[Closed] Road bike set up

Is your saddle height the same?
cleats aligned properly?

Could just be alot more pedalling than you are used to in one go. I can't see how bike size would itself affect your knee.

That’s it... I don’t know if size would / wouldn’t make a difference...

I wore the same shoes as I do for mountain biking...

yep it is more pedalling than I am used to, I got out all day on the MTD, but this is sustained pedalling...

Did you mean is saddle height the same as my MTB? or something else??

I rather think that you've answered your own question. Its probably a combination of the two - is saddle height right? are you hunching on the bars? is the bar height right?

Without seeing you on the bike it's hard to say for sure but I'll offer a few thoughts:

Frame size...at 6 foot I'd lean towards putting you on a 58cm bike rather than a 56 but then...I've never met you and never seen you ride so don't take that as gospel. Also as it's a cross bike rather than a 'proper' road bike a slightly smaller size is generally reccomended.

Saddle height...unlikely to be an issue from the symptoms you've described but can't be ruled out. Generally pain above the knee indicates a saddle too low, pain below the knee indicates a saddle set too high.

Saddle fore/aft position... a possibility but again, without seeing you on the bike it's hard to say.

Feet position...for some reason I think that your answer may lie here somewhere. Are you using Spd type systems? Are you using a 'proper' stiff soled cycling shoe? Do you, or should you use orthotic inserts in your shoes to support your feet?

Conditioning...how long did it take you to ride 50 miles? Are you used to sitting in the saddle for that ammount of time? Is it possible that you just need to do a few more rides to condition your legs to covering that sort of distance?

Hope those thoughts were of some help.

There are loads of articles online about bike set up, I'd suggest that you read as much as you can and understand that this is more of a 'black art' than a science and find a position that works for you within the general guidelines prescribed in said articles.

I second what [i]roadie_in_denial[/i] has said, positioning is a Black art, my cleats face in different directions and are positioned near the centre of the shoe, my saddle is pointing to the left and nose down...

I'd generally suggest you cut the mileage until you find the best set-up for you, and remember it's not always a race so play with more relaxed positioning.

I am using a spd set up... xt pedals with a specalised body geom shoe.. It took me 2hr 45 min... with some hills in the way... (exeter to fremington (barnstaple / devon))

I felt good over the distance... was tired, but could have done more...

I think I was a bit hunched over... the front of my shoulders were very tired the day after...

I haven’t done a lot of road miles….

-edit-

thanks for the advice.. I will get out there, cut the miles a bit and play around with my set up -

Does getting a proper road shoe make a difference???

Hm...try moving the cleat of your right shoe back a little. I have a suspicion that the sore right foot you mention may well be a 'hot spot' caused by incorrect cleat positioning.

As for your shoulders being tired and feeling hunched over...you will do if you're not used to riding drop bars.

Oh...and you're not doing badly if you can cover 50 odd miles in well under 3 hours on a cross bike so well done!

Nothing wrong with what has been posted but I would be focussing on saddle height & cleat set up for knee problems (although if you are accounting for a small frame with the saddle way far back that may also put more strain on your knees). FWIW I ride with spds on my road bike and no isses there for me.

You might just have overdone it and building up more gradually will be OK.

Neilforrow - is it a relatively new trek x0? I have one, but have never seen anybody else on one,nor can I find any info on what year it may be etc. Do you have any pics??
Sorry for the mini hijack!!

what about the fore/aft position of the saddle.
you say you have moved the saddle right back but maybe you should have fitted a longer stem?
for me the saddle position relative to the horizontal position of the bb is very important, too far away from the sweet spot and it creates a shearing action at the knee joint and lots of pain.

Don't forget road bikes have a slightly different geometry to mtbs, so you might find you're in a slightly different position when pedalling (well you should be anyway!) - it's probably a combination of a fair few miles and a slightly different setup - position of saddle fore and aft maybe in relation to the b/bracket, cleats etc.

just keep at it, and good on you for doing 50 miles first outing!

In my experiance you dont need a proper road shoe but a hardcore XC jeyboy type mtb shoe with stiff soles are needed if you plan doing longer rides.

It is a 2006 / 2007, full 105.

dickydutch - the trek website has a good archive section for all their bikes...

Saddle is up a bit on that photo, I think a stem with a bit more rise might help. Will try the cleat option.

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thanks for all the comments, I guess it is just a case of getting out there, and seeing what works for me... I just dont need knee pain like that again

inside knee pain is down to foot position.

Lateral cleat location or instep height, or both. Try the Spec wedges for your shoes.

honestly though a little twinge after 50 aint bad.