So with tiresome predictability I've managed to tweak what I think is my Patella tendon (between kneecap and shin).
There's a good chance this was a position thing, suspect I had the saddle tilted too far forward which actually felt OK for pedalling but was probably forcing me further over the pedals and reducing the effective saddle height.
I'm hoping I caught it early and it isn't going to be something chronic, but want to experiment getting back on the bike but using the rollers instead of the turbo.
I'm only training to heart rate at the moment, so even if I end up pushing a higher cadence this will probably get the heart rate up, and I'm guessing the extra core muscles working for balance will add some effort.
Just wondering if it's realistic to try and do standard 4x8 or 30/15 style intervals on rollers, am I going to end up spinning so fast that I just injure something else?? 🙄
Well if your saddle position is now correct, using Rollers with that bike will be good. How fast you spin depends on you and your gearing though.
If I spin too fast I end up falling off before anything else happens. For me a cadence of 105 is about all I can do for any length of time on the rollers. Any faster and I fall off.
You will just have to try and experiment.
You are unlikely to injure yourself but standard rollers don't have a lot of resistance so not much cop for sprinting. On mine, for a 1 hour tempo spin last time I was in top gear 50/11 the whole time at my usual 80 or so rpm.
Thanks, looking back I know I can maintain 110RPM for 1-2 minutes relatively easily, and 130RPM for at least 30 seconds, so have the basic blocks for some reasonable workouts (both get me above threshold heart rate).
Might have issues trying to mop sweat whilst on rollers, need to hang the towel close enough without it getting caught in wheels!
As an aside, I struggled to get above 105RPM until I made a few changes:
1) Pumped rear tyre up to 110psi when using rollers
2) adjusted roller length so front roller was more or less directly beneath front wheel (before I had set it up for my 29er, so front roller was too far away)
3) For higher RPM I find pushing against the bars really helpful, means when you're pedalling you can push the pedals forward more rather than down, reduces bouncing!
Good point Molgrips, in fact I guess what's attracting me to the rollers is the lower resistance, so I guess I *could* just reduce the resistance on the turbo an spin faster on that. For some reason I find higher cadences less punishing on the rollers, maybe because you can move about more or something.
Will try and resist for another couple of days, let the knee recover a bit more...
Think I've upset some tendons on the outside of my left knee, just above the kneecap, during my transition from Time ATAC 2-bolt to Time Xpro 3-bolt... Feels a bit sore moving around the flat this morning.
If I pop out for a bit this afternoon, or chuck the bike on the turbo, the big ring won't be getting much action and I might even swap the ATACs back on to the road bike! :/
are you using a wheel on or wheel off turbo.
i found wheel on turbos to be torture on my knees.
was reluctant to spend loads on a wheel off , borrowed a mates and saw the light - it is much like riding on the regular road rather than trying to ride along a road covered in treacle while its on fire.....
Good point Molgrips, in fact I guess what’s attracting me to the rollers is the lower resistance
Me too - it's more like spinning on a gentle slope than mashing up a steep one. But there's something about the actual riding that makes it far easier.
What I really want is one of those treadmills 🙂
are you using a wheel on or wheel off turbo.
Wheel on, don't think wheel off is an option in the immediate future, have a holiday in Girona to try and pay for somehow!
Think I'll sit out the next session and then do the next few sessions just on the rollers, think I'd miss the turbo long term, can't do all my training at 110RPM and above!
I would caution that too high a cadence you can still injure your knees from losing control of them.
Just go easy on it until it's better, or get proper knowledgeable professional advice.