down I noticed that my left knee moved from side to side during my pedal stroke whereas my right knee looked pretty straight.

Is this something I should be worried about?

I'm aware lateral movement can be common and I was wearing running shoes, but it's not something I've noticed before.

I ride in trail shoes and have recently got back into it (was off the bike for a long time, 8 years). Should I start taking my trail shoes to the gym with me?

 

[veganrob]

Damn, my post seems to have shortened before i hit send.


Background:

When going down stairs my left knee will click with every step. It is not painful and is a fairly recent thing.

I was on the spinning bike in the gym last night and when I looked down I noticed that my left knee moved from side to side during my pedal stroke whereas my right knee looked pretty straight.

Is this something I should be worried about?

I'm aware lateral movement can be common and I was wearing running shoes, but it's not something I've noticed before.

I ride in trail shoes and have recently got back into it (was off the bike for a long time, 8 years). Should I start taking my trail shoes to the gym with me?

By trail shoes do you mean mtb shoes with cleats. If so try this.
Move cleats back nearly as far as they will go and then move them to the inside of shoe again as much as they can go. Move cleats on right shoe back also same as left. You may have to adjust saddle height. Setback may have to adjusted also but try the cleats first and let me know. I am assuming you have no leg legth discrepancies or ITB issues.

you can always PM me

 

[King Boonen]

By trail shoes do you mean mtb shoes with cleats. If so try this.
Move cleats back nearly as far as they will go and then move them to the inside of shoe again as much as they can go. Move cleats on right shoe back also same as left. You may have to adjust saddle height. Setback may have to adjusted also but try the cleats first and let me know. I am assuming you have no leg legth discrepancies or ITB issues.

you can always PM me

I mean trail running shoes, specifically these:

http://pctrailrunner.com/2011/04/17/salomon-s-lab-3-xt-wings-review/

They do flex at the toe but have a fairly solid sole. I wear these as I end up doing a fair bit of hike-a-bike and need something comfortable to walk in. I've run a couple hundred km's in my current pair and they would last me a good long while yet for running.

All my riding is done on flats with no toe clips, again, specifically these pedals:

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/c...eview-shimano-saint-pd-mx80-flat-pedals-46772

so foot position is variable. If it's saddle position I can have a play. Again, saddle height can vary a bit depending how accurate i am returning it to a seated height after downhill sections. I can start taking more care with this, I reckon it can vary by up to 3mm either way.


In the gym I use the straps but would be happy to stop if you think that might be the issue?

 

[Boeing]

Are you one of those dudes whos knee hits the top tube every revolution?

 

[King Boonen]

No, it's not that bad. It moves in both directions as well so it probably looks bigger than it really is.

Was out on a trail and I didn't notice it so I'm now wondering if it's my position on the spinning bike. I will have to have a fiddle next time I'm in the gym.

 

[sittingbison]

dont forget that bikes in gyms have hefalump riders, so there is a strong probability the cranks are slightly bent.

As we get older sometimes our hyaline cartilage degenerates, so the surfaces between the underside of kneecap (patella) and the groove (femoral knotch) at bottom of thighbone (femur) can get rough and flaky, bits floating around etc. The creaking and groaning is called crepitus. Very common.