I seem to be getting some discomfort around the laterall collateral ligament in the area where it attaches to the fibula (essentially around the knuckle type joint on the outside of the knee towards the rear). Its not that painful at all but does start to ache after an hour and next day feels a bit stiff and tender in the joint. I do have a new bike so still making small adjustments here and there but i think this problem may have started on my old bike just before i sold it, not sure really. Anyway this is only affecting my right knee which has had a lot of surgery a few years ago but not to this area so i dont think its related. Is this a classic symptom of a particular part of the bike set up that might be wrong or is it just old age? I think saddle height is bang on but wonder if fore/aft might be the issue? Any thoughtsideas/experiences?

Do you ride clipped in? If so, could be too little/too much float. It varies between brands.

Also, do you tend to push a harder gear, rather than spinning? In the past that’s given me pretty bad pain in my right knee. If so, drop down a gear and try to aim for around 90rpm.

Potentially could be seated position too, if the seat is too low or even too far back on the post.

I am clipped in but it pretty loose to allow some float and to ensure i can get out when in a bottom clenching moment if you catch my drift.

I am running a single set up so i generally am a spinner.

If i was being critical of my set up i would say the saddle might be too far forward but it cant be by very much. Plumb line from knee when pedals in horizontal position ends up about 5mm in front of the axle spindle, i think all prevoius bikes were on the spindle.

I had something similar: pain on the outside, at the bottom of the knee. Pain only started after about 70 miles which made identifying what caused it a bit difficult. For me, adjusting cleats to rotate feet outwards solved it (i.e. toes out, heels in). Cleats always had float, but seemingly not enough.

My spd’s are really loose, loads of movement in every direction so i just cant see it being that although i wont rule it out yet.

The pain i get runs down the back of the knee and actually up about 5 inches in to the hamstring. Its not painful as such it feels like when going to the gym for the first time and then lifting heavy weights and the next day your muscles feel stiff and tender to the touch. It is very tender around the fibula and you can kinda trace the tenderness up and down from there.

If i was being critical of my set up i would say the saddle might be too far forward but it cant be by very much. Plumb line from knee when pedals in horizontal position ends up about 5mm in front of the axle spindle, i think all prevoius bikes were on the spindle.

Correcting that would be a good starting point.

The pain i get runs down the back of the knee and actually up about 5 inches in to the hamstring. Its not painful as such it feels like when going to the gym for the first time and then lifting heavy weights and the next day your muscles feel stiff and tender to the touch. It is very tender around the fibula and you can kinda trace the tenderness up and down from there.

And that would suggest saddle too high.

Fifeandy – Saddle is definately not too high,if anything, it might need raising a few more mm.

i have an ibeam post and saddle so i should be able to adjust that easy enough after re doing some measurements.

Although I do long distance road biking and not off road, this chart https://audaxing.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/long-distance-ride-bike-fit-tips/ might be helpful

Rear knee pain is usually fixed by raising the saddle slightly

Interesting table – suggests the opposite of what is commonly published.
For Example

This one looks like a useful source of info:
http://bikedynamics.co.uk/kneepain.htm

I found this very useful:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/take-care-of-your-knees-part-2-17445/

blader1611 – Member
I seem to be getting some discomfort around the laterall collateral ligament in the area where it attaches to the fibula (essentially around the knuckle type joint on the outside of the knee towards the rear). Its not that painful at all but does start to ache after an hour and next day feels a bit stiff and tender in the joint. I do have a new bike so still making small adjustments here and there but i think this problem may have started on my old bike just before i sold it, not sure really. Anyway this is only affecting my right knee which has had a lot of surgery a few years ago but not to this area so i dont think its related. Is this a classic symptom of a particular part of the bike set up that might be wrong or is it just old age? I think saddle height is bang on but wonder if fore/aft might be the issue? Any thoughtsideas/experiences?

I’d suggest a visit to a specialist therapist who deals with cyclists to a high level, probably worth it.

Sounds like it could be your ITB? I got the same thing when I started running a lot, some simple stretches done after every run and it went away.

ITB? Irritable toxic bowel?

I ruled out flexibility as i already do a lot of stretching and have always been very flexible but i reckon lately not as much so will get back on track with that.

Some good links there guys,thanks for that, i will read more in to those tonight before i make any more adjustments.

Saddle too high and too far back. More it down a cm and forwards half a cm and see how you get on.

Wife had a Retul bike fit last week. Since then she’s not suffered any of the niggling knee pain or hot spots in feet she used to & says her neck & back feel way better.
She ended up with a slightly shorter & higher stem and narrower bars but probably of more interest to you they moved her feet forward on the pedals (cleats moved back) as well as shimming the cleats to align her feet properly.
She also went down 7.5mm in crank length.
I was so impressed I’ve booked myself in.

I get similar discomfort/pain and a quick stretch mid ride seems to help the issue for a bit.

Recently raised the saddle 15mm and seems to have helped.

ITB? Irritable toxic bowel?

Certainly could be that – too much squatting in the bushes is well known for causing knee troubles….

Alternatively, it could be:
iliotibial band

Having read through some of the links i think i have a plan as to what might be off with the set up.

Looking at the ITB stuff, that doesnt really seem to fit with my ailments so i have put that to the bottom of the list.

The rider…

Dickbarton – its always my fault!

I’ve suffered similar problems throughout the summer, mine turned out to stretching off after a ride, something I’ve never ever done. Throughout winter I get back, shout the good lady wife to bob the kettle on and seek shelter inside the house asap. As spring and Summer arrived I was less eager to go indoors and as I cooled off a bit I started stretching out

I’ve acquired a few riding pals over the past 12 – 18 months and as a result I’ve picked up a few of their habits, stretching off being one of these, ordinarily I’d slow it down before I stopped, do a few loops in the car park or in the road or ride around the housing estate to loosen off. A fortnights holiday and it was gone, I stretched off and low and behold it came back. I’ve gone back to not stretching now just in time for the inclemant weather. Knee is all good.

I had a bike fit recently too, my saddle was lowered 3cm stem shortened 3cm, I was advised to narrow my bars 2cm and shorten lengthen my crank arms 2.5mm. I merely suggested if I didn’t lower my seat I wouldn’t need to extend my crank arms? I’m sure there’s more to it than that but low saddle short stem narrow bars sounded wrong,

I suffer with knee pain when playing badminton but until a few weeks ago i’d never had it during or after a bike ride. A 42 miler when I was hung over seems to have aggravated it and it now aches after every one. My pain is at the top of the knee cap, bike side. I did 20 miles last night and if I sit for a while now it aches when I get back up.
I’m always faffing with my bike and do have the seat quite far back, i’ll move it forward and see how I get on.
Thanks for the tips.