BkSaGo

Hadn’t ridden as much as I’d like this year, but starting ramping it up and slowly increasing time and distance.

Then a couple days after a slightly tougher ride (bit more distance and headwinds) two weeks ago, started experiencing significant knee pain. Knee wasn’t improving after 7-10 days so went to GP and had x-rays taken - nothing obvious. Now waiting for appointment with Ortho - first availability around the end of the month.

Ah, the joys of getting older.

downtube42

The best thing a doctor ever did for my joint pain was a referral to PT. Second best was to proscribe 600mg of ibuprofen. YMMV.

bruce19

And, you're sure your fit is right? Sometimes as you age your fit changes. I'm 78 and changed my seat height from 91 to 90 cm this year. I wasn't experiencing any pain but the comfort and spin are better.

BkSaGo

Good point. I’ll recheck my fit.

Carbonfiberboy 

It's not usually fit. It's more usually lack of strength and flexibility in the joint. The knee joint is very complicated.
Stretching helps, these stretches: IT Band pain (during ride)

The other thing that goes wrong is loss of cartilage (the meniscus) in the joint. That's a big problem. Once you're bone on bone, it's TKR time. IME that can be prevented by doing two things:
1) taking about a gram of glucosamine sulfate and a gram of MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) every day
2) doing leg work in the gym, starting light and working up to heavy over a few years or months depending on how it goes. Lifting pushes fluid through the meniscus, the only way it can get nourishment.

Where is the pain? Makes a big difference. One thing you can try while waiting for the docs is to get on a trainer or rollers, put the bike in a low gear and pedal easy for about 30'. Do that every day. Might just fix you right up, depending on what's wrong.

BkSaGo

Pain is slightly to the inside of the knee, mid-joint and below.
I’ll try some light spinning on my trainer.

MinnMan

I had some pretty bad knee pain earlier this year. Had it checked out by the ortho - no major problems, no real damage to the knee. She said my IT bands and hip flexors were tight. Some PT, rolling out the ITB and hip flexors, and the pain diminished to zero in a few weeks, all without having to stop riding.

YMMV. I hope your problem is as simple as was mine. Best of luck.

BkSaGo

Update: Finally got to see an orthopedic doctor after a couple scheduling issues.

Additional x-rays show that structurally my knee is fine - actually he said it's pretty good for my age (66).
He agrees with the preliminary diagnosis from my GP: Pes Anserinus Bursitis - inflammation of a bursa sac located on the inside of and slightly below the knee joint.
So topical anti-inflammatory, R-I-C-E and easier rides for now.