As we enter a period of what our weather forecast professionals tell us could be an Indian Summer my body which as been relatively creak free all through yet another wet miserable British summer has decided to celebrate the warmer temperatures by throwing its metaphorical teddy out of the pram.

My left knee is sending all the wrong signals to my brain…..

Brain: (in an excited and squeaky voice) ‘look legs sunshine, warmth, empty country lanes! lets ride and get some miles in!

Left Knee: (grumpy and petulant sounding) ‘you know I said I was stiff this morning, and not in a good way either. I don’t want to go.’

Brain: (sounding exasperated) ‘you’re going tobe fine when you get going, come on make the effort and don’t spoil it for everyone else.’

Left Knee: (resigned sounding) ‘well I’ll give it a go but I’m not promising anything’
(Sometime later riding very slowly homewards)

Brain: (in time with pedal revolutions) ‘ow’…..’ow’…….’ow’…….’ow’ (etc)

Left Knee: (sounding smug) ‘told you so, but you just never listen do you’

So, to rest or not to rest? Like everyone else I’ve turned to the internet for advice and Google has dutifully spat out a screen full of articles full of long names of various muscles and tendons complete with gruesome tales of surgical failures and long recovery periods.

One thing that has stood out is the effect of bike fit and position changes on the knees. Seeing as I’ve just changed my road bikes frame could this be the root of my problems? Although I religiously measured my old faithful Focus before taking it apart so I could replicate my position on the nice shiny Ti steed that replaced it, its impossible to get it exactly the same due to the different specs of the frames.

The Sabbath frame came with a nice in-line Thomson Seatpost, so although I’m confident the distance between the bars and saddle and the saddle height are correct, I’m probably sitting further forward in relation to the seat tube and cranks. So the first step in my diy self-help diagnosis will be moving my saddle back a cm or so to see if that helps.

Am I going to seek professional advice? of course not, I’m a man so I’m hard-wired into bad medical choices driven by a mix of stubbornness and fear.

Now I must go, I’ve got to get downstairs slowly and sideways  whilst trying not to wince too much or show weakness. My knee and my wife are telling me I’m not 21 anymore, but I’ll show them!