Does the cold/winter effect you joints?

Briando

I got sore knees(both) last winter cycling out in the cold and rain.

Same again this winter.

During the Spring/Summer/Autumn when I'm doing about 5x times the distance I do during the winter and my knees never had trouble.

Could this be related to the cold? Anybody ever experienced this kind of thing?

cdaly_

Certainly knees don't like the cold. Make sure you have them covered, maybe extra leg/knee warmers. Also, spin a lower gear to reduce strain on them...

bambergbike

If it's very cold AND very wet AND you've got a lot of wind chill to contend with, you could try smear milking grease, vaseline or some other embrocation onto your knees. Even if you're wearing knee warmers or long pants as well. On the flat it's rarely worth the bother but if you have really long downhill sections it's nice to get to the end of them with warm knees ready for the next climb.

laraghrider

May not be the cold. Did you this year or last year happen to change pedals or cleats or even shoes. If so maybe they are not aligned the way your previous ones were. Did you change anything else in the setup of your bike?

What I've also seen during winter is some mates trying to push the same gears they use in the peak of the season during december when they are not at the same level. This can cause additional stress on the joint if you're trying to push too high a gear.

bcmf

I have had a history of bad knees since I was young.
My only suggestion is to get a set of decent (read Endura/Gore/or those Nanoflex ones) kneewramers and legwarmers and wear them all the time.
Even on the really cold damp days I have a set of thinner ones on under my tights.
Only on the really warm days do I go without.

Diggabot

I tore ligaments in my left knee several years ago and the cold does give me bother but I made a minor saddle adjustment and changed the angle of the cleat on that foot with a good amount of float and it's much better.

tacklemore

I used to have the same thing myself, but it used to be worse 4 or 5 years ago. Nowhere near as bad now. Put it down to the cycling fixing it.
Now, as for my fingers and toes, well thats a completely different story!

nak

bcmf wrote: »

I have had a history of bad knees since I was young.
My only suggestion is to get a set of decent (read Endura/Gore/or those Nanoflex ones) kneewramers and legwarmers and wear them all the time.
Even on the really cold damp days I have a set of thinner ones on under my tights.
Only on the really warm days do I go without.

Same here - osteoarthritis. Embrocation helps too.

Briando

Bike setup hasnt changed.

So I am not mad, it could be the cold that makes it kick off. I'll try use another layer on my legs next cycle and see how it goes.