Hundreds of Milwaukeeans will hop on their bikes Saturday to kick off this year’s “Bike to Work Week.”
Mark Lydecker, a physical therapist with the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Medicine Center, offers the beginning cyclist the following three tips to keep you out of your doctor’s office. Lydecker has treated hundreds of athletes at Froedtert’s Sports Medicine Center who suffer muscle strains and injuries related to cycling.
- Seat height: Stand next to the bike and eye up your seat. It should be at the level of your hip. Adjust the seat and get on the bike. When your feet are at the lowest part of the pedal crank (6 o’clock), your knee should have a slight bend, around 25-35 degrees.
- Seat angle: Start with a neutral position. Begin pedaling and watch your knees when your foot is towards the front of the bike (the 3 o’clock position). Your knee cap should be right over the pedal axle.
- Reach: With your hands on the shifters, your shoulders should be around 90 degrees from your body and your elbows should have a slight bend.
