Help! I've been off my bike now for 4 weeks, partly because of a persistent chest infection and partly because of tendonitis (front of knee) (it all happened at once...) The knee isn't improving, I can still hike and run without pain but should I even do that to maintain some fitness? I'm not too worried yet about my (big) goals for next season as the rest will do no harm at this time of year... but I'd rather not miss too much more. Any advice or tips for recovery would be most welcome.

As for the chest, well I'm asthmatic and these things are always a bugger to get rid of!

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Painted Roads Cycling: http://www.paintedroads.com
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If the chest is clear enough now, and it doesn't knock it around in the future. What about some swimming to keep fit until the knee improves. Great for aerobic fitness.

Hi, well the chest works OK if I take a puff of salbutamol... I don't normally need it but doc thinks the infection is gone... it's legacy of inflammation triggering asthma (hope he's right).
I'd like to swim but public baths are out... I also suffer chronic eczema and it's hard enough keeping that under control without exposing it to chlorine. The sea is nearby but is cooling off rapidly now, plus not a good idea to swim alone in the dark (i.e when not at work) in coastal waters....

I may just have to spend a few more weeks jumping rope, light hiking and core body strength stuff...

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Gravitas est meus Hostilis
Painted Roads Cycling: http://www.paintedroads.com
Words: http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com

Another excellent exercise, with a degree of crossover between it and cycling is rowing. Got a gym nearby with a rowing ergo?

if it is patellar tendonitis, you need to do split squats to strengthen that area. In addition to this, there is a product called Cho-pat strap, which is a velcro strap which compresses the patella tendon and allows you to excercise (run and bike) with less pain.

I suffer from chronic achilles tendonitis (my marathon training) from time to time. Nearly always takes about a month of complete rest to clear. I tried all the strengh and stretching exercises. Even had physio (ultrasound etc) but nothing really helps apart from rest. I know you dont want to hear that though

Good luck, lets hope you're body recovers quickly.

Thanks guys for the responses. I've strapped it, can walk and so on without pain so at least can enjoy some downtime walking on the cliffs at home here with my camera (pic below). I was pretty burned out after the season so the forced downtime will have been beneficial to a degree I think..... (hope) so long as it doesn't go on too much longer. I'm supposed to be riding in Morocco next month.

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Gravitas est meus Hostilis
Painted Roads Cycling: http://www.paintedroads.com
Words: http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com

Why does talking about a problem invariably mean the problem becomes real

Went out for a nice "easy" seven mile run today, and hey presto the achilles problem comes back and slaps me in the face. Gutted isn't the word

Hey Jal, perhaps we can take some of those cliff walks together now!

maybe its telling you that you should be on your bike instead

Bummer! Be nice if it all really was a figment of the imagination - ho hum! Anyway, got 2 weeks of biz-travel to Montreal coming up so looks like enforced time off anyway...

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Gravitas est meus Hostilis
Painted Roads Cycling: http://www.paintedroads.com
Words: http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com