Knee Concerns

So during the Cairgorms Sportive 2 weekends ago I started getting some pain on the inside of my right knee. I rested up & wasn't on the bike for a week untill Saturday, when I did a 60km loop. Reaching Kilsyth I was getting a bit of pain on the outside of the right knee, but also under both knee caps. Given that I was wearing tri shorts under cycling shorts, as I'm considering this for Roth, I dropped the seat down a few mm and the back of the kneecap pain subsided. I also changed the cleat position on my right foot to try and alleviate the side of knee pain. It seemed fine for a bit, and I climbed the Tak without any problem, setting a new PB in the process (granted, it was only my third time up the road, but still, I'm chuffed), but halfway down through Carron valley the pain set in big time. I hobbled into Fintry and crawled up the Crow (at what would've been a respectable pace 12 to 18 months ago!) relying heavily on my left leg to power me up. At the top was a nasty surprise to give my spirits a good kick when they were down; a heavy jaggy rain storm, and me without a jacket. The cold compounded the knee problems I think, but onwards and homewards was the only option, so glasses came off as they were utterly useless in the downpour leaving me to take the full brunt of the jagginess (who knew rain could be jaggy?) down the hill and into the blessed relief of a Lennoxtown bus shelter, when I donned my arm warmers to try and retain some body heat in my sodden frame. With sodden, squidgy gloves, I limped home fairly miserable with thoughts of Roth being doomed before I reached the start line, my enthusiasm (which may seem endless to some of you) well and truly sapped.
Good company that evening in the shape of my girlfriend and a self-indulgent Sunday spent in the cinema (Prometheus and Ill Manors in case you are interested) helped bring back my normal humour, but being in a good mood isn't going to sort out whatever this problem is so step one is that I've signed up for a bike for, to make sure I'm not damaging myself through dodgy posture. Its not cheap, but I'm hoping it will be worth it - its gotta be better than the alternatives of not doing Roth or damaging myself. And thinking about it critically on my miserable journey home, there are a lot of things I'm doing wrong or that don't really feel right.

So we shall see.


Tonight's blog is brought to you by:
Plan B - ill Manors