Knee pain...

Hello,

I bought a uni 6 days ago and did about 3 hours of practice since then. I
find it very fascinating and, surprisingly, I've been able to ride for 3
to 5 meters a couple of times, though not in a strait line. I feel
improvement for about every 10-15 minutes I pass on the Uni.

The only drawback is that I began feeling pain in my right knee. I'm quite
used to it as I do mountain bike raids (2-3 days races) and always had
minor knee problems (condromalatia). When it occurs, a couple of rest days
is enouch to make it disappear. My question is the following :

Will I be subject to less pain when I'll have a better balance on the Uni
? I beleive my knees are subject to the greatest constraints right now as
I'm always fighting to keep balance.

I can stand that small pain for a while but hope that this problem will
disappear with better balance and technique.

Thanks !

Christ.

Christian St-Pierre wrote:

[color=blue]> The only drawback is that I began feeling pain in my right knee.[/color]

[color=blue]> Will I be subject to less pain when I'll have a better balance on[/color]
[color=blue]> the Uni ?[/color]

[color=blue]> I can stand that small pain for a while but hope that this problem will[/color]
[color=blue]> disappear with better balance and technique.[/color]

It probably will. One of the typical problems for beginners is to put too
much weight on the pedals. This along with the tension you probably have
in your body while learning to balance can cause all sorts of aches and
pains. As you become more skilled you will also relax. You eventually want
to shift almost all of your weight onto the saddle with just enough
pressure on the pedals to control the unicycle and propel yourself.

As a serious MTB rider I assume you understand the importance of seat
height, and have your unicycle adjusted properly. Your seat should be high
enough that you only have a slight bend in the knee at the bottom of the
stroke. If the seat is too low, combined with putting too much weight on
the pedals, the problem will be magnified.

All the best,

John Hooten

I'm sure you're a little tense. Ensure your butt and your body weight is
on the seat at all times. Make sure your leg can almost fully extend,
which may mean you may need a longer seatpost. As with biking you'll need
to learn to relax. It's like swimming. The more you do it the better you
get and the more efficient you become. After a while you'll be riding as
consciously as you walk.

You may need to take a break and let the pain go away. It's no fun to
ride in pain.

Riding a uni will redefine the meaning of "trackstand" for you!

Don_TaiATyahooDOTcoDOTuk, Toronto, Canada

Christian St-Pierre wrote:
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Hello,[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> I bought a uni 6 days ago and did about 3 hours of practice since then.[/color]
[color=blue]> I find it very fascinating and, surprisingly, I've been able to ride for[/color]
[color=blue]> 3 to 5 meters a couple of times, though not in a strait line. I feel[/color]
[color=blue]> improvement for about every 10-15 minutes I pass on the Uni.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> The only drawback is that I began feeling pain in my right knee. I'm[/color]
[color=blue]> quite used to it as I do mountain bike raids (2-3 days races) and always[/color]
[color=blue]> had minor knee problems (condromalatia). When it occurs, a couple of[/color]
[color=blue]> rest days is enouch to make it disappear. My question is the following :[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Will I be subject to less pain when I'll have a better balance on the[/color]
[color=blue]> Uni ? I beleive my knees are subject to the greatest constraints right[/color]
[color=blue]> now as I'm always fighting to keep balance.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> I can stand that small pain for a while but hope that this problem will[/color]
[color=blue]> disappear with better balance and technique.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Thanks ![/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Christ.[/color]

As I said to John earlier (previous post), I bought a used uni with a
short seatpost and started with it even if the seat was too low. I did not
make the link between that and my pain ! I will soon get an extension for
my seatpost.

Thank a lot guys for the tips and the encouragement ! I would have been
very sad of not being able to uni... (at that point "to try to...").

Christ.

Don Tai wrote:

[color=blue]> I'm sure you're a little tense. Ensure your butt and your body weight is[/color]
[color=blue]> on the seat at all times. Make sure your leg can almost fully extend,[/color]
[color=blue]> which may mean you may need a longer seatpost. As with biking you'll[/color]
[color=blue]> need to learn to relax. It's like swimming. The more you do it the[/color]
[color=blue]> better you get and the more efficient you become. After a while you'll[/color]
[color=blue]> be riding as consciously as you walk.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> You may need to take a break and let the pain go away. It's no fun to[/color]
[color=blue]> ride in pain.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Riding a uni will redefine the meaning of "trackstand" for you![/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Don_TaiATyahooDOTcoDOTuk, Toronto, Canada[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Christian St-Pierre wrote:[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Hello,[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > I bought a uni 6 days ago and did about 3 hours of practice since[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > then. I find it very fascinating and, surprisingly, I've been able to[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > ride for 3 to 5 meters a couple of times, though not in a strait line.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > I feel improvement for about every 10-15 minutes I pass on the Uni.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > The only drawback is that I began feeling pain in my right knee. I'm[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > quite used to it as I do mountain bike raids (2-3 days races) and[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > always had minor knee problems (condromalatia). When it occurs, a[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > couple of rest days is enouch to make it disappear. My question is the[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > following :[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Will I be subject to less pain when I'll have a better balance on the[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Uni ? I beleive my knees are subject to the greatest constraints right[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > now as I'm always fighting to keep balance.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > I can stand that small pain for a while but hope that this problem[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > will disappear with better balance and technique.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Thanks ![/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Christ.[/color]

As I said to John earlier (previous post), I bought a used uni with a
short seatpost and started with it even if the seat was too low. I did not
make the link between that and my pain ! I will soon get an extension for
my seatpost.

Thank a lot guys for the tips and the encouragement ! I would have been
very sad of not being able to uni... (at that point "to try to...").

Christ.

Don Tai wrote:

[color=blue]> I'm sure you're a little tense. Ensure your butt and your body weight is[/color]
[color=blue]> on the seat at all times. Make sure your leg can almost fully extend,[/color]
[color=blue]> which may mean you may need a longer seatpost. As with biking you'll[/color]
[color=blue]> need to learn to relax. It's like swimming. The more you do it the[/color]
[color=blue]> better you get and the more efficient you become. After a while you'll[/color]
[color=blue]> be riding as consciously as you walk.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> You may need to take a break and let the pain go away. It's no fun to[/color]
[color=blue]> ride in pain.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Riding a uni will redefine the meaning of "trackstand" for you![/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Don_TaiATyahooDOTcoDOTuk, Toronto, Canada[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Christian St-Pierre wrote:[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Hello,[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > I bought a uni 6 days ago and did about 3 hours of practice since[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > then. I find it very fascinating and, surprisingly, I've been able to[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > ride for 3 to 5 meters a couple of times, though not in a strait line.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > I feel improvement for about every 10-15 minutes I pass on the Uni.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > The only drawback is that I began feeling pain in my right knee. I'm[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > quite used to it as I do mountain bike raids (2-3 days races) and[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > always had minor knee problems (condromalatia). When it occurs, a[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > couple of rest days is enouch to make it disappear. My question is the[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > following :[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Will I be subject to less pain when I'll have a better balance on the[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Uni ? I beleive my knees are subject to the greatest constraints right[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > now as I'm always fighting to keep balance.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > I can stand that small pain for a while but hope that this problem[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > will disappear with better balance and technique.[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Thanks ![/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> >[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > Christ.[/color]

I know this isn't the answer to your question, but try some
Glucosamine Sulfate. You can get it at health food stores and
someitmes Costco. It works wonders for curing pains like this. It does
take 3-4 weeks to work tho.

Get 100% Glucosamine, not any of those combo pieces of junk.

Cheers Graham W. Boyes

[color=blue]> The only drawback is that I began feeling pain in my right knee. I'm[/color]
[color=blue]> quite used to it as I do mountain bike raids (2-3 days races) and always[/color]
[color=blue]> had minor knee problems (condromalatia). When it occurs, a couple of[/color]
[color=blue]> rest days is enouch to make it disappear. My question is the following :[/color]

Lots on seat post height but nothing on crank length yet. I experienced
bad knee pain when I first learned to ride last year on a 24" United with
6" cranks. It had become so bad that I couldn't sit with my knees bent for
more than 15 minutes or so. John Drummond suggested 5" cranks and, after
installing them on my uni, my knee pain was gone in a matter of days. For
normal street riding, I don't think I'll ever go back to longer cranks.

Bruce http://move.to/daup

"Graham Boyes" wrote:
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> I know this isn't the answer to your question, but try some Glucosamine[/color]
[color=blue]> Sulfate. You can get it at health food stores and someitmes Costco. It[/color]
[color=blue]> works wonders for curing pains like this. It does take 3-4 weeks to[/color]
[color=blue]> work tho.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Get 100% Glucosamine, not any of those combo pieces of junk.[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color=blue]> Cheers Graham W. Boyes[/color]
[color=blue]>[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > The only drawback is that I began feeling pain in my right knee. I'm[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > quite used to it as I do mountain bike raids (2-3 days races) and[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > always had minor knee problems (condromalatia). When it occurs, a[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > couple of rest days is enouch to make it disappear. My question is the[/color]
[color={usenetquotecolor2}]> > following :[/color]