Knee Pain / Soulcycle exercise bike

[Michael Morrissey]

A few weeks ago my wife bought a SoulCycle bike. Although I made fun of it and said it wasn't “real biking,” I ended up really liking it. I immediately started riding it everyday. Unfortunately, I didn’t know my own limits. I was doing a class and another in the evening. Now, my knees really hurt and I can barely walk.

I suspect my mistake might have been that I turned up the resistance too much - and I was going at two low of RPMs. Another possibility is that the bike fit is off - that the saddle is too low or forward. I was riding in those 5.10 bike sneakers, just on top of the pedals, not even clipless pedals, so that wasn’t it.

Does anyone have any advice for me or know anyone who is an expert in bike fittings? I called one local bike shop and they quoted me $200 for a professional fit but I'm not sure that's what I need. I really could use some help. I just turned 40 years old so I guess this is a wakeup call that I need to take better care of myself. I am in New York City. 

Thank you,

Michael

[J G]

Not clipped in so no concerns you had a bad cleat angle with the 5.10s

If you are not used to it, the high resistance and low cadence may simply be it.  I took my Fat bike on a 45 mile gravel ride with a lot of climbing and the rotational weight (resistance) along with me pushing harder than I should have, made it a ride I still remember (and not in a good way) a dozen years later.

Try and spin on it a few times once you feel better and see if you still have any issues to start.

Regarding bike fits, I have not had much success with fitters and do not always agree with the approach of fit systems/dogma (KOPS etc.).  I also tend to see more wrist issues with fit issues due to lack of saddle setback or a tipped down saddle nose.  However could possibly be saddle height impacting if you are stretching too much or not enough.  If you can post a side view of your fit on bike I am sure people will have opinions.

Here is also a good read on setback and a practical way to test your fit for proper weight distribution (a good read for anyone):

http://kirkframeworks.com/2009/06/19/riding-tip-3/

Good luck and spin it to win it!  As you get older, the gears should get lower!  (and the bars higher)

Justus

Mpls, MN

[Garth]

Yeah ... too much resistance at low of rpm... and that's about it. Bike fit on such a unit is easy enough to get close to a real bike. A string tied to a socket for a plumb bob and a measuring tape/yardstick can easily get you in the ballpark saddle fore-aft. Same with bar reach and height. I doubt any of that was it though as with too much resistance at too low of RPM for too long, even a good fit won't matter.

[Patrick Moore]

Two high-intensity sessions a day in an unaccustomed high gear pedaling at unaccustomed high torque, possibly with the bike not perfectly set up -- that sounds like the reason right there. If you did this with a saddle too low, and again were not used to this sort of thing, even at 40 you'd certainly feel it.

I recall cranking a 70" gear up a 7-mile-long hill back when I could crank a 70" gear up a 7-mile long hill, which involved standing for a mile, sitting and torquing for a couple of hundred yards, repeat; and doing this ride only occasionally at long intervals without this sort of exertion*. About 2 days later my legs were so sore and still I could hardly walk down my stairs; and this was ~10 years ago when I was in my late 50s and used to climbing fixed, just not 7-mile hills. It would take me several days of rest and flatland riding to get my legs back in order.

If I had done this with my saddle too low, my legs would have been even worse off, not to mention my knees.

As others say, adjust to fit, reduce the resistance, and spin.

* Up until she turned 15, got her learners' permit, and commandeered my car, I'd drive my daughter to skating lessons at the top of the Tramway Boulevard hills. I'd sometimes carry my Dahon Hon Solo, 70" gear, and ride it down the hill and back up again. I'd occasionally ride it on the 75" Joe Starck 1999 fixed custom, but that was no harder, perhaps even easier because of the better fit and riding position and of course 10 lbs less in weight to haul up the hill.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum