Originally posted by gntlmn
The more horsepower you generate, however, the more likely that the big gear approach is going to result in eventual knee problems.
I'm recovering from knee surgery right now from this exact thing, pushing too big of a gear up a steep incline training for a mountain bike race. Almost completely tore the meniscus in half. I'm back on a road bike now and whole heartedly agree with the higher cadence lower gear theory now, I wish I had before.