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Morning.
I've been struggling at times in last 2_3 years with my calves, usually my right leg. Often feeling a bit tight after Zwifting, especially on harder and consecutive days racing. But usually it's more tired than pain.
But lately on SDW it became more tweaked than just tired. So I've taken it easy and been doing stretching and ice in it. Today was first ride in a week. It feels not too bad today.
But reading up, it seems a common one that seat height can be a cause, pointing your toes etc due to being too high, so I've dropped my saddles a bit in both turbo bike and t130. Adding in some pre ride and post ride stretching of them, plus the other ones too.
But thinking about a bike fitting session for me and them, may be an idea, but don't know if MTB are specific that they need an MTB expert in that context.
Thoughts on that, or even on tight calf muscles too if you want?
Hyper-extension usually results in pain in the tendons at the back of the knee, but excessive movement of the ankle could result in inflammation.
Getting a good fit is really important; without wanting to do some sort of stealth ad, I'll recommend two people in Leatherhead who are great at sorting this stuff out and have really helped me out.
They're both mountain bikers: Dave Farmer at https://www.surreyhillscycleworks.co.uk /">Surrey Hills Cycleworks and Paul Fraser at Aligned for Life.
I tend to get foot and leg pain in one leg when I've tweaked my SI joint. Dave has done bike fit for years and has all the tools and experience to sort out your set up, and Paul can work out if there's anything up with your posture and musculoskeletal hoojamflip and make suggestions, too. He's AECC-qualified and evidence-based, has a healthcare and science background and knows his way 'round a mountain bike.
I found that Specialized BG inserts in my shoes and a twice-yearly visit to Paul to get straightened out again make a massive difference; typically if I feel like I'm running across a camber when running on a flat surface, or when I get lower back pain riding a hardtail I know it's time to get sorted, and he's shown me basic exercises that help sort me out and reduce the frequency of treatments. HTH.
VanKru near Winchester have done road based fits for both me and my wife.
They also did a mtb fit for my wife which was very similar in respect of leg/pedal/seat type relationship but they seemed fully clued up on the differences needed with regards to bar height, stem length etc for the mtb.
Defo try cleats back if you don't already. Can make a big difference esp with ankle, calf issues.
Need to slightly lower the seat at the same time if you do this.
Flats only mate,
I have an issue with my calf which appeared 4 years ago after doing a half ironman without, in hindsight, adequately training for the run section. It feels like a cramp sensation whilst riding under harder efforts although it can also be noticeable when walking around etc. After baffling a couple of physios i think i have finally narrowed it down to over working the tendon on the bottom of the foot although i don't get the heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis. It's worse if i use cleated shoes with the cleats at the front or smaller flat pedals with soft shoes which provide no support. I have size 12 feet so a decent size flat pedal platform for me is not the same as someone with size 9s. Given you're on flats it may be a similar issue so perhaps it is worth rolling the tendon on the base of your foot on a tennis ball as it may alleviate the ache. I've also found the pedalling innovations catalyst pedal helps significantly when using flats and with the longer pins fitted i find them as good as vaults for grip when doing rowdier stuff.
I'd be a bit wary of diagnosing over t'internet. Best to get someone with a bit of experience to take a look in person.
do I recall from a recent dropper post thread that you don't use a dropper, but instead run your seat about 75mm below "proper" or "ideal" pedal height for everywhere? (if someone else, ignore).
The calf problems = lower your seat solution is more roadie/xc racers that run posts too high and are therefore pedalling on their toes. As this is only really possible clipped in I don't think this is your issue.
Is it possible you've strained your calf from extended downhilling, and its never really been able to recover?
Assuming your zwifting (which makes up most of your mileage) is done on a properly set up road bike; I think you want a (sports) physio, not a bike fit.
but most importantly:
I’d be a bit wary of diagnosing over t’internet. Best to get someone with a bit of experience to take a look in person.
Outdoors I do run my seat lower than I see some others seeming to run theirs. In Zwift land I run it a fair bit higher.
I've got both lower now and I've spent several hours on both bikes in the last 3-4 days and having no problems or issues currently. So either a bit of rest is working, the lower seat is working or just a bit of stretching is doing its job. Maybe a combination of all 3 possibly.
But I'd still like to get both bike riding positions checked and set correctly if possible, just so I know it's correct.
I'd look for someone who's also a physio and can check you out for musculoskeletal issues, then look at how you fit on the bike.
The thing with bike fit "experts" and MTB is how well do they understand the principles behind modern geometry and stuff like stem length, bar width, crank length etc?
Flats only mate
The issue there is that you’ll not be keeping your feet in the same position all the time, every time, which will affect whatever changes you make to the ‘fit’ of your bike. A good thing about clips is your feet are always in the same place.
Yes a fair point, but doesn't mean I'm prepared to swap. I've tried the spd thing indoor and out and it's only ever made knee and foot issues worse rather than better, that's not including the fact I simply feel restricted in them.