Did my first 100 mile road ride (solo) the other week. Hooray for me!

Except around mile 90 my knee started really hurting – and I had trouble walking the next day. I’ve self-diagnosed this as anterior knee pain, with textbook symptoms and cause (sudden increase in duration of training).

Had a week off the bike but the pain returned after 10 miles the next weekend.

Had another week off and started a series of stretches to strengthen both knees, several times a day. This is now part of my daily routine.

Ridden road bike again twice since – 1hr 45mins max – and it’s still hurting but not to the same extent (though I am on some heavy painkillers following a shoulder operation last week).

Feel free to criticise me in any way you wish, but I’d be more grateful for your own stories of recovery from the same condition.

– Recovery time?
– Measures taken (remedial and preventative)?
– Did you take it easy for a long time?
– Has it recurred?

Thanks in advance you lovely people.

See a physio tout/sports doctor tout suite – most likely Tendonopathy. Rest should cure (2 wks ish) only exercise if you aren’t in pain – don’t do anything that causes pain & it should go away.

I’ve had chronic tendon problems in my left knee & acute in my right. Took me about 2 yrs to shift the chronic & 2 months for the right.

Tendons are notoriously difficult to fix but don’t worry they can be – sometimes its a bit of a guessing game to find the exact problem but yours just sounds a bit like light overuse. Just rest for a fortnight & it should be ok – DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN.

Focus on exercises to remedy the problem and not just stretching. Many injuries are related to weaknesses which can be overcome through strengthening the related area.
As above let pain be your guide but exercise within it.

I was fine one ride then in agony at the end. Tried rest as told by GP as he said I had tendonitis in knee. After a few weeks off the bike I went for a ride then knee hurt straight away. Visited a PROPER chiro / physio and he told me my hips were misaligned causing knee pain. Two visits to him and I was good to ride.

GPs are good for coughs and colds. Pay someone recommended to fix you properly.

Thank you guys. You have convinced me to see a specialist, now just got to find one…

If you can get to the north midlands I can recommend one who was recommended to me.

Foam roller. It’s worth a go.

As it’s your first century it might be because you’ve up,d your mileage. I managed to get problems with my Achilles when I did the rapha 500 in 4 days. Never had pain there before. You’ve probably got some form of tendonitis, things like massage and foam roller should help. As above get yourself to a physio or osteo. If you are Southampton way I can reckoned you a good one.

Should’ve said I’m in NW England.

Anyone have experience of NJD Sport Injury Centre in Clitheroe? Thinking of using their bikefit screening service to rectify and prevent recurrence.

As it’s your first century it might be because you’ve up,d your mileage.

Yes, pretty sure that was the cause. I usually do my eight-hour epics on the MTB, with flat pedals and a mixture of hiking and pedalling. Whereas on the road bike I’m using SPDs obviously and in hindsight it was bound to aggravate any little niggles.

I had this when coming back from an illness recently and increasing the mileage. I was seeing a physio at the time as part of my recovery and she said it was an over use injury. Left knee, just under the kneecap towards the inside of my leg.

she advised rest and stretching. This image is the stretch I was told to do.

It took about two weeks to get better. I could still feel it on the first couple of gentle rides. The main thing to play it up was driving my car! That hurt more than cycling.

Swimming hurts my knee more than anything ( My swimming technique is just to avoid drowning).

‘Anterior knee pain’ is a description of the site of pain, not a diagnosis of it’s cause. Check to make sure that whoever you see (Osteopath/ physio/ chiro is probably the place to start) has an interest in the athletic knee. The cause of the problem may well be in your foot/ ankle or hip, so as a bare minimum they should be checking these areas as well & ideally checking your bike & cleat position, together with your pedalling technique. I would avoid people who want to inject it or advocate nothing more than rest – there will be a cause which should be addressed.