Mountain Biking - upper back-lower neck pain while riding

I have noticed here lately that towards the end of most rides that i am getting pain in my upper back/ lower neck area. I was wondering if this is common, not correct( what is the cause), and how can i correct this?

Yeah i've been getting that to. More so the neck pain. I think my position is to leaning to far forward so i'm forced to have to look upward and it strains my neck.
I have riser bars and a long stem, the stem has a rise in it. I should spend some time figuring out if i need to adjust anything to change my position. But i prefer riding to adjusting my bike.

I am very certain that i need to adjust something, but is it my riding style or something on the bike is what i'm not sure of.

Is ur seat at a good position? To have efficient pedaling quality it has to be parallel to the handlebar. If u dont feel comfortable, maybe try it lower, buy ur efficacity on the pedals will decrease too. To get better adjustements , maybe u have to remove spacers between ur frame and handlebar, to do that u have to cut ur fork so u dont need the spacers anymore, go to ur LBS.

I have noticed here lately that towards the end of most rides that i am getting pain in my upper back/ lower neck area. I was wondering if this is common, not correct( what is the cause), and how can i correct this?

The neck pain is very common with people who cycle a lot - especially with aggressively set up bikes. One cure is to not bend your head upwards as much to look down the road - move your eyes up. Upper back can be caused by hunching the shoulders for prolonged periods. Look at your shadow as you ride, and consciously relax your shoulders - you will probably find that you are tensing them.

Is ur seat at a good position? To have efficient pedaling quality it has to be parallel to the handlebar. If u dont feel comfortable, maybe try it lower, buy ur efficacity on the pedals will decrease too. To get better adjustements , maybe u have to remove spacers between ur frame and handlebar, to do that u have to cut ur fork so u dont need the spacers anymore, go to ur LBS.

huh? I don't see what "ur" point is. Are you saying he should lower his seat or handlebar or both? Seat parallel to handlebar? You mean level, right? Parallel might be a touch uncomfortable as they are designed to be perpendicular.

To the original question - it can be tough. I get the same thing when I'm off the bike because my bars are pretty low in relation to the seat. But having them up high makes me uncomfortable while I'm on the bike. Perhaps just have your back adjusted. See your local chiropractor.

C

Is your seat at a good position? To have efficient pedaling quality it has to be parallel to the handlebar. If you dont feel comfortable, maybe try it lower, buy your efficacity on the pedals will decrease too. To get better adjustements , maybe you have to remove spacers between your frame and handlebar, to do that you have to cut your fork so you dont need the spacers anymore, go to ur LBS.

This is not the BBS nor is it an IM session so please type correctly in full syntax.

Parallel no, level yes. I think the problem for the pain is improper height or alignment of the stem and/or handle bars. Then again an improperly leveld saddle will do the same. I try to keep my saddle level with the top of my stem for most of my riding.

Thanks everyone for your input. My seat is high but not as high as some of you have suggested, i'm going riding today and will raise the seat and see how it helps. I have also considered taking a spacer out of the headset as someone has suggested, but I didn't know if it would make matters worse.

Thanks everyone for your input. My seat is high but not as high as some of you have suggested, i'm going riding today and will raise the seat and see how it helps. I have also considered taking a spacer out of the headset as someone has suggested, but I didn't know if it would make matters worse.

Your problem isn't uncommon. As most of the posters have stated. Make sure your seat and handlebars are level with eachother. The typical racing look of high seat and low handlebars looks very cool but is very uncomforable for the average rider. If you have cut your steering tube down to bring down your handlebar height you are SOL. You might be able do compensate by using a taller stem. If you have 25.4mm bars you can use a MTB stem and get the bars up higher. Short of that, you might have to get a new fork with an uncut steering tube. Remember, carbon fiber steering tubes can only safely extend out of the frame about 1". Aluminum steering tubes don't have that limitation. You are going to have to give up some "Cool factor" when you put the bars level with the seat.


Tim

sorry for the mistakes I am trying to have a better english....

Thanks everyone for your input. My seat is high but not as high as some of you have suggested, i'm going riding today and will raise the seat and see how it helps. I have also considered taking a spacer out of the headset as someone has suggested, but I didn't know if it would make matters worse.

Don't get confused - raising the seat/lowering handlebars will probably make things worse. Raising the bars relative to the seat should take out some of the stress. Really, your seat should be set for your legs, bar height to match that and YOU. Level is a good starting point but not necesarily exactly right for you.

C

Don't get confused - raising the seat/lowering handlebars will probably make things worse. Raising the bars relative to the seat should take out some of the stress.
I was just about to say that!

Really, your seat should be set for your legs, bar height to match that and YOU.

I cant believe it took this long for someone to point out that seat height is set according to your legs :eek:
My seat is quite a bit higher than the bars, but i already have a riser bar and somewhat of a rise on my stem. I looked into a bigger frame bike, thinking maybe mine was to small. But the next size bigger would rack me on the frame.
I dont think a higher seat than bars looks cool, it just tends to be the only way (for me) to be comfortable with my legs.