Pedal Strike

Pedal Strike header image 2

May 15th, 2009

it hurts

So apparently going from sitting in a chair in the library for 12 hours a day for three weeks to riding over 100 miles in two days makes for an unhappy knee. Not to mention my ass.

I have knee tracking problems that make my knees sound like velcro when I get up from any kind of squatting position. And now my IT band is all “okay calm the fuck down and cut me a break.” Lack of any bike-appropriate gear save for a wind-proof soft shell and a pair of Sidis have me/my butt almost sighing in relief when I see a hill around mile 32, even if my knee’s freaking out. And sheer laziness had me sneezing and coughing when I got home yesterday because, despite the wind and rain, I didn’t want to stop and put on the jacket in my bag [yes, I go on 40 mile rides with a Baileyworks strapped to my back…don’t judge].

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It was probably for the best though. I have a whole pile of stuff to be cut, sewn, screened, and assembled. Activities that don’t involve putting [too much] pressure on my knee. Although, I admit, I did get a little zealous last night with the sewing machine making it go full-throttle Chinese-sweatshop-style with my foot squeezing the pedal [yes, there is one] against the floor.

And I got more done than I thought I would. Nothing’s complete, yet, but I’ll have an inventory soon. Or at least Cambridge will. And that list of hats already promised will start to get shorter. Even if my rides get longer. And slightly more painful. Because as long as my knee feels like it’s going to snap, crackle, or pop, I’ll find time to stay up too late working on cycling caps.

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I have lots of new ideas too, and custom jobs that have been shelved for months. They’re going to be pretty awesome. Even my knee thinks so.

Get excited.

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3 responses so far ↓

  • 1 scott May 15, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    ouch. sounds like you might need a bike fitting. are your cleats adjusted properly? seatpost right height? i had knee pain at first after going to clipless, but with experimenting, found the right placement. try some aleve; its over the counter morphine.

  • 2 huffypuffy May 15, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    here’s one vote for seeing your doctor/orthopedist. you don’t want to be one of those thirty-somethings with no knee cartilage, do you? poor, poor knee.

  • 3 pedalstrike May 16, 2009 at 11:10 am

    scott — marcus ended up raising my seat a whole bunch yesterday so a lot of pressure was taken off of it. on my way to buy aleve now!
    huffypuffy — ahahah yeah…but it’s probably too late….