The Wind In My Face

Bike Fit update — Cautiously Optimistic

2013-06-13T00:00:00-08:00

See my extensive notes from a week ago in Bike Fit update.

Bike Fit update

2013-06-07T00:00:00-08:00

By sharing my own (frustrating) experience, I hope to help out others who might be having bike-fit issues, knee-pain, etc. I’ll follow up in an appropriate time once I see how I am progressing.

The Left Knee Remains a “Project”: Little Progress, but some Insights and Advice

2013-06-04T00:00:00-08:00

See The Left Knee Persists in Griping.

Popliteus Muscle and Knee Pain

2013-05-12T00:00:00-08:00

My left knee issue does not involve and behind-the-knee pain, but this note from reader John S was so interesting and well writen that I thought I’d share it with readers.

John S writes:

Interesting what you describe is very similar to an injury that I had.

About 30 years ago, I blew my ACL. Faithful care and wearing of a knee brace during athletics meant that I was able to preserve the integrity of my knee, meniscus etc… This was the only choice since ACL repair was not very good back in the day.

Two years ago, while eating at an outdoor restaurant on a sunny day, I went inside and stepped off of a step that I was not able to see since my eyes had not adapted well to the dim light. I landed with a stiff leg and instantly knew I had hurt something in my knee. From that time on, walking and other activities caused as snap and pop in my knee that was really uncomfortable. I thought I had torn the meniscus or done something else.

Two trips to sports medicine docs showed led to treatments that were not effective. An MRI reviewed by my ace ortho surgeon showed a knee and meniscus that were "pristine" to use her words (other than the vanished ACL). I was told to come back in several months if no change.

Finally I went back to my family practice doc (also a friend) and told him I wanted to see the very best knee PT that they had. He asked around and set me up with just such a person. She looked at my knee, examined it and told me to come back in a week after she had done some research.

Turns out the pain in my knee was the popliteus muscle- a little known muscle that helps the knee to twist and helps stabilize my knee . What I had apparently done was to stretch the iliotibital band (ligament) which was being compensated for by the popliteus muscle which subsequently was getting over used and was becoming quite painful. This injury is one that could only have come about in a patient without an ACL but other intact structures in the knee - unusual. It can be fixed by surgery, but it has a low success rate.

What she did note - and what you might find very useful, is that due to all my cycling, there was a misbalance in the muscles in the front of my leg compared to the muscles in the back of my leg (hamstrings). She set me on a regime of strengthening the hamstrings and other muscles in the rear to help stabilize and better balance the knee. After about 4 weeks of this, the pain suddenly decreased and after another two weeks all the clicking and clunking stopped. I'm wondering if with all your cycling, if you are not suffering from a similar problem (misbalance). Mine was brought on by the injury and then exacerbated by the cycling (pre and post injury, it seems). Now I'm wondering if had I balanced the groups better, I might have avoided the injury entirely.

Your clicking problem sounds like mine. Your MRI is similar to mine (no problem). So I'm wondering if you might not want to take the path I did with the PT and have them look at similar clues to mine. It's also worthy to note that the pain from my popliteus muscle was really quite debilitating and, interestingly, non specific. My whole knee felt quite sore and tender not just at the site of the muscle. I attribute this to the fact that it's so deeply buried. My doc found it by using his iPad anatomy app, asking me to point at where it hurt and then peeling back "layers" in his software until it's clear that that was the only thing there.

The Left Knee Persists in Griping

2013-05-11T00:00:00-08:00

My left knee continues to be unhappy; some ache that I cannot even localize and after hard rides (next day) increased crepitation and even a small click. Yet the February MRI showed only mild inflammation in otherwise healthy knee tissues.

A Brief Update: Shoulder, Training, etc

2013-05-09T00:00:00-08:00

Thanks to the well wishers who emailed me about my shoulder: it is doing great, the shoulder surgery was a success and it is working with 90-95% range and no pain.

Sony DSC-RX100: Perfect Cycling Camera?

2013-04-30T00:00:00-08:00

Sony RX100 with lens extended

Putting my recent post of Form Factor and Camera Appeal to a real-world trial, I stuffed the diminutive Sony RX100 into my jersey pocket and headed out for a multi-hour mountain bike ride on my Moots Mooto X YBB 29er. I also have the handy Richard Franiec stick-on grip on mine.

Alpine Road (Dirt) is Blocked 2/3 Up

2013-04-13T00:00:00-08:00

Update April 29, 2013: the barriers are still there, but nicely parted, no problem getting through.

Sometimes Good Surprises Happen

2013-03-31T00:00:00-08:00

Mastering one’s own psychology is an ongoing challenge for any athletic goal.

Training Restarts as the Virus Retreats

2013-03-28T00:00:00-08:00

Aside from one aborted “raw lungs with coughing fits and wiped out afterward” ride back on March 22, today is the first day back on the bike since a virus made its way into my lungs. A two week lapse.

Back on the Bike — And Back Off

2013-03-18T00:00:00-08:00

Well, I was a little optimistic five days ago about being back on the bike. It seems that this year is throwing me a lot of curve balls.

Elliptical Trainer for Cross Trainer?

2013-03-14T00:00:00-08:00

I don’t currently cross train much, but an elliptical trainer is surely a good complement to cycling, so I mention it here. And no doubt a good elliptical trainer ought to cost as much as a nice road bike.

Make Sure Pedals are Symmetric!

2013-03-13T00:00:00-08:00

The new bike fit has given my body some grief (knee) simply because my body was twisted oddly from the old fit; it’s taking some time to retrain my body to be symmetric on the bike.

Everest Challenge 2013 is a Month Earlier — Late August

2013-03-13T00:00:00-08:00

The Everest Challenge for 2013 has been moved a month earlier to August 2013:

Everest Challenge Stage Race and Fun Ride (8/23-25, 2013) Yes, circumstances have pushed us to either earlier or later than the weekend we would really prefer. But this is our new home on the calendar.

This is the one everybody talks about, and looks forward to every year. The toughest back to back days of climbing at altitude. Anywhere. Same course as 2012, including the *extra* bit up Waucoba Canyon. This will be the permanent EC course.

Even better support, more goodies in the goody bags, more Free Friday Feast, and more of everything you love about the best road race – and fun ride – on the planet!

Back on the Bike

2013-03-13T00:00:00-08:00

My shoulder surgery is all but healed for reasonable uses, and I am able to ride my mountain bike and road bikes again, for a week or so now. Full strength isn’t there, and the shoulder capsule needs work (still tight but the obstructions are gone), but boy is it nice to be riding again, especially with the balmy near-summerlike weather.

Shoulder Healing, Left Knee Happy or So I Hope

2013-02-28T00:00:00-08:00

My shoulder surgery was two weeks ago; the shoulder shows promise, but the physical therapy / recovery end of it is no picnic. And darned if surgical anaesthetic constipates badly for an entire week. MiraLax to the rescue and all is finally back to normal.

I Am a Cyclist (video)

2013-02-22T00:00:00-08:00

Uh oh, this hits home all too closely!

Snow Has To Wait for the FrosTi and Me

2013-02-20T00:00:00-08:00

Due to recent shoulder surgery and a knee issue (feeling fine there now due to time off the bike), riding the Moots FrosTi has been on hold and my planned 'snow' trip has been postponed. I’ll get to it when physically fit for it, but at present I am in recovery mode for the shoulder, which cannot take pounding or torque riding such a bike.

2012 Moots FrosTi snow/sand 'Fat' bike