Wanted: Big Sprocket - for f**ked knee

So, Just got back from the doctors today - they say I should really lay-off the riding till I get my knee sorted (somethings up with the cartilage - going for an xray tomorrow). I can't actually stop riding; so hopefully a spinny gear will make riding less painful in the mean time.

I'm looking for something 20 tooth or higher (how high do they go??) preferably 1/8th.

I've got a 17t condor midrange sprocket (cost about £15). Bought it a few weeks ago, only really ridden it about 50 miles (a week or 2 of normal riding) before switching back to my 18t. If you that's of any use to anyone, an exchange would be nice. Otherwise I'll just buy.

cheers
Lester

i have a 20t sprocket, 3 3/32 though
http://www.lfgss.com/thread47688.html#post1548044

I've got a couple unused 20 tooth sprockets for sale.
http://www.lfgss.com/thread45769.html

thanks for the quick replies guys. gonna go with the 1/8th i think (sumo you has pm).
Cheers ummar01 anyways!

I have a 22t

I tore my cartilage in January, going for the op next week. Riding helps it, although it was really painful when I first did it.

Good luck for the x-ray, get an MRI scan booked in ASAP.

25t freewheel ftw.

Sorry this is a massive digression, but I'm fresh in from the pub and this comes easily.

Who told you it was a cartilage problem?

The NHS are generally pretty shit when it comes to diagnosis of knees problems (and indeed any specific use injury) stemming from cycling. This isn't a criticism of the NHS as they simply don't (and why should they) have access to knowledge of niche activities that may alter their diagnosis.

I talk from experience.

Gearing down may not help, (well actually that depends what gearing you are using now)

What foot retention do you use?
Do you have one leg longer than the other?
If so is it the calf or thigh that is longer?
How long are your legs?
What size cranks are you using?
Do you have High/low arches?
Does one leg bow in/out during pedaling?

If you do stop cycling (you should for a bit, seriously) does your knee feel better?

Any way, Good luck!

mr nomoreknees..you sound like you have a lot of knowledge ,whats your background?... bye the way whatever it is, lester take a little time off your knees will thank you later, i was a courier, rode for 9 hrs a day for year after year ...my knees are now fucked

Gearing down may not help, (well actually that depends what gearing you are using now)

What foot retention do you use?
Do you have one leg longer than the other?
If so is it the calf or thigh that is longer?
How long are your legs?
What size cranks are you using?
Do you have High/low arches?
Does one leg bow in/out during pedaling?

If you do stop cycling (you should for a bit, seriously) does your knee feel better?

Sorry, the doctor said it is probably a cartilage issue. I guess I'll know a bit more once i go for the xray in a few days.

My gear for about a 18 months has been 69inches (46*18). About a month ago i tried out 46*17 - so about 73 inches. I've had some problems with the knee before, in the last 6 months, but changing up a gear recently probably led to the most recent bout of pain.
Took a break from cycling for about 5 days, and swapped back to the old ratio, felt a little better, but riding again certainly made the knee more painful once i was off the bike.

At the moment, I'm using double straps and cages, set fairly loosly - I find that tightening the straps can cause a bit of discomfort in the knee. I've never tried any clipless systems before and have been riding fixed since beginning of 2007, so over 3 years now.

I don't really have answers to leg measurements, I'm 82cm, sit-bone-to-floor and use 165 cranks, but thats it really. To my knowledge my legs are the same length, but i've never had them measured (logic suggests that they can't be the same length anyways).

What would be the best way of finding out specific leg/arch measurements? I could measure myself, but i doubt that would be very scientific.

Going for a ride today (to the doctors, ironically? stupidly?) made it feel alot worse; though when i've been for shorter rides, and gone very slowly, it feels the like the spinning motion might be doing some benefit.
yes- I know I should be taking a break from cycling, though that is much much easier said than done.

Just put a freewheel, they're a lots gentler on the knees than a fixed gearing that's a bit more spinner.

I'm in similar situation as you, but my doctor's a cyclist which help, he told me to get a freewheel bicycle preferably with more than one speed so I won't have to stand on the pedal to cycle up the hill for instance.

I fucked my knees on fixed, now ride gears with high cadence, much easier but still get twinges if I barrel up too many hills too fast. I would really change to gears, fixed riding's just a fad anyway no?