The Chainlink

I have noticed more cyclists who pass me up - very common for slow me - seem to have bad form with their leg stroke. I think of good form as a pumping action like pistons: straight up and straight down and without sideways movement.

More and more I notice riders who angle their stroke outwards like a V-8 engine, others who angle inwards, some who have an outward loop at the top of the stroke and some an inward loop.

I am not a healthcare professional, but it seems to me that this repitition over time has gotta hurt something: knees, hips or something else.

Anyone know?

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I see a number of body-bobbing, big gear mashing kids riding their parents' ten speeds bow-legged with a death-grip on the bottom of the drops. I've thought of it more as a stereotype than a health risk, but you are right. Chances are they won't be riding very long past their mid 20s, though, so it may not be too damaging.

I agree with your concept.  I myself am bowlegged, but I try to keep as straight up-and-down as I can when riding.  Some of the problems you observe may be due to incorrect seat height, I would think.  I would be interested in hearing from those who know more than I about this subject.

I'd imagine it can cause problems over time, but given the distance someone on an ill-fitting ten speed is likely riding anyway, they're probably never logging enough miles to feel the effects of a poor-fitting bike.  

That said, several clipless pedal systems build float into pedals because people naturally ride bow-legged in some instances, so I'd say even the industry recognizes that not every rider naturally rides with a perfect stroke (not to say that doesn't mean damage is caused over large amounts of time and miles).  It's like running, you try to be as conscious as you can of good form, and train your body, but ultimately many of us are not constructed as perfect systems.    

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