Update: Knee vs Pedal

Chet, I used to have pain after 5 miles too.(salmon trolling)  I just extended the pedals to full length, no more pain!!! hope this is the reason for you as well.

Ken you brought a good valid point about pedal adjustment.
I set mine at #3 now.  How do you guys adjust your pedal setting for optimal result ?

Just adjust to 5 and you're good.

Is the hot pain under the knee cap?
Did it start with the new seat?
I use to get pain when I had the peddles set to #3. It felt like my knee caps were hot & floating, ready to come off after a  long day of paddling... It went away when I set it to #4. I felt more comfortable & powerful with #3 but I think it was too short.
Now, with the new seat, when I put the seat in the high position it seems to shorten the distance and the pain came back.  I change my seat position through out the day, so it's fine right now.


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Exactly what I feel.
#3 feel the most powerful. My legs bend just enough to push through another cycle in that setting.
I am going to adjust to #4, then #5 to see if it eliminate the problem.

Not sure if it applies to the stair stepper type pedals, but when I have been fitted for mountain bikes they makes sure I'm comfortable when my legs are ALMOST all the way extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke. This is the most efficient position.

Maybe worth looking into on the hobie.

Exactly what I feel.
#3 feel the most powerful. My legs bend just enough to push through another cycle in that setting.
I am going to adjust to #4, then #5 to see if it eliminate the problem.

i wouldn't put too much pressure on the drive. the chain or rod will break. I try to put as little power/pressure on the drive  as possible and use momentum and timing instead.
Yes , full extension cured my knee pain!

To get the right extension, you could do the same as in cycling, put your heel on the pedal, and adjust so your leg is fully extended when your heel is flat on the pedal.

My knees pain are gone. I did very long distant over the weekend.
Only thing I did is to move pedal from #3 to #4. Feel a bit less powerful, but my knees like it that way.

My knees pain are gone. I did very long distant over the weekend.
Only thing I did is to move pedal from #3 to #4. Feel a bit less powerful, but my knees like it that way.

Good to hear. It seems to me that most people have the pedals set too close. I use 6, and sometimes 7, but i like to slouch...

You want your legs to ALMOST fully extend with each pedal stroke. You don't want your knee to lock out (fully extend) each stroke, just come close.

(Fixed spelling... Damn autocorrect...)

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You want your legs to ALMOST fully expend with each pedal stroke. You don't want your knee to lock out (fully extend) each stroke, just come close.


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Correct. And you also want to use a more laid-back seat position. A more "closed" (upright) position feels more powerful, but in the long run, the more laid back will produce more sustained power. At least that's what I remember from my recumbent biking days...