First commute - a few issues

[iancity]

Hi, finally did it, started work 16 miles away last Wednesday and after making excuses finally went in today on the bike, loved it as I thought I would but had a couple of problems...bit of background will help - highest ever distance is only 35 miles, normally get out on the bike once or twice a week to do a 7 mile loop before work and then a longer 20/30 miler at the weekends if I can - work has now moved 16 miles so looking to cycle if possible...not been on the bike for 2 weeks at all so wonder if that contributes to the below...
1) Back of right knee...had previous problems with it in the past but never really cycling...and was fine on the cycle in didn't feel it at all, but after doing 16 miles and having a shower I sat at the desk for probably 2 hours, when I went to get up severe pain in back of right knee joint...this continued all day until, ironically, I hopped on the bike to come home and it went...until back at home again, where I am typing this and its okish but still a bit sore - never had problems with this on rides before - any ideas?
2) Cramps...ah, never really suffered from cramps before but it came and went quite a bit on the ride home - always in the right calf - is there something I should be doing to alleviate this (again, never happened on any of my longer rides at all).
3) Traffic position - bah, I'm an experienced driver and seen enough youtube videos on cycling etc to make me think I thought I knew what I was doing...approaching traffic lights, about 10 cars in front of me, 2 lanes, left lane for straight on and left, right lane for, err, right. I want to go straight on so move down the first 2 cars on the left hand side between the cars and the kerb, but then realise I am going to run out of road as the cars further down are so close to the kerb - I therefore move into the right hand lane (nothing coming) and move to the front (thinking/hoping) there was an advanced cycling box sort of thing...there wasn't! So was left in a dilemma, do I either go in the left hand lane in front of the first car (which would take me past the traffic light) or stay in right hand lane and go in a direction I didn't want to go....how should I have handled this, and where did I go wrong? (I ended up going right, perpendicular to my intended direction!!).
And finally, bit of a weird one this but any advice appreciated...on my way in, at about 10 miles I stopped for a banana in a bus stop, had no problems up until then and felt comfortable, however, when I swung my leg over the bike to get off I noticed a strange feeling, errr, down there, little iancity seemed to have gone to sleep, it was really weird and is hard to describe, there just seemed no feeling at all but I had an urge to squeeze it because it was feeling 'funny'.(now this bit sounds even worse, and trying not to make it sound like I am a pervert in a bus stop!!!!). I tried as best as I could to get some feeling back into it, but was then hit with the weirdest 5 minutes of pins and needles down there that I have ever had - I am presuming maybe the pad on the shorts was a bit thin, maybe I just 'pinched' it as I was riding and cut off circulation, but the shorts are probably the best quality ones I have, and I have never suffered from this before - took 10 minutes before I felt normal again - any ideas?

Thanks for taking the time to read, my longest post ever haha

 

[steve50]

Firstly well done!! Always nice when you reach a goal you have been aiming for.
The pain in the right knee joint, is your saddle set at the right height, are you positioned far enough forward or back as many on here keep stating mere millimeters can make all the difference. Did you try to push yourself a little too hard perhaps (speed instead of pace)?
What was the ambient temperature like on the ride home, could it have been a little cooler than you expected, cold legs can lead to cramp.
Re the ermm numbness, I have read a post on here today relating to that very subject and the answer seems to be the type of saddle you use to overcome the issue. Some kind of "split saddle" I will see if I can find the relative post.

 

[steve50]

I've read somewhere on this forum that these saddles are recommended as a cure for the numbness issue, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ISM-Adamo...834?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43db8dd752

Re the cramp , http://www.brevet.cc/how-to-prevent-leg-cramps-when-cycling/

 

[buggi]

If you approach a junction you are unsure of, always take the middle of the lane you need. Pull up in the queue of traffic as if you were a car. Don't filter up the left or right until you are familiar with the junction layout. In fact,I don't tend to bother to filter if I know I will make it through the next change of lights anyway. No point, unless there is a long queue of traffic bcoz you have the hassle of filtering and then those drivers are gonna overtake you again anyway.

 

[clf]

Good to see a fellow blue on here.
The knee could just be down to a long ride after doing nothing for 2 weeks, if it persists after a couple more days of regular riding, rest it then try again, if it persists get it checked by a physio. The numbness I did experience at first, I cured it by moving my saddle forward by a few mm. You need your weight to be distributed by your "sit bones" on the widest part of the saddle rather than your crotch on the thinnest part. Experiment with saddle position and height to see if that helps.
Cramps 9 times out of 10 are caused by dehydration, especially at this time of year, you'll be losing a surprising amount of water and salts through sweating, drink more before, during and post ride.

Traffic, filtering and position will come with experience, route familiarity and confidence in traffic, for me heavy rush hour traffic is easy than weekend traffic simply because it's barely moving a lot of the time. Your riding style will be different commuting vs weekend riding because of this.
16 miles is a fair old trek if you're not used to it, take is slow and easy at first, most importantly enjoy it.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

2) Cramps...ah, never really suffered from cramps before but it came and went quite a bit on the ride home - always in the right calf - is there something I should be doing to alleviate this (again, never happened on any of my longer rides at all).

Cramp in the calf is usually caused by a saddle that is too far forwards.

Measure your knee, at 90 degrees, the back of your kneecap should be over the pedal spindle, check it with a plumb bob and see where it lies. I'm sure it will be too far forwards.

 

[iancity]

Thanks for all the replies, had a proper bike fit done when I bought the bike, and never had any of the above issues in the year I have had it, so presume it's not a bike fit thing. That article on cramps was a useful read. I'll put it down to a combination of a few things and see what happens when I next ride in :-)

 

[mythste]

RE the numbness, It happened to me after my first few rides but has not been an issue since. I assume ive just evolved!

 

[martinclive]

I have had a lot of cramps over the years too - I reduced caffeine intake and made sure was drinking throughout the day - that seems to have helped.

Has been better recently but have had calf problems in the last week - I have been drinking plenty of water but as warm and sweating a lot (at night too) you lose a lot of salts etc - so I have gone to using the tablets you get to replace electrolytes and I think that helps

Other than that the usual thing of giving the calf a good rub and stretch before you start and then starting off gently - most of my problems seem to come if I go off too fast

Cheers and good luck

 

[BEHMOTH66]

16 miles is a nice commute only have a quick 5 miler into Manchester. cramps can be caused by poor positioning, dehydration and/or loss of electrolytes. I don't really suffer from cramps but I drink quite a bit of water during the day and use electrolytes for my sports training when it is hot every other day.

Oh and don't let the "experts say your best when your 3% dehydrated" who the bloody hell knows when your 3% dehydrated (sorry quick moan)

 

[Berk on a Bike]

In the first fews days weeks of commuting I too had knee pain behind my right knee. Nothing major, just a twinge when bending it. In recent weeks it's gone away. I put it down to initial exertion. Like the OP I came from a basis of short to medium distances a few times a week. Doing 12 miles each way every day just took its toll I think. I learned pretty quickly about hydrating and fuelling too. I wasn't one for eating much at work; that's changed.

 

[iancity]

Again, thanks for all the replies (love this forum).
Just had my bike taken away by a friendly local bike mechanic for a service, but it will be a week absolutely gutted, but suppose it gives me time to give the knees a bit rest, and possibly look at the numbness issues

Thanks again

 

[Lonestar]

A week for a service? I do the general servicing myself.

Just done my bottom bracket myself but was originally going to take it round the bike shop.Probably the first time I managed to do it myself.Better but I did have spare bikes while waiting for the tools and parts.

 

[cyberknight]

Tingly dinglies can be caused by a number of things from saddle tilt, saddle to high and overreaching causing you to lean to far forward putting pressure on the area .
You could look at your saddle and maybe change to one with a cut out, drop the height a few mm and see if that helps , you say you have had a bike fit ? some bike fitters can give generic fits that you might need to modify based on your own body so dont be afraid to tweak it a bit as you can always mark / write down your old fit so you can get back there if need be.
Pain at the back of the knee and numbness says to me your saddle is a bit to high .
I used to get calf cramps when climbing hills and this went when i moved the cleats further back on the shoes , it could also be a case that your seizing up when at the desk , if i sit at the computer at home and i have not stretched i get cramps now and again.
Really though for 16 miles do you need a food stop ? assuming you have eaten correctly during the day you should have enough in your glycogen to see you home .
Finally well done and keep at it !

 

[400bhp]

Good to see a fellow blue on here.
The knee could just be down to a long ride after doing nothing for 2 weeks, if it persists after a couple more days of regular riding, rest it then try again, if it persists get it checked by a physio.

Actually, I'd say don't do this. If it persists then it's clearly a bike fit issue. You need to either adjust the fit yourself or get someone to help you (paid or free) that knows what they are doing. A general physio may alleviate the problem short term but not solve the nub of the problem.

In response to the OP's initial post, I would say that 1 & 3 are related & sounds like a bike fit issue to me. But we are all guessing without actually seeing your position and none of here are experts by anyone's standard.

Isue #2 sounds like dehydration.