spokesNspin

Carey from A Women’s Prerogative recently posted a comment here asking about knee pain when bicycling.

I would like to answer her question by giving my opinion to a broader question.  

I am often asked what type of bicycle would be the best to buy. This question is more relevant as more people turn to bicycling as a way to save money.

I believe that if a person can only have one bike and they want an all around bicycle they should buy a road touring bicycle. 

This type of bicycle has a geometry that allows the rider to be more upright than other road bikes.  Almost as upright as a position that one would find on a bike with straight handlebars.  This is more comfortable for most people.  It has drop handlebars which gives a rider more hand positions.

Another advantage is that a road touring bike will generally accept a wider range of tire types and sizes.  Put on skinny tires for the road.  If you are inclined, put on a wider tire with more traction and hit a fire road.

Put a rack on it and you have a great bike for commuting to work or running errands.

You can do it all.

Now for the down side.

Your LBS(local bike shop) probably won’t stock one.  You may need to order it.  They will also probably try to talk to you out of it.  Most people just don’t get the advantage of these bikes.  I am not the only one that believe these are great bicycles.  There are well known bicycle writers who agree with me.

The other downside is cost.  Most major bicycle companies will only make one model of this type of bike. That means that the cost will start at around $800. 

You can get a hybrid type entry level bicycle at a LBS for $450.  The more you pay the more you get but there are limits.   There is a lot of difference in a $450 bicycle and a $750 bicycle.   By the same token going from a $1500 bicycle to a $2000 bicycle is probably not worth the extra money for most people.

More important than the type of bicycle to buy is where you buy it. 

Do not buy a bicycle from a department store, Walmart, Kmart etc.  It might be cheaper but even if the bike is the same bike the person who set it up probably didn’t know what they were doing.  There won’t be anyone there who can make sure that the bicycle fits or will be able to make adjustments so it fits.  They won’t have people with expertise on how to fit the bicycle.

The LBS will take care of your bike after the sale.   You can count on them to make adjustments for a few months after the sale free of charge. 

The brand probably makes very little difference if you are buying from an LBS.  They are all pretty much the same with the same components.  There might be little differences in the frame that might make one bike more comfortable for you than another.  So test ride more than one bike.  Most shops will carry more than one brand.

Don’t dicker over price.  Shops don’t generally negotiate.  It is my understanding that there is very little markup on bicycles.  The shop makes the money on the service department and accessories.

The most important thing is that the bike fits.  A bike that doesn’t fit will be uncomfortable and you won’t ride it. That is why the LBS is where you should go.  They will take time to ensure the fit.

So now to answer Carey’s question about knee pain when she rides her bicycle. 

The first thing to check if you have knee pain is the seat height.  Your leg should almost be fully extended when your foot reaches the bottom of the pedal stroke.  The seat shouldn’t be so high that when watching you pedal from behind one does not sees a rocking motion of the hips.

The fore and aft position of the seat will also make a difference.

You can google and go online to find more details on how the bicycle seat should be adjusted.  You can also go to your LBS and ask them to help.  If they are not busy they will likely be willing to help you out.

If your fit is correct from the seat standpoint another thing to think about is your pedaling.

Normally when riding you should be able to pedal comfortably at around 85 revolutions per minute.  The speed of your pedaling is called cadence.  If you are riding constantly in too big of a gear you could easily get knee pain.  In bike lingo a big gear is one that is hard to push.  A small gear is one that is easy to push. 

The bottom line is ride in a gear where you can pedal smoothly and easily.

If these two ideas don’t help I would recommend that you go to your LBS.   There are other possibilities but there is too much for this post.

I hope you can solve this problem and get out on your bike and enjoy the ride.