Knee pain - success!
When I started cycling last year, I had knee pain (tweaky knees I called it) in either or both knees when I’d start out on a ride.
I found that if I took it easy, spinning moderately fast, I could warm them up and relieve the pain eventually. Some rides, it never went away, so I didn’t ride too hard at all at those times.
I’ve hardly had any knee pain at all lately except for today. I had a little twinge on the downstroke on my left knee this AM when I went out for a ride.
So I followed procedure and was careful not to strain it, pedaled easy and fast but not too fast and it finally went away after about 25 minutes. Wonderful! It really works!
It’s very important to listen to your body. As a young man, I subscribed, as many do, to the belief that you push through the pain. That’s true if it’s the pain of muscular exertion but not joint or cartilage pain.
Not always easy to tell the difference. That’s how I got golfer’s elbow (tendonitis) a few years back.
I was doing bicep curls on my own in my basement probably with incorrect form and when I experienced pain I kept going, pushing. Eventually, I couldn’t even hold a coffee cup with my right hand. Took years to get rid of that and I still have to be careful.
So after that knee “tweak” went away I had a fabulous ride. Fall is my favorite time and this route was a very scenic and peaceful one, almost no traffic. I got out in the countryside before the kids started going to school and came back into town when everybody was already at work and kids were in school. Nice. I went 35 miles and just enjoyed it.
No specific agenda. Not too worried about cadence, heart rate, speed, etc.
My main goal is to lose some more weight, specifically fat and not so much improve my riding performance. So as long as a big chunk of my ride is in heart rate zone 3 (70-80%MHR), I’m happy. That’s the “fat burning zone”.
I have also been doing push-ups and sit-ups to improve my upper body strength and tighten up the tum-tum. Would like to get a chin-up bar too although I can’t even do one without assist!
I moved the cleats on my shoes all the way back too and that’s worked out OK. Nothing negative from it anyway. I’d have to go 60 or more miles to really see if that relieves the “burning foot” syndrome.
So, on this ride, my cadence and speed were down a bit. Just enjoying the ride and the scenery.
Here’s the route!
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Cycle - 2.8 hours - 09/30/2008
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 09/30/2008
- Time: 07:00:00
- Total Time: 2:47:36.00
- Average Heart rate: 120
- Calories: 1165
- Distance: 35.65 miles
- Average Speed: 12.76 mph
- Max Speed: 32.3 mph
- Average Cadence: 72
Filed under: Cycle, General Cardio
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Recovery ride - Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
I rode a pretty hard 42 miles yesterday so I wanted to take it easy today. I passed on an offer by Charles to ride this afternoon and instead rode 10 with Mrs. MTBMan on the Mo-Hud trail.
This time we drove out near the western end of the trail past Schenectady into Rotterdam. A little parking area just before Lock 8 on the Mohawk River.
I think this section is the most scenic part of the whole Corning Trail/Mohawk-Hudson Bike Path system.
For one thing, the path is generally narrower and more winding which not only makes it more fun to ride but I think somehow it adds to the beauty of the scenery. Maybe it’s because you are surprised around the turns at some of the vistas that open up.
While it’s generally flat, there are no serious climbs, it is also more rolling than most of the easterly parts of the trail some of which can get monotonous.
The ride went by quick and I felt rejuvenated.
This time I brought the camera but the batteries died after taking this one picture.
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Cycle - 1 hours - 09/28/2008
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 09/28/2008
- Time: 14:00:00
- Total Time: 00:59:57.00
- Distance: 10.16 miles
- Average Speed: 10.17 mph
Filed under: Cycle, General Cardio
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Cycle - 3.2 hours - 09/27/2008
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 09/27/2008
- Time: 12:00:00
- Total Time: 3:10:34.00
- Average Heart rate: 126
- Calories: 1482
- Distance: 42.33 miles
- Average Speed: 13.33 mph
- Max Speed: 32 mph
- Average Cadence: 75
Filed under: Cycle, General Cardio
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The Foggy, Foggy Dew!
Wow, what a foggy morning. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden with it this bad short of actually raining.
My rearview mirror was dripping with moisture.
After an hour the sun finally started to come through and burn off the cloud but I found that was only at the higher elevations. When I dropped back down, there was the fog. Finally, towards the end, after 2-1/2 hours the sun came out all over.
This ride was 32 miles. I was shooting for a 2 hour ride but as I turned toward home I felt so good like I could keep going another 10 or 20 miles.
Here’s the route:
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Cycle - 2.5 hours - 09/25/2008
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 09/25/2008
- Time: 07:30:00
- Total Time: 2:29:16.00
- Average Heart rate: 119
- Calories: 1041
- Distance: 32.44 miles
- Average Speed: 13.04 mph
- Max Speed: 31.3 mph
- Average Cadence: 75
- Max Cadence: 119
Filed under: Cycle, General Cardio
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Native-American Summer!
Well, the other one is not PC, right?
Wow, this was a great day for a ride! I worked in the morning today so I had to take a ride this afternoon. Too good to pass up.
I was just feeling a little lazy, like it would be nice to have a nap instead but I’ve been at this long enough to know it’s worth it.
Sometimes when you’re thinking you should ride, you’re thinking of the effort, the unpleasant sections of highway, the cars but you know after 1/2 hour or so and your first good hill you will feel like a million bucks.
And that’s the way it was. Just to be out there in the sun, 73 degrees, mmmm-mmmm! 28 miles, just about right.
Oh yeah, this was my first ride with my new seat. A “Terry” Fly.
It seemed a little stiff at first even though it is a Gel seat but it fits pretty good. They also make one with titanium rails but that’s an extra $100 dollars! I’d do better to lose another 10 pounds than spend $100 to shave a few ounces!
Also, my bottom bracket is acting up again. It’s making clicking sounds.
I’m going away for the weekend so I may leave it off at the shop before I go.
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Cycle - 2.1 hours - 09/24/2008
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 09/24/2008
- Time: 14:00:00
- Total Time: 2:07:39.00
- Average Heart rate: 135
- Max Heart rate: 165
- Calories: 1044
- Distance: 28.84 miles
- Average Speed: 13.56 mph
- Max Speed: 35.3 mph
- Average Cadence: 75
Filed under: Cycle, General Cardio
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Cycle - 0.9 hours - 09/23/2008
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 09/23/2008
- Time: 06:30:00
- Total Time: 00:52:39.00
- Average Heart rate: 114
- Calories: 333
- Distance: 11.09 miles
- Average Speed: 12.64 mph
- Max Speed: 32.4 mph
- Average Cadence: 80
Filed under: Cycle, General Cardio
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