Screwed up my knee again!

[Toogoofy317]

So the weather is gorgeous and I'm sidelined! GAAAAH!

My doctor put it pretty bluntly that I have to figure out someway to ride Flick using my knee brace or I'm just going to keep messing it up.

I already have the metal ebay pegs and it helped somewhat. Here is the brace I have when I bend up my knee it pinches.



Some thoughts were dogbones to make Flick higher, more padding in the seat to make it taller? I spoke with Adidasguy and he said rearsets wouldn't do that. So any other ideas? 

Mary

[Zwerski]

Man, I hate to say it but you might have to go with a different style bike. My GS will not be my last bike, I'm sure og it.

[adidasguy]

The Raask and Gimbel rear sets move the pegs up and back.

Someone posted about a peg lowering link. With that, you can drop the pegs an inch or two then adjust the brake & shift pedals.

Rear links will only raise or lower the butt of the bike. The pegs and seat are fastened to the frame. Rear links will not change that.

Thicker seat will make a difference. I notice that on Phenix when I switch from the thin Gimbel solo seat to the OEM gel seat. That 3" difference is noticeable. With the low Gimbel seat it is sporty and my legs are rather bent. The gel seat is higher. The flip side is I have the 89 bars on Phenix so the gel seat makes the riding position more aggressive.

Bar raisers might help. Get your upper body more vertical and it might put less stress on the knee - at least less stress on the hips.

[Janx101]

errrr ... ride Side-Saddle ??  nah just jokin ...

where is it pinching? .. around knee .. thigh.. calf? ... some adjustment/padding to various parts of them braces can make a big difference ..

if'n it was me i would also ask a physio-therapist about it ... not whether you need it .. cos you do... but explain to them whats up with the situation and what you need out of it and they usually pretty clue-ful about 'tricks for comfort' .. 

years ago i did a 90% tear of my left leg ACL .. was in a brace for 6 months ... it was different and older/clunkier than yours but same effects.

you may know this info already but nearly all of them have Range Of Motion locking pins .. at the flex point .. yours would probably be hidden under the little plastic logo cover ... .. err at least from the photo i think yours flexes a little ... if it is a solid inflexible unit then is a limited flex one available for you?

but anyway .. i was driving trucks the last 3 months of having the brace .. and what was good for walking was impossible to drive with .. so i used to just change the ROM pins for more flex just while i was sitting down in the truck seat ... a little bit fiddly but the only way it was gonna work for me.

hope this info is useful 

[Toogoofy317]

The upper calf and lower thigh straps make it too thick to bend my knee. Yes, I can force it on the peg but after about 10 minutes of riding I have to extend my leg out. I'm looking for about an inch of extra extension if that. If I rode in shorts  I would be okay but with the jeans just not enough space.

So, maybe some padding under the seat to raise me up and back a little.

Adidas I don't think the handlebars would do that my problem with my knee isn't when I'm riding it's when I'm stopped I'm putting too much pressure on the joint. I thought I was doing good by always trying to   balance more toward the left side. But, being that I'm right hand dominant I unconsciously still will put my weight on the right.

Mary

[Toogoofy317]

Hmmm,

Actually this could be a non-issue. The last time I had really tried this brace on the bike was a couple of years ago  (I was 40lbs heavier). I just went out and sat of Flick with shorts but I could get my knee w/ brace on pretty easily. Well, as easily as my swollen knee will bend. I know the true test is when I have my riding pants and brace on with the swelling down.

But, I love Flick and just paid him off. I'm in no mood of trading him he does what I want/need him to do!

Mary

[bombsquad83]

I think going with a thicker seat, like an OEM gel seat, and possibly bar risers would really help this situation.

[BockinBboy]

I think going with a thicker seat, like an OEM gel seat, and possibly bar risers would really help this situation.

Almost wrote the same thing, but you beat me to it!

So +1 on this suggestion.  I noticed that if I am able to sit further back on the seat, the angle of my knees is more comfortable and it is easier to shift... so if you set your seat higher and bring the bars further back (and up so you don't hit the tank with the bars), you could definately change the angle of your knee for the better.

- Bboy

[shonole]

Do you wear a sleeve underneath it?  I have the same brace, and found that ordering the neoprene sleeve (they have a cotton as well), really helped to keep it from pinching.  I wore it some days 18+ hours a day (law enforcement, so in and out of car, lots of sitting as well as running/etc.), and had very few problems, and little discomfort. 

[05-500_F-aster]

Shonole is right as I too have blown/ no remaining minuscus in my left knee I too half to wear one occasionally. He is right as I too half the same metal sided brace but my has a comfortable sleeve underneath it that the metal side pieces Velcro to, mine is very comfortable with the sleeve but when riding my brace hits the tank but I am 6'2" so that might not be your problem. I really suggest getting a comforting sleeve they can make things a little warm but it is worth it. The only down fall I have seen is that the inside back of my knee starts to get sore from the sleeve getting wrinkle and pinched.

Good luck