Is Cycling Bad for Your Knees?
Cycling is known for being a low-impact sport and a popular activity for those with joint issues. But, the repetitive actions of cycling, particularly pedaling upward of 4,000 to 5,000-plus revolutions per hour, can cause some pain and possibly cause problems if you’re not riding properly. So that may leave you wondering: Is cycling actually bad for your knees?
The answer isn’t really black and white. Cycling is great for your overall health and is easy on your joints, but there are more than a few cycling mistakes that contribute to knee pain. For some, issues with bike fit or technique compound over time to cause pronounced knee pain, the most common lower-body complaint in our sport. Research shows that up to 60 percent of recreational riders experience knee pain from overuse at some point in their riding journeys.
You want to have the smoothest cycling experience possible, and there are ways to make that happen. So we spoke with experts to break down all the causes of knee pain from cycling and ways to prevent it so you can keep pedaling pain-free.