Wife bought me my first road bike in Feb for the LoneStar Tri - my first tri! Wey hey… did great for a newbie but unfortunately have an issue… OK for some dumb reason I did not get a bike fit when I first got the bike (my own fault and a long story). I had ridden mountain bikes for a long time with no injuries upto a year before getting my road bike (as it was stolen!).
Here is the injury description. After about 15 minutes on the bike I can feel what feels like a “knot” develop in the back of my left knee. Basically if you feel the back of your knee and can feel the tendon just on the outside - the knot feels as though it is just on the inside of this tendon (about 1/2 inch deep). I say a “knot” but prodding around “gently” (!) I can feel nothing different as compared to the other knee. The pain is not too bad but obviously it concerns me - its like a sharp sustained localised cramping. I tend to notice it the next day after a bike work out as well as during the ride - notably with twisting movements (i.e. getting out of my Mini Cooper where I pivot on that knee).
Now the odd bit - I can use stationary bikes, or spinning cycles with no issues at all for literally hours. I have just had a bike fit - nothing was apparently way out - seat a little high, cleats were positioned OK, saddle travel OK etc. But as soon as I get back on the raod bike I can feel the dreaded “knot” within 15 mins or so (not going mad either 16 mph - flat).
To me with the difference between how it feels on a range of stationary bikes (under loading too) with no issues, but painful on the bike - one tends to think bike fit… but the fit appears OK.
Bike : Fuji Roubaix Pro (54cm if memory right) 2005 model
Look Keo Classic Pedal and Shimano shoes (can’t remember the model).
Anyway clutching at straws for help. Current plan is to continue training using stationary bikes til race day (NOT ideal). I did take two+ months off from road bike altogethar but got the “knot” within 15 minutes of getting back on it! Anyone heard of something similar - my searches on the web have not revealed anyhting to me!