Standing + Big Gears Always = Knee Problems?

Steve Sr. wrote:
Hello,

Before I get to the details let me start by saying that I am in my
late 40's. Before anyone suggests bike fit as a cause let me say that
the bike fit is good as evidenced by no knee problems until starting
the above. I have also been riding about 100 miles a week through the
winter so this isn't a spring over doers thing either.

I have recently been trying to increase my strength by pushing hills
while standing and slightly bigger gears sometimes while riding. I
have noticed an increase in strength but unfortunately my knees don't
seem able to take the added stress.

So here I am sitting by the computer with my knee wrapped in an ice
pack. This is probably patellar tendinitis as the pain seems to come
from tendons on the top inside and bottom outside of the kneecap. The
best I can tell is that the knee gets inflamed which then causes
tendons and such to move out of place causing even more problems.

So, am I doing something wrong? Other folks I ride with, some younger,
some older, don't seem to have a problem standing or pushing bigger
gears. Is there anything I can do to solve this or have I been
genetically unlucky and born with bad knees? If not I have probably
reached my cycling limit.

Steve,

You've got to sneak up on it a little.
Remember that your muscles can write
checks that your tendons and ligaments
can't cash. So you've got to strengthen
your connectors with some additional
patience. Immediately go back to spinning
easier gears--the knee pain should go
away. Then slowly build up resistance
to let your cords catch up. You'll be painlessly
powering big gears before too long.

If your knees still hurt even while spinning
easy gears, you've got some other problem.
Maybe a loose, worn out, or misaligned
cleat, something like that.

Robert